~ Chapter 8 ~
Shae-Lyn yanked the door open. "What are you doing here so early?" she asked irritably, staring Loreto down.
Loreto's eyebrows raised questioningly as she took in her friend's bloodshot eyes, disheveled features, and rumpled clothing. "You look like something my dog coughed up."
Shae shot her a dirty look. "Thanks for the compliment," she said sarcastically. She looked at herself in the mirror. She did look like hell. She had barely slept. But Loreto didn't need to know the gruesome details of what she heard last night. "So what are you doing here?" she asked her friend, grabbing a brush and attempting to untangle the mess she calls hair.
"I have to go with Denise for a few hours this morning. We have to meet some publicity folks. Denise asked me to come and ask you if you wanted to go watch the boys rehearse."
Shae-Lyn thought about last night. Even though Nick didn't know that she had heard him, she didn't know if she could look at him. It would just remind her. On the other hand, she had nothing to do and watching Nick Carter sweat was definitely better than sitting in a hotel room watching TV in a foreign language. She turned to Loreto. "Yea, I guess I'll go watch the guys."
Loreto grinned. "Lucky you. I have to attend two meetings. Make sure you take in every inch of Kevin for me."
Shae-Lyn actually laughed. "Take in every inch of Kevin? I thought you didn't want to share?"
"You know what I mean!" She headed for the door. "Shae, please shower and do something about your eyes. You look stoned."
Shae-Lyn threw something at Loreto, but she ducked out and closed the door.
Kevin rolled over and again found himself next to a naked female body. Another one that he couldn't remember. He groaned as he opened his eyes. The sunlight was streaming through the window and it made his head hurt. He tumbled out of the bed and headed for his bag where he kept the strong aspirin. He swallowed three and looked back at the woman. He certainly knew how to pick 'em. She was luscious. He thought about waking her up, but changed his mind. From what he could remember, she was a fan and he didn't want her to see him like this. But what state had he been in last night? All he remembered was seeing her in the lobby. She told him that her friend had gone to Nick's room. He headed for the shower, locking the bathroom door.
The woman yanked the door open. "Can I help you?"
Loreto stared at her, stunned speechless. "Uh, yea, is this Kevin's room?"
The woman smiled. "Yes, it is. Look, he's in the shower. Which is where I'm headed. Can you come back later? I'm sure he'll be glad to give you his autograph then."
Loreto felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. "Excuse me? I'm not a fan. I work with the BSBs. Who are you?"
"My name's Trish. I'm Kevin's...er...friend."
Loreto was torn between jealousy and anger. "Look, Trish, tell Kevin that he's expected in the lounge in 10 minutes. If I were you, I would curtail the shower activities and leave."
Trish closed the door and chuckled. 'She only wishes she could get with Kevin,' she thought and went to open the bathroom door, only to find it locked. Surprised, she sat down on the bed and waited for him to come out.
He did a few minutes later. He looked surprised that Trish was awake. "Hey," he said by way of acknowledgement. He opened a drawer and pulled out his Adidas sweats and matching t-shirt.
Trish smiled faintly, staring at his naked body. "Your little friend was here."
Kevin looked startled. "What friend?"
"The little brunette with curly hair. She said that you had to be in the lounge in 10 minutes."
Kevin didn't know who she was referring to. Trish sidled over to him. He was combing his hair. She wrapped her arms around his damp chest, resting her head on his back. "How about a quickie before you have to go to that long, tedious rehearsal? You should always go to work with a smile on your face," she purred.
Kevin dislodged her arms from his waist and turned to face her. "I agree with you. It's much easier to make it through the day with a smile."
He lifted her up, putting her down on the dresser. "Open your legs, baby," he said to her as her gaze fell on his hardness. Trish was more than happy to do as he said. As he plunged in and out of her, all he could think about was how his life was a mess. He didn't know how to he was going to get out of it.
Loreto was waiting for Denise in the lounge. "Good morning, Loreto!" a cheery voice called from behind her. She looked up to see Howie's grin. She was not in the mood for cheery people. Not after what just happened. "Hey," she mumbled, hoping he would take the hint and leave.
He plopped down beside her. "Why the long face? Someone pee in your wheaties?"
Giving him a smoldering look, she said, "Pardon me? I didn't invite you to sit here. Please leave."
Howie was taken aback. The sweet girl he had met yesterday had been replaced by this person. She was in a bad mood, but she didn't have to take it on him. He stood up and went to sit on the other side of the room.
Denise came in a few minutes later. "Honey I'm ready to go," she said to Loreto.
Kevin was walking in as Loreto was walking out. She didn't see him until she nearly collided with him. She looked up into his green eyes and her stomach knotted. Kevin stared at her intently. "Are you the one who came to my room this morning?" he asked quietly.
"That'd be me," she replied, forcing a smile.
"Don't do it again." Kevin's voice was low, but the meaning was there. Loreto couldn't believe he had said that. She was about to reply when Denise called her name.
"Come on Loreto. We're going to be late."
She sighed. She'd have to wait until later to talk to him. There was no way she was going to let Kevin Richardson intimidate her. It wasn't her fault that his one-night stand has opened the door. She wondered how many he had. Did he have a different woman every night? She had always pictured him as having his share of women, but coming face to face with one who stayed the night was a different story.
Shae-Lyn went into the lounge. She took in her surroundings and saw that Kevin and Howie were talking, Brian and Leighanne were eating, and AJ was on his cell. No sign of Nick yet. She took a deep breath and went to sit with Brian and Leighanne. "Hi Shae!" Leighanne greeted her. "Did you sleep well?"
"About as well as one can sleep on a strange bed with only one pillow," she replied, laughing as she watched Tyke try to bite Brian. "I think you better let him have that piece of bacon or you won't have a hand left," she said.
"He's eaten enough. I don't want him puking in Leigh's backpack."
"See why I have to carry the dog?" Leighanne said. "So Mr. Littrell doesn't smell like dog barf."
"Now there's something I want to hear right before I eat." Nick sat down and reached for the bacon and eggs.
"Sorry Nick," Leighanne said. "And good morning."
Shae-Lyn felt invisible. She ate quietly, feeling queasy.
Leighanne looked from her to Nick. "Nick, aren't you going to say hello to Shae-Lyn?"
Nick hadn't even noticed her sitting there. He looked at her. She was picking at her food. "Hi," he said and went back to his grub.
Leighanne wanted to punch him. Why was he acting so rude to Shae? "She's coming to watch you rehearse," she said to Nick.
"Aren't you gonna be bored?" He looked at Shae. She looked up from her plate, but wouldn't meet his eyes.
"If you'd rather I don't go..."
"NO!" Leighanne said quickly. "That's not what he meant."
"No," Brian reiterated, noticing Shae's sad face, "Nick meant that sometimes it's really long and you'd probably be bored out of your mind."
"I doubt that," Shae answered. "I'm a fan, remember? This is a dream come true."
"Yea. Can't disappoint the fans," Nick muttered sarcastically.
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