Part 138

"Mmmm, that feels SO good," Becca moaned, closing her eyes as Nick rubbed her feet.

"Bec, are you sure you're all right?"

"Nick, I'm fine, just really tired."

"I'm allowed to worry. Besides, your ankles have disappeared."

"Excuse me?" Becca sat up, trying to peer over her belly at her feet.

"I'm serious. Your ankles are really swollen, Bec, are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm sure it's just from being on my feet so much today, and the flight."

"Ask your doctor please? Baby, I don't want you to overdo it. Maybe you need to be home instead of flying all over the country."

"Nick, I promise I'll call her Monday morning. Please stop worrying," she begged. There was no way she was going to stay in Orlando by herself as Nick wandered the country with his brother or the guys. Fortunately for her the phone rang, ending the discussion.

"I’ll get it." Nick reached across her, trying not to land on her belly and began to laugh at how comical they must look. Becca vaguely resembled a beached whale, and here HE was, trying to crawl over her. "Hello?"

Becca giggled, trying to roll out from beneath him and failing. "Get OFF me!" she gasped, pushing at his shoulders.

Nick landed on the floor with a thud and Becca lost the fight to contain her laughter.

"Hi mom," he said into the phone, shooting her a look that promised revenge at the first opportunity. "What? No, I have no idea." Nick waved Becca into silence as he sat up.

"What?" she whispered.

Holding up a hand he continued to talk to his mother. "Why can't Leslie do it? No, you know *I* can't do it, it's in my contract. Well, sure, I can show up and perform, but not as an opener." He sighed. "Mom-" He rubbed his temples in irritation. "Mom-" Still no luck. "MOM!" he shouted and Becca finally heard silence on the other end whereas before, she could almost hear Jane's entire side of the conversation. "Ok, let me see what I can do. No, not tonight, it's late and I need to take care of Bec. Yeah, I think so, but her feet are all puffy. Really? Okay we'll try that. Yes, I'll call you tomorrow morning as soon as I find something out. NO, not that early, we have a time difference, remember? Yes, lunchtime. YES, I'll call. Say goodnight mom …"

Becca laughed, waving at the phone as Nick ran his hands through his hair.

"Bec says hi. Yeah, I love you, too," he added, rolling his eyes. "Okay, talk to you tomorrow." He broke the connection, falling back onto the floor on his back and groaning.

"Nicky," Becca purred. "Poor baby, what now?" Leaning on one elbow, she looked over the side of the bed to where he lay.

"Aaron's opening act for the pay-per-view taping has bailed. Mom wants ME to find him a new one."

"Leslie can't do it?"

"Nope, she was already signed for a personal appearance in L.A., that's why there was someone else doing it."

"What are you gonna do?"

"Beats me. I'll make some calls in the morning. But first, I'm gonna run you a nice warm bath and call room service."

"Sounds divine," she sighed. "Just don't go anywhere, though, because there's NO way I can get out of a tub without help."

By the time her bath had cooled, room service had arrived with dinner. Nick helped her out and into her nightclothes, but exhaustion had taken its toll and his plans for a relaxing dinner for two turned into dinner for one. Serving up their plates, he turned to find Becca already sound asleep. Nick dimmed the lights, picked up his own dinner and channel-surfed until he found the Cartoon Network. Around midnight, as he was drifting off to sleep, he hit on what he hoped was the answer to Aaron's problem. Too sleepy to do the time-zone calculations, he decided to call them first thing in the morning.

Part 139        The Dance Index(2)