Chapter 6

I pushed my hair to the side, watching as the kids got way too excited.  I smiled as LeighAnne opened the door, her lips frowning at my attire.

“That is not the sexy outfit I was talking about, you know.”  I glanced down at my slippers, the boy shorts and the tank top and offered a shrug as I looked back up to her, knowing that would only cause her to glare more at me.  I knew this wasn’t the outfit she referred too, but oh well.

“Not tonight, not in front of Terri,” I told her and LeighAnne rolled her eyes as she allowed us in.

“Mason and Baylee are already in the room, you guys.”  The twins beamed at LeighAnne as they quickly rushed over to the bedroom.

“I think the only reason they are going to have fun is because of their cousins.”

“You have to love the Backstreet family,” she said with a shrug.

“Hey, someone hollered Backstreet.”  I glanced behind me as AJ pushed his way through the door, followed by Nick and Terri.

“Does she have to be here?  She’s really not part of this group anymore.”  I glanced over at Terri, already hating her!  And being honest, I didn’t know her, but damn, can we say rude?  Mentally I rolled my eyes at her stupid question because she just didn’t get it.  I might not be a ‘wife’ anymore, but I was still a very dear friend of everyone.

“She’s my date.  By the way, those boy shorts, mmm, damn, ya look good.”  I gave AJ a funky look after that comment before turning my attention to the blonde bimbo attached to Nick’s arm.

“Believe me Terri, I have more of a reason to be here than you, even without Age!”  I stormed past her and Nick and walked into the living room.  LeighAnne gave Nick a pointed look before she walked into that area, followed by AJ.

“Look, sweetie, I know you don’t like Theresa,” Nick started and Terri snorted at that.  “Really!  Anyway, she’s my ex-wife, the mother of my kids, and she’s currently working for us.  You may not like her, may not stand her, but the guys and their wives do.  Do not piss them off over her.”

“Nicky, why don’t you make me your wife?  I can fit in with everyone and they won’t frown upon me.”  Nick sighed.  He had told Resa that he wanted to marry Terri, and part of him did.  But, there was a part of him that kept putting it off, and that part, he just didn’t want to examine too closely.

“They’re waiting on us baby,” he said, leading her the rest of the way into the room.

~*~*~*

I leaned back against the couch; AJ resting against my legs, his arms wrapped around my legs and his hands running over them.  To anyone else, this would look rather bad, but it just truly was AJ’s nature to flirt.  He glanced down at the black slippers and cocked his head to the side.  He lifted my foot up, causing my whole leg to be lifted.  Damn, maybe it was a good thing to be sorta flexible.

“What are you looking at AJ?” I asked him.

“Your slippers.  They have BSB all over them.”

“So, they do.  Your point?”

“Where did you…”  He trailed off as he turned around and looked at my shorts.  “You’re a fan?” he asked.

“Of you all?  Nope.  But, I figured you guys might need the money.”

“Where did you get them?” Kristen asked as she looked at them too.

“At Wal-Mart, Kristen.”  All of us started laughing, or, at least Terri didn’t.  She only rolled her eyes and cuddled closer to Nick.  I glanced over at LeighAnne, who was making a gagging motion and trying my hardest not to laugh at her.  “Stop it,” I mumbled.  I felt AJ slap my leg to stop me from shaking, but I couldn’t help it.  We heard the bedroom door open and saw Tamara run out and straight to her daddy.

“Daddy,” she whined.  “Thomas…” She trailed off as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

“What’s wrong princess?” he asked.  Tamara tried to climb on his lap, but Terri wasn’t budging form his side.

“Thomas, he…” she started again, getting even more upset because she couldn’t get the attention she wanted.

“For crying out loud, he did what!?” Terri yelled, more than annoyed with the little girl, and showing it.