When You Were Mine: Joe and Katherine's Love Story (A Joey McIntyre Fanfiction)

28

"Britney? Hey. I've been meaning to to come over and introduce myself all night. I'm a big fan."

"Oh wow thanks Joey. Hearing you say you're a fan of mine just blows my mind, because I'm a big fan of yours. I loved New Kids so much. Y'all were my first concert. I had your posters all over my wall."

Joe puts his hand over his heart. "Aww thats awesome!"

"So Disney wants me to pick a male act to do a Disney concert with. I was hoping maybe you'd be interested. You have to be one of the most talented singers I've ever heard. And I think we'd have fun."

Joe's surprised Britney is the one asking him, but he'd be stupid not to take her up on the offer. "Yeah I'd love that."

Before he leaves the event Joe looks around for Jordan. He sees him still talking to that same girl.

As Joe approaches them Jordan whispers something to the girl and walks towards Joe. "Hey man, I was just about to leave and I wanted to say bye."

Jordan hugs Joe, "Yeah I'm heading home too. You staying in California long?"

Joe shakes his head. "Hell no I'm headed back to Boston tomorrow."

"Well it was good to see you. We'll have to get together next time I'm in Boston. Take care of yourself."

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Joe's been home about six months from his Disney Tour with Britney Spears. Life's pretty much gone back to normal. 

Joe's surprised when he runs into Jordan one day at the grocery store. "Hey Jordan, you're probably the last person I'd expect to see here." Joe immediately looks around for Katherine. Joe still thinks about her all the time. He still misses her so much. "Where's that beautiful wife of yours? Surely she's back from her research trip."

Jordan looks down at his feet. "She didn't come home with me." Joe can see it in Jordan's face there's more to this. And Jordan's not saying what it is.

"You feel like getting a drink?"

Jordan smiles, it's a weak smile, but at least it's a smile. "Yeah man that would be really great."

Joe and Jordan have a couple of drinks before Joe asks the question he's been dying to ask. "What's going on with you and Kate?"

"Damnit Joe I don't want to talk about Katherine with you. You know nothing good comes of us doing that."

"Katherine? Now I know something's going on with you two. I'm not sure how long it's been since I heard you call her Katherine. Talk to me bro."

"We're getting divorced Joe. I fucked everything up just like you said I would."

Joe's shocked. He can't believe it. It's been less than a year and already Kate is free again. "What did you do Jordan?" Even Joe can hear the distain in his voice.

"I fucked up man. I was lonely and I had all this success with my solo album and she wasn't there. She could barely be reached by telephone where she was and I needed her."

Joe shakes his head in disbelief. "So you cheated on her? And you're making it sound like it's her fault. Jesus Jordan, I knew you'd never change."

"It wasn't like that Joe. I didn't cheat on her. Well I guess I did in a way. But I didn't sleep with anyone else. But I wanted to, I really really wanted to. Oh man this girl was insanely beautiful and the things she kept telling me she wanted to do to me. It was too much temptation. Wait, you saw the girl, that night we ran into each other. The one I was talking to all night. You can't say you wouldn't have been tempted too."

Joe remembers the girl, she was drop dead gorgeous, but in Joe's eyes she had nothing on his Kate. "No Jordan I wouldn't have. So if you didn't sleep with the girl what did you do to cause you and Kate to be getting divorced?"

Jordan bows his head again. "I was on my way to that girl's apartment when Katie girl called me. I thought Katie girl was the girl I was going to meet. So I said I was on my way. Katie girl caught what I said and I hung up then ignored her calls. She figured it out pretty quickly. So when she got home I had divorce papers waiting for her at the house. I knew I couldn't be faithful on the road and I didn't want to cheat on her. So I did what I thought was best, I let her go."

Joe laughs sarcastically. "You're a fucking idiot. I can't believe you Jordan. I mean why did you insist on getting married? Why did you even start seeing her? You know yourself better than to think you'd be faithful to anyone. You're too insecure. You need constant reassurance from women, you always have. I would have loved her forever, the way she deserved to be loved."

Jordan gives Joe a hard look. "Then I guess you should have married her when you had the chance."

"I asked her a dozen times. I kept asking her until the last time we were together. She turned me down every time. She chose you, you asshole. And you let her down." Joe stands up. "I've got to go Jordan. I can't even look at you right now."

Joe throws down some money and walks out of the bar. His only thoughts are of Kate. He's got to get to her. He needs to see her, make sure she's okay. He knows she has to be hurting.

Joe goes home and tries to call her. She doesn't answer. He packs a bag and heads to the airport.

Joe buys a one way ticket to San Diego.

Joe has a little time before his flight so he stops at a bar in the airport. He's sitting at the bar drinking his drink, thinking about how good it'll be to see her again.

His phone buzzes, letting him know someone has sent him a text.

Kate- Joe I'm sorry I can't talk to you right now. I'm guessing you called because you heard about Jordan and I splitting up. I need distance from all of you guys. I can't keep reliving this shitshow. Please give me some time. We'll talk as soon as I get myself back together okay. Love you.

It breaks his heart all over again to read her message. She wants nothing to do with him because of his association with Jordan.

Joe finishes his drink and leaves the airport. He goes home and drowns his sorrows in a whiskey bottle.