Chapter 23

"Well aren't you guys going to say something?" my dad questioned.

"Yeah, you guys look ridiculous with your mouths hanging open," Nick said.

They immediately closed their mouths. But they just continued to stare.

"Well?" my dad asked.

I stood there terrified. None of them were making any sort of movement, just staring.

"She's your. . .your. . .your. . .," A.J. stammered.

"Daughter," my dad finished for him.

The guys gave my dad a skeptical look.

Then Brian spoke up. "How old are you?"

"Fourteen," I replied quietly.

All the guys shook their heads agreeing with each other.

"Kevin, can't you see it," Howie said.

"See what?" my dad asked confused.

"She's just a crazed fan," A.J. said.

"No! She's not!" my dad said angrily.

"Tell me you don't honestly believe her," Brian said.

"Or does her mother have something on you?" A.J. questioned.

I wanted to cry as I listened to them. They didn't believe that I was his daughter. Then I began to think that maybe they would make him take me back.

Then my dad looked at me. "Lily, why don't you take Nick upstairs and show him your room.. And if you want, Nick knows where the Playstation is set up. Okay?"

"Okay," I choked out. Then he kissed me on the forehead.

"Come on Lily," Nick said as he glared at the guys.

We walked into my room and he shut the door behind us. I sat down on the bed hugging my pillow.

"They hate me," I said quietly.

"No, they don't," Nick said.

"Yes, they do," I said angrily.

"They just don't know you," Nick said as he sat next to me.

"They're going to make my dad take me back, aren't they?" I questioned.

Nick leaned forward and hugged me. "That won't ever happen."

"She has a room here?" Brian asked surprised.

"You guys sit on the couch now," Kevin said angrily.

"You can't order us around," A.J. said.

"Sit," Kevin stated.

All three walked over to the couch and sat down.

"You didn't answer my question Kev," Brian said.

"Yes, my daughter has a room here," Kevin said.

Brian just shook his head.

"Now for my question. What do you think you're doing talking to my little girl like that?" Kevin questioned.

"I don't know what that girl and her mother are holding over you, but you can't honestly believe that she's your daughter," A.J. said.

"Why not?" Kevin asked.

"Because this is a bunch of bull shit," A.J. said.

"It does seems a little out there Kevin," Howie said.

"Yeah, she or they are just using you for your money," Brian said.

"Is that what all of you think?" Kevin asked.

"Yeah, I don't believe that she's your daughter. I've known you all my life and I know that you've never had a child," Brian said.

"Really Brian? Are you sure about that?" Kevin asked angrily.

"Positive," Brian said certainly.

Kevin stared at the three of them.

"I don't believe that she's your daughter," A.J. said stubbornly.

"Neither do I," Howie agreed.

Kevin took out his wallet. Then he took out two pictures from behind his ID. He handed them to Brian.

Brian just stared wide eyed at the pictures of Kevin holding a baby in a hospital room and the other of Kevin standing over a crib. The other guys gathered around looking at them.

Nick let go of me and then laid down. I set my pillow down and then laid next to him.

"So Lily, did you leave behind any friends is Jacksonville?" Nick asked, just trying to take her mind off of the guys.

I always hated when someone would ask a question about me having friends. It was a subject that I'd rather not get into.

"Um, no not really," I answered uneasily.

"How about when you moved here to Florida?" Nick asked.

"I don't have any friends, any where," I said quietly.

"Oh," he said. "Well now you have me."

I smiled. "Thanks."

"So school must have been pretty rough for you, huh?" he questioned.

"I hated it with every being," I said.

"What was the worst?" he asked.

"The loneliness," I replied.

"I know what you mean," he said.

"You do?" I questioned.

"Yeah, I know exactly what you're feeling cause I felt the same thing when I was going to school," he said.

"Really? But you're so cool. And I mean you're so nice and funny, why wouldn't you have a lot of friends?" I questioned.

"Cause I was this huge dork in school," he said as he chuckled. "Actually, I just stayed to myself a lot. No one really seemed to notice me."

"They acted like you never even existed, right?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said.

"That's exactly how I felt. Sometimes I felt like I didn't even want to exist," I said.

"Lily, have you ever thought about committing suicide?" Nick asked as he stared into my eyes.

"Yeah, I've thought about it a few times," I said as tears began to fill my eyes.

"I uh, I don't understand," Brian said as he stared at the pictures.

"It's my daughter," Kevin said. "What's to understand?"

"I mean, how?" Brian questioned.

"Well. . .when two people love each other. . .," Kevin began in a father like tone.

"Okay, wrong question. I meant when?" Brian asked.

"You remember Robyn?" Kevin asked.

"Yeah, she was your girlfriend back in Kentucky," Brian answered.

Kevin shook his head agreeing.

"Lily's mom?" A.J. asked.

"Yeah," Kevin answered.

"How old were you Kev?" Howie asked.

"19 and she was 17," Kevin said.

"How come I never knew about this? And why didn't you ever tell us?" Brian asked.

