Chapter 22

My dad and I got home and took everything up to my room.

"We should change now. The guys will be here soon," my dad said.

"Okay," I said.

So I went into my room and changed into my new swimsuit. Then I put on a pair of board shorts and a small T-shirt over my swimsuit. Once I was through I went into the kitchen where my dad was getting the food ready.

Ding! Dong!

"Lily, you want to get that for me?" my dad asked.

"Uh sure," I said.

I was a little nervous about answering the door. I didn't know if it'd be one of the other guys.

I opened the door to see Nick standing there. I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hi Lily!" Nick said excitedly as he picked me up and gave me a bear hug.

"Hi to you too Nick," I said as I hugged him also.

Then he set me down. We walked in to the kitchen.

"By the way, you look very cute," he said. "New outfit?"

"Thank you," I said. "And yeah, my dad and I went shopping."

"Did you have fun?" he asked.

"Yep, I got lots of new clothes. I basically got a whole new wardrobe," I said.

"That's cool," he said.

"Hey Nicky," my dad said as he turned around and saw Nick.

"Hey Kev, what's up?" Nick asked.

"Nothing much. Just getting ready to feed the six of us," my dad replied.

"So when are the rest of the guys going to be here?" Nick asked.

"They should be here soon," my dad answered.

"Okay, good," Nick said. "Oh Lily, I got something for you."

"For me?" I asked.

"Consider it a gift from your Uncle Nicky, and by the way you're the ONLY one allowed to call me Nicky," he said.

"But my dad does?" I questioned.

"Yeah well, your dad's an exception to the rule," Nick said as he looked at my dad.

My dad just laughed. "Yeah, cause you know I could still kick your butt."

"Yeah whatever. Any ways, here you go," Nick said as he handed me a box wrapped in comics.

I smiled as I looked at it.

"Kind of like two in one," he said.

"Cool," I said.

"Well go ahead, aren't you going to open it?" he asked.

"Can I?" I asked my dad.

"Sure Lily, rip right in to it," my dad said.

"Okay," I said.

I grabbed a side of the paper and started to rip it open. Once I got the paper off I opened the box.

"Oh wow, thanks Uncle Nicky," I said as I hugged him.

"You're welcome," he said as he smiled. "You like it?"

"Yeah, it's so cool," I said.

"Well Lily, what is it?" my dad asked curiously.

"A Gameboy," I said happily as I pulled it out of the box.

My dad just groaned. "You're not turning her into a video game freak."

Nick just laughed. "I can try."

Then he took it and showed me how it worked.

"This is so cool," I said as I began playing.

"I still can't believe that you've never played video games before," Nick said.

"Hardly ever," I said.

"Well let's go into your living room. We can set up your dad's Sega Dreamcast," Nick said.

"You play video games?" I asked, looking up at my dad.

My dad smiled at me. "Only when you're Uncle Nicky and the guys come over."

"Oh okay," I said.

Nick took my hand and led me to the t.v.

"So do you like it here with your dad?" he asked as he set up the game.

"Yep, it's wonderful," I said happily.

"You really missed him, didn't you?" Nick asked.

"Yeah. I've always wondered what my dad looked like, who he was, and if I'd ever get to meet him," I said.

"Well I'm so thrilled that you are here with your dad. He seems to be genuinely happy," Nick said as he handed me the controller.

"Thanks Nick," I said.

He just smiled at me. Then we began to play.

Kevin worked in the kitchen getting the food ready. That way when the rest of the Boys arrived, he would just have to fry the hamburgers. Once he was through he went and sat on the couch as he watched his daughter and Nick play.

After about 45 minutes of playing with Nick the doorbell rang again.

Nick hit pause and then ran to the door. "I'll get it!!"

I got up and stood next to my dad. I put my little hand into his big hand, holding it tightly.

"Are you nervous?" he whispered.

"A little bit," I said, when really I was terrified. I don't know exactly why, because I knew that I'd have nothing to worry about if they were all good friends of my dad, like Nick.

He bent down and kissed the top of my head. "Don't be."

Then three guys walked into the living room along with Nick. My dad let go of my hand and went over to them. He hugged all three of them.

Then the five of them stood there, just like I had seen in so many pictures. They all smiled as they said hi to each other.

I looked at my dad and how happy he seemed to be with them. I wondered if they were the reason he had left? To concentrate on his career? Did he not think my mom and I were important? Or did he just love singing more than us?

Then I studied this 3 new guys. There was a guy who was about my height. He had dark brown eyes and curly hair that was pulled back into a pony tail. He looked like he was really nice. And I think his name was Howie, but I wasn't sure.

Then I looked at the next guy, also about the same height. He looked kind of well. . .different. He had red hair and tattoos all over his arms. He had a goatee and he was wearing a pair of shades in the house, like it was sunny or something. I remembered that his name was A.J.. I wasn't quite sure what to think of him.

And then there was Brian, or at least I'm pretty sure that's what his name was. Any ways, he had dirty blonde hair with these little curls at the top. He had a very chiseled jaw just like my dad and bright blue eyes. He seemed to be a very quiet person as he stared at me.

"Come here sweetie," my dad said as he reached out his hand for me.

I took his hand and walked towards them.

There was silence as they stood there and studied me as I had done to them.

"This is Howie, A.J., and Brian," my dad said as he introduced them.

They all looked at my dad puzzled, then they waved hi.

"And who might this young lady be?" A.J. asked.

"Guys this is Lily. . .," my dad began.

"Hi," I said shyly.

"My daughter," my dad finished.

I watched as the guys jaws dropped, just like Jaclyn and Samantha's had earlier. Except this time I didn't know what to make of it. Were they just shocked to see me? Did they now know about me? Did they not like me? Were they angry at me for showing up? What were they thinking?