Chapter 20
“You mean to tell me that
you and Rachel…” A.J’s voice trailed off into the
shocked silence of Kevin’s living room. Christmas was a thing of the past
now and New Years was only 2 days away. A.J was having a big New Years
Bash at his home in
Howie closed his dropped
jaw and stared at Kevin as though he were seeing a ghost. “I don’t
believe what I’m hearing…”
Kevin hung his head
shamefully while Brian shook his head. “He doesn’t know for sure what
really happened actually.”
“But…” A.J shifted
uncomfortably, “wouldn’t you know if you did something…like that.”
“That’s where the problem
is,” Brian replied, “Kevin doesn’t remember a thing and we have to figure out
why.”
“I need your help fellas,”
Kevin finally spoke up, his voice a lot stronger than how he felt, “I need to
find out what happened to me that night. I need to know if I really did
cheat on my wife…”
“So, you think there’s a
chance that Rachel’s messing with your mind?” Howie asked, though he knew the
answer. They all did. Each and every one of them knew how girls
like Rachel Malone worked.
Kevin nodded. “I
know you guys find it hard to believe…”
“Not really,” A.J
interjected, “Rachel’s always been the biggest bitch…whether Nick wanted to see
it or not, we all knew it. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if she
set you up or something.”
“All right,” Brian stood,
“so we all agree. We help Kevin find out the truth.”
“Sure,” Howie agreed, “but
how?”
Kevin smiled wryly.
“Let’s just say it’s going to take a lot of patience and a hell of a good
stomach.”
***
“You’re going to L.A for
New Years?!” Katarina exclaimed.
Billie gulped.
“Yeah…I am.”
“With who?”
“…I’m meeting Howie
there.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.” Billie chewed
her bottom lip, trying to push away the feelings of guilt and restlessness that
had been her annoying companions since Christmas Eve.
“Billie, what’s going
on? You sound strange.”
“It’s nothing sis.
Really, I just have a lot on my mind, that’s all.”
“…Okay.”
Needing to change the
subject, Billie began to throw questions at Katarina.
“So…how's it going with you and Nick?” She heard her sigh and smothered a
laugh. Her sister was obviously head over heels for her boyfriend.
“I’ve never been so happy
in my entire life. I love him so much Billie…I don’t think I can even
begin to describe it.”
“That’s wonderful Rina. I’m so happy for you.” Tears sprang to
her eyes. She wished she could say that same about Kris…but things were
changing much too fast for her taste…and it all started with a simple kiss…
“Billie, I have to go
now…are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine sis. I’ll
talk to you after New Years all right?”
“Okay. Love you.”
“Love you too.” She
hung up and leaned back in her bed, her mind running with so many different
thoughts she felt as though her head might explode. The fact of the
matter was that in her entire life, she had never felt such exhilarating rushes
of warmth and passion until the night she and Howie had kissed. God she
could still feel his warm hands caressing her arms, his fingers running through
her golden locks…she could still feel his taut muscles pressed against
her… She shook her head. I’m
so stupid! I should’ve never kissed him! I’m an engaged
woman! I’m supposed to marry Kris…I’m supposed to love him! I do
love him!
So why on earth do I feel like I’m trapped…with no
way out?!
***
“I’ll be back in a while
okay?” Nick smiled down at his angel while she leaned forward and pecked his
lips.
“Hurry back okay,” Katarina whispered.
“I will.” He pressed
his lips against hers once more before closing the door behind him. He
adjusted his bulky winter coat and stepped into the snowy territory, an ax in
hand. He had to go get more firewood and he had to do it fast. He
hated being away from Katarina for longer than
necessary. Determined, he moved to the back of house and set his mind to
work. In a matter of minutes he had enough wood to last the rest of the
winter. He shivered as the wind blew heavily around him, snow billowing
up everywhere. It was the only time of the year that he hated here in
But there was no way he
could go back.
And now, he didn’t want
to. Everything he needed was right here. He frowned.
Everything except his family…his friends… He shook his head. No. Don’t dwell on things you can’t
change Nick. That was your past. It’s time to think about the
future. His frown immediately contorted to a grin. My future with Rina.
A familiar, but out of place sound interrupted his optimistic thoughts and he
turned around, craning his neck.
There was nothing.
His eyes peered through
the white evergreens and eventually he shrugged. I guess I was just hearing things. He turned back around and
was just about to pick up a pile of wood when he heard it again. That
noise. Frowning, he whirled around and stomped toward the sound.
He moved the trees out of
the way, but once again there was nothing there. What the hell is going on? he thought, puzzled.
Then fear quickly gripped
his heart. Did somebody know he was here? Did they somehow find
him?! No…it couldn’t be
possible. Nobody could know…right? He wished he could be certain, but deciding not to take any more
chances, he stalked back to pile of wood, grabbed up all he could and quickly
marched back to the front of the house. There, he paused, straining to
hear that noise. But this time nothing came.
Sighing, he opened the
door, put the wood inside and closed the door, hoping that he hadn’t been
discovered…
***
Rachel sauntered to the
doorway, wondering who could possibly be ringing her doorbell. But once she
peeked out the window, her curiosity immediately died down and was replaced
with malevolent delight. She ran her fingers through her raven coloured locks and adjusted her tube top before opening the
door. "Kevy...this is quite a pleasant
surprise."
He smiled and leaned
against the doorway casually. "Rach.
I've been meaning to stop by for quite some time now."
She raised a perfectly
shaped eyebrow, not quite believing his words. "Really?"
"Yeah...I can't seem
to get you off my mind."
She grinned. "No
man can Kevin. That's my curse," she turned away laughing, unaware
of his sudden sneer of disgust. "Follow me...I'll gladly give you an
encore performance."
"That's not why I'm
here Rachel," he replied as he shut the door behind him.
"Hmm..." she
responded disappointedly, "so why are you here then?"
He grinned as he reached
out and caressed her cheek, sending unfamiliar tingles down her spine. What the hell was that?! she
wondered. She'd never felt something like that before...
"You see Rach, I'm a very formal kind of guy. Even though
we're obviously past the point of being...modest, I thought it'd be wonderful
if we could get to know each other a little better. I wanna know what you
like, what you dislike..."
By now, his hands were
rubbing up and down her arms and Rachel was too dumbfounded to speak. She
didn't understand why his attitude had suddenly changed. More important,
she didn't understand these awful heady sensations that seemed to overwhelm her
as he gazed at her with those intense green eyes. She shook her
head. What the hell is the matter
with me?! I must be getting sick or something. Besides, that can't
be really what he wants... She plastered a seductive smile on her
face and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Come on Kevy...we can talk anytime... Right now, I want to
feel you..."
"Rach,
I'm serious," he pulled away and turned his back toward her, "you
showed me what I was missing in my life...and I want to show you how much I
appreciate that by treating you right."
"But how could you
possibly--" she stopped herself. How
the hell could he say that when he couldn't know what happened between them?
"What?" Kevin
whirled around.
"Nothing,"
Rachel replied simply and suddenly grew anxious, "what are you really
doing here Kevin?"
"I told you.
I--"
"I don't buy
it. Something's not--"
He stopped her quickly by
pressing his lips against hers and Rachel quickly forgot what she was going to
say.
"So..." he
murmured.
"...Okay..." she
replied, bewildered that she was even agreeing to such an odd request. Well,
at least he'll give me money!
Kevin grinned
broadly. "Perfect!"
***
