Part 288
After breakfast, they all returned to the buses to leave for the next town. Sarah got a few of Jesse’s things together…coloring books, Barbie dolls, movies…the essentials to keep her occupied for the day. Howie spent the time talking to Lisa who agreed to give the guys a hand with Jesse. She was even going to ride with Brian and Jesse to the next town and of course, Raoul would be there too.
Boarding his own bus, Howie bumped into Nick. "What are you doing, Nick?" asked Howie somewhat irritably.
"Getting on the bus. Whaz it look like?"
"You’ve got your own bus…ride on it!"
"But my stuff if on YOURS and you said I could ride with you and Sarah this week."
"I put my daughter on Brian’s bus so Sarah and I could have some time alone, Nick. Get a clue."
"What is your problem, Howie? You’re the one who offered to let me ride!"
"NO! I…."
"I did and you WILL behave, Howard," snapped Sarah from the top of the steps of the bus.
"Ewww…she called him ‘Howard’!" cracked AJ.
Without acknowledging AJ, Sarah continued with her hands on her hips, "Let Nick get on the bus. It’s only two hours. We can go to the back and still have some privacy."
Howie stepped aside as Nick smiled smugly at him. As he boarded, he gave Sarah a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, sis."
"Behave, Nickolas…and make yourself scarce," warned Sarah. "Howie’s got a right to be irritable."
Nick moved on to the back of the bus saying, "I’m gonna go crash. Mind if I take the bed?"
"YES!" snapped Howie.
Sarah scowled at Howie as she said, "No, go ahead, Nick."
"God, Sarah! You need to rest," protested Howie.
"I’ll stretch out on the couch, D," soothed Sarah as she put her arms around Howie’s waist and kissed him.
"Promise?"
"Yes, baby…come on!"
Billy, Tommy, and Eddie just shook their heads. There was one thing to be said about the wives…they KNEW how to handle the boys keeping the peace. There was no doubt that Sarah was back...and DEFINITELY okay.
As the buses rolled out of town, Howie settled on the couch and watched Sarah put some CDs in the stereo. As the music started, she joined him, sitting between his legs and leaning against his chest. Howie took her hands in his, locked fingers with hers, and wrapped his arms around her tight.
Nuzzling her neck, he began to place light kisses along her neck. "Ummm… you taste so good."
"Thought you wanted me to rest," teased Sarah.
"You are resting…in my arms where you belong."
"But we BOTH know where this will lead."
"Not necessarily. I can control myself. Can you?"
"I don’t know…but," and Sarah sang, "I feel like a woman…oh, oh, oh…totally crazy…"
Howie laughed, "Definitely a woman! What’s up with the music?"
"Just got the urge. I got an idea for a completely DIFFERENT set for tomorrow night."
"NO!" said Howie emphatically. "You are NOT performing tomorrow night."
Sarah moved so that she was now facing him and began kissing him along his neck, running her tongue along the skin first before sucking gently. Against his skin, she whispered, "Please, D."
Howie moaned as she ran her hand across his crotch feeling himself respond to her touch. Taking her hand in his and pushing her back, he said, "No, that’s the end of it, Sarah. Stop trying to back me down."
Sarah looked into his eyes to decide if she wanted to continue. She had two reasons for doing this.…first to see how serious he was about her not performing and second, to prove to him that Kevin was wrong. He WAS able to say ‘no’ to her and stand up to it. Seeing that he wasn’t angry, she continued, "But, D! You know you can’t say ‘no’ to me."
Pushing her completely off him, he said, "Yes, I can, Sarah. I’m not playing about this. You are NOT singing for at least a week. You promised and I intend to hold you to that. Now stop trying to change my mind."
Sarah saw the look in Howie’s eyes. Okay…time to stop. He was at his breaking point with her. "Okay," she answered and settled back onto the couch putting her head on his lap. She took his hand in hers and began tracing the veins on the back of his hand and playing with his wedding