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Kevin was sitting in the waiting room waiting for Taylor. The doctor did not want anyone else in the room while he examined Taylor, so he was told to wait for her out there. He could tell that it made Taylor uncomfortable, but what was he supposed to do. He prayed that she would get good news and that everything would heal without scars.
Half an hour later, Taylor emerged from the office with a smile on her face. Kevin got up and gave her a hug. "I assume he gave you good news." Kevin said as he looked her in the eyes.
"Yes. He says I was very lucky. But they are all just surface bruises and should be gone in a few weeks. He wants to see me back here in 2 weeks just to make sure that everything is healing properly. If anything unusual appears, I am to call him right away." Taylor said as they walked towards Kevin's truck.
"Well I bet you are relieved to hear that news today. What do you say we go grab a late lunch? Do you feel up to that?" Kevin said, hoping that the news had given her some courage to start living her life again.
"You know what Kevin. Let's do it. I still don't think I am ready to go to a club or anything, but I think I can handle a restaurant." Taylor said as Kevin started his truck.
"Glad to hear it Taylor. I know this great little deli that is up the road. How does that sound?" Kevin said as he backed the truck up.
"Mmm, I could go for a corned beef sandwich right about now." Taylor said as she looked at Kevin while he was driving.
Fifteen minutes later Kevin and Taylor were seated at a corner table in the small deli. Taylor could tell that people were looking at her and she was trying not to let it get to her. Kevin tried to keep her engaged in conversation to keep her mind off of the looks they were receiving. Taylor snapped when one person came up to them and said, "You don't have to tolerate abuse like that from him."
"Excuse me. What do you know any ways? This man sitting in front of me is so kind and gentle. Please mind your own business." Taylor said trying to defend Kevin. She saw images of rumors going around that Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys had beaten a woman. She couldn't take it any more. She grabbed her coat and ran from the little restaurant.
Kevin was not far behind her. He knew what she was thinking and he had to convince her that it didn't bother him. He finally caught up with her 2 blocks away and stood in front of her to block her way. She tried to turn and run the other way, but Kevin grabbed her by the shoulders and stopped her. "Taylor, please don't let what that person said get to you. What matters, is that we know what the truth is. Let people think what they want." Kevin said in hopes of calming her down.
"But Kevin I can see the headlines now. I know how much your career means to you and I don't want to do anything to jeopardize it. Just take me back to my apartment and I won't bother you anymore." Taylor said as she looked down at the ground. She was afraid that if she looked Kevin in the eyes that she would get lost in his green eyes.
"I will take you back to your apartment if that is what you want, but don't think that you are going to get rid of me that easily Taylor. Whether you like it or not, I am involved in this now. I care about you and I can't just walk away from you." Kevin said while he held onto Taylor's chin forcing her to look him in the eyes. He saw a lonely tear run down her cheek, and he very lightly brushed his thumb across her cheek to stop it and ever so lightly kissed her on the lips.
"Will you please just take me home now Kevin." Taylor said as she turned to face the car.
Kevin dropped Taylor off at home and told her that he would bring her stuff by on his way to the club that evening. He gave her a quick hug, but he felt that whatever progress they had made earlier in the day had been erased. He promised her that he would stop by before his meeting the next day and check up on her. She tried to tell him that he didn’t need to do that, but he insisted that he wanted to do it.
Taylor was exhausted from that afternoon's events so she decided to go and lay down for a while. She did a lot of thinking about Kevin and herself. She knew that something was developing between them, but she wasn't sure if she would allow it to happen yet. She didn’t want to risk ruining Kevin's career. She heard his voice in her head say that she wasn't going to look like that forever. She agreed with the voice in her head and let herself drift off to sleep.
Later, she was awoken by the ringing of the telephone. She slowly rolled over and answered the telephone, and she heard Kevin's frantic voice saying, "Why aren't you answering your door?"
She hung up the phone and ran to the front door to let Kevin in. He rushed in the door and scooped her into his arms. "Sorry Kevin. I was tired when you dropped me off and I fell asleep. I didn't mean to scare you like that." Taylor said as Kevin continued to hold onto her.
"I am just glad that you are ok. You scared the hell out of me Taylor." Kevin said as he let go of Taylor and watched her open a drawer and take a key out.
"I am not in the habit of giving people a key to my apartment, but I want you to have this Kevin. I trust you and since it seems that you aren't going to stop worrying about me, so you can let yourself in from now on instead of waking me up." Taylor said as she turned around and walked back into her bedroom. She crawled back under the covers. She knew that Kevin was not going to leave her alone, and she found herself pleased that Kevin joined her on the bed and put his arms around her. She tried to get back to sleep, but she all of a sudden felt nervous with Kevin laying beside her. She knew she was falling for him and still wasn't sure what to do about it. She wanted to be with Kevin, but she was also afraid to let herself fall in love again. She had gotten hurt too much from Jason and still hadn't gotten over it yet.
Kevin knew that he had promised Brian that he would be that the club that night, but now that he had Taylor in his arms, he didn't want to leave. But he gave her a light kiss on the lips and said, "Well Brian is counting on me to be there tonight, so I had better get going. You have my cell phone number if you need me. Don't hesitate to call if." Kevin said as he got up off the bed.
"You have been so great to me Kevin. Please go and have some fun. You deserve it. Remember have enough fun for the two of us. And I am sure I will be fine." Taylor said as she laid on her back and looked up at Kevin.
Kevin bent down and gave her another quick kiss before he left. He felt the key in his pocket, and vowed that he would check on her on his way home.
