Chapter 73

The next few days were probably the longest days ever for Kevin.

He had nothing to do, but wait. If he went over there too soon he would never have a chance to talk to her. So he spent his time writing new songs.

I got out of my car and walked into work.

"Hey!" yelled Char.

"Hi," I said as I waved to her.

Then I began putting things away. She came up to me and started helping me.

"So did you ask Rick?" she asked anxiously.

"Oh no, I didn't. I'm sorry," I said.

"That's okay," she said quietly.

"I promise I will. But these last few days have been kind of stressful. It just slipped my mind," I said.

"So you'll still ask him?" she asked.

"Yeah, don't worry," I said.

"Okay, thanks," she said happily. "So how was your birthday?"

"I've had better," I said.

"What happened?" she asked.

"My ex-fiancee, Kevin, decided that he would show up unannounced," I said.

"Now that's a birthday surprise," she said.

"Yeah, and not a good surprise," I said.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Rick and Kevin got into a fight. I stopped them and began arguing with Kevin. Then he eventually left," I said.

"Wow, that sucks," she said.

"Yeah, I know. And now I don't know what to do about it. I'm just so confused," I said.

"So you're thinking about going back to him?" she asked.

"I don't know. Right now I'm not talking to him," I said as I sighed.

"I think you need to talk to him so you can decided what you want to do," she said.

"I guess," I said as I continued to pick up things.

After a busy day at work I finally went home. I got myself a hot bath ready. Then I climbed in and relaxed. I just need sometime to think clearly.

I wasn't sure if I should call Kevin or not. I wanted to talk to him, but yet I didn't. For some reason I was afraid. Afraid to love him again. Afraid to trust him. Or maybe I was afraid that he had found someone else. I was afraid that I would be alone. I had my friends, but no one to really love.

I closed my eyes, deciding that I would possibly call Kevin. But in a couple of days when I had the day off.

Kevin paced back and forth in his room. He was going insane. He knew Janel was here, but he didn't know where she lived or what her number was. He could call Rick, but he didn't really want to.

He was jealous that she had run to Rick. He wouldn't have cared if it was Brian, Nick, or any of the other guys. But it was Rick. Her ex-boyfriend that still wanted to be with her. He still wasn't even sure if she was going out with Rick or not. From her reaction he figured that she wasn't, but he wasn't positive.

He got fed up and sat down on the bed. He had to know the answers to his questions. He picked up the phone and dialed Rick's number. Then he nervously awaited him to answer it.

"Hello."

"Rick, it's me Kevin."

"Yes."

"Is Janel there?"

"No."

"Don't lie to me."

"She's not here."

"Then where is she? Do you have her number?"

"I can't give that information to you."

"Please Rick. I need to talk to her."

"I can't." Then he hung up.

"Damn it!" Kevin said as he slammed the phone down.

He decided that he would pay Rick a visit tomorrow. He shut off his light and went to sleep.

In the morning I woke up and quickly ran to the bathroom. I leaned over the toilet and threw up. God, how I hated morning sickness. I was hoping it would go away, but it didn't.

After that I took my shower and then laid back in bed. I fell asleep for about another hour and then my alarm went off.

I got up and got myself ready for work. Then I locked up my place and left for work.

Kevin laid in bed all afternoon watching talk shows. He figured there was no use in getting out of bed if he wasn't going out until later. So he stayed in bed and ordered himself room service.

After a couple hours of working I began to get nauseous. I continued to work until I couldn't handle it any longer. I went and sat down at a table in the food court to take my break. I leaned against the wall pulling my knees up to me and closed my eyes.

Char noticed Janel in the food court, so she decided to check on her.

"Hey girl. Are you okay?" she asked as she came up to me.

I looked up at her. "Not really," I said, then I closed my eyes. "The whole room is spinning."

"Are you going to go home?" she asked.

"How? I can't drive if I can't keep my eyes open," I said.

"I'd drive you home sweetie, but I don't think they'll let me leave," she said. "Oh wait. What about Rick?"

"Yeah, can you call him please?" I asked.

"Sure," she said.

"Oh no. You can't. He's in a meeting right now," I said.

"Who else is there?" she asked.

"No one," I said.

"Um. . .yeah there is," she said.

"Don't even say it," I said.

"What? I'm sure Kevin wouldn't mind picking you up," she said.

"No, not Kevin," I said.

"There's no one else. And if you're feeling this bad, then you need to go home," Char said.

"But. . .," I began.

"What's his number?" Char asked as she cut me off.

I didn't say anything.

"Well what is it?" she asked.

I sighed. "555-9914."

"Thanks," she said as she dialed.

Kevin heard his cell phone ringing, but he couldn't see it. So he crawled out of bed and searched for it. He finally found it lying on the couch.

"Hello," he answered.

"Hi. Is this Kevin?"

"Yes. Who's this?"

"My name's Char. I'm a friend of Janel's. I was wondering if you could do a favor for her?"

"Anything. What is it?"

"She's not feeling too good. So I need you to drive her home."

"Okay. Just give me the directions."

I sat there listening to Char give Kevin the directions.

All he was going to do was drop me off and then leave. We wouldn't have time to talk. Or at least I hoped we wouldn't.

Char hung up and then sat down across from me.

"He's on his way," she said.

"Fine," I said.

Kevin quickly got dressed and then left. He got into the cab and gave the cab driver the directions.

Kevin got out and paid the driver. Then he walked into Target.

"Uh, Janel," Char said.

"Yeah," I said.

"Your Kevin wouldn't happen to be Kevin Richardson from the Backstreet Boys, would he?" she asked.

"That'd be my Kevin, why?" I asked.

"Oh, cause he's here," she said.

"Oh," I said.

"I'd just like to tell you that you have some pretty good taste when it comes to men," she said.

"Char," I said.

"What? It's true," she said, smiling.

Kevin came up to the table and stood there.

Char watched the two of us, waiting for us to say something.

"Okay, since you're not going to introduce me, I'll introduce myself," she said as she stood up. "Hi. My name is Char."

"Hi, I'm Kevin," he said as he hook her hand.

"It's nice to meet you, but I think I'll leave you two alone," she said as she walked away.

Kevin continued to stand while staring at me.

"Look. The only reason that Char called you was because there was no one else," I said.

"I know," Kevin said.

"And Rick's in a meeting," I said.

"I understand," Kevin said quietly.

I reached out my hand and gave him the keys. He took them and helped me up. I stood up and closed my eyes.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, just take me home," I said.

"Okay," he said.

Then he took my hand and looked at me. I squeezed his hand letting him know that it was okay.

We walked out to the car and he helped me in. I gave him directions to my town house and then we left.

I rested my head back against the chair and closed my eyes.

Kevin pulled up and shut off the car.

He looked over at Janel noticing she was asleep. He got out and went around to her side. He unbuckled her and then carried her out. He walked inside and took her to her bedroom. He gently placed her on the bed. He took a blanket and covered her.

Then he just stood there staring at her. He was debating whether he should stay with her or not. He didn't want her to be angry with him when she woke up. Because then that would only make things worse. But he couldn't just leave her, especially if she wasn't feeling well. He decided that he had to stay with her. Her health was more important to him.

Kevin walked over to the side of Janel's bed and sat down. He watched her sleep for a while, until he began to get sleepy himself. He laid down next to her and gently placed his arm around her. Then he closed his eyes and let himself fall asleep.