"No one but my mom, dad, and brothers knew about this. Robyn was just graduating from high school and she didn't want any one to find out. Especially after her parents disowned her," Kevin said. "And me, I felt terrible because she lost her family and everything because of me and our stupid mistake."

"But if you've had a daughter all this time, then where has she been?" A.J. asked.

"Kevin, what happened with you and Robyn after Lily was born?" Brian asked.

"I promised to take care of them hoping to help make things right. And for a while I did take care of them. I went over and spent all day at Robyn's grandmother's house," Kevin said as he smiled. "Those were the best times, just holding my little girl in my arms."

"So how come we've never seen or heard of Lily before?" Howie asked.

"Not too long after Lily was born, Robyn left with her," Kevin said. "She just took off, not telling anyone that she was leaving."

"So how come Lily's here now?" A.J. asked.

"It's a long story, that I don't want to really explain right now. But I guess I should tell you a few more things. First of all Robyn and I haven't spoken to each other since she left," Kevin said.

"But?" Brian questioned.

"Lily was given up for adoption," Kevin answered.

"Oh," Brian said.

"Then just recently her adoptive parents abandoned her due to financial problems," Kevin said.

"They what?!" Howie exclaimed.

"Just left her by herself?" A.J. asked shocked.

"Yeah, and then she found me, well sort of," Kevin said. "But any ways, because of that she's terrified that I'm just going to leave her. She also thinks that no one really wants her."

"But you do, right?" Brian asked.

"Yes, of course. Right now I'm trying to get full custody of her," Kevin said.

"Have you told management about this? Or Kristin?" Howie asked.

"No," Kevin said.

"Do you plan on telling Kris?" Brian asked.

"When I call her tonight," Kevin said as he sighed. "And as for as management, they can wait."

The guys just stared at Kevin for a second. Trying to understand everything he had just told them.

Then A.J. spoke up.

"So that little girl up there is really your daughter?"

"Yep, my baby girl," Kevin said proudly.

"Cool!" exclaimed A.J. "That means I'm an Uncle!"

"Dude, you really are an old man," Brian said, smiling.

All of them began to laugh.

"Hey, that doesn't mean you have the right to call me that though," Kevin said as he smiled at them.

"Whatever. . .Old Man," A.J. said.

"Ugh," Kevin groaned.

"Sorry Kev, couldn't resist," A.J. said.

"So are you guys okay now? Because I didn't expect that sort of reaction from you guys earlier," Kevin said.

"Sorry about that Kev, but you just dropped a bombshell on us," Howie said.

"Yeah, it took us off guard," Brian said.

"Can I bring her back down? I want her to know that you guys are family," Kevin said.

"Yep, I think we should reintroduce ourselves. I don't think we made the best first impression," A.J. said.

"Okay good," Kevin said. "Oh and one more thing."

"Anything," said Brian.

"Don't mention anything about us being Backstreet or Kris," Kevin said. "I want to explain those things to her myself."

"Sure, that's fine," Howie said.

"Thanks guys," Kevin said as he hugged them.

Then they watched him walk upstairs.

"Did you see that grin on the Old Man's face?" Brian asked.

"Yeah, definitely a dad's grin," Howie said.

Nick took his hand wiped away my tears.

"Lily, tell me you haven't had any of these thoughts recently," Nick said worriedly.

"No, not since I found my dad," I said.

"Okay good," Nick said, relieved. "But if you ever feel that you're alone or that you think no one's around for you, you come and talk to me. All right?"

"Okay," I said.

"Promise?" he asked.

"I promise," I said.

"Good," Nick said as he hugged me.

"Um . .Nick," I began.

"Yeah?" he asked as he let go.

"Don't tell my dad," I said. "For right now I just want this to be between us."

"Okay," Nick agreed.

"Thanks for everything Nicky," I said.

"You're welcome," he said.

Knock! Knock!

"Come in," I said.

Kevin walked in and saw Lily and Nick laying on her bed.

"Can I speak to Lily alone?" my dad asked.

"Sure," Nick said as we sat up.

Nick got up and walked out, closing the door.

My dad came over and sat on the bed next to me.

"Do they hate me?" I asked quietly.

My dad immediately wrapped his arms around me. "No they don't."

I looked up at him. "Are you sure?"

He shook his head yes. "I know that they don't. They just reacted that way because I've never told them about you or your mom."

"Oh," I replied.

"Are you okay?" my dad asked.

I shook my head yes. "I was just a little nervous."

"About what?" my dad asked.

"Going back," I said.

"You don't ever have to worry about that, cause there's no way I would ever take you back," my dad said. "Understood?"

"I understand," I said.

"All right, good. Now let's go downstairs and go swimming," my dad said as he took my hand.

We got up and walked back downstairs.

The guys stood up as they saw Kevin and Lily walk into the living room.

My dad and I went over to them. I hoped that they wouldn't react the same way they had earlier.

I stared at the ground, afraid to look at them. Then all of a sudden I felt arms surrounding me. I looked up and all three of them were hugging me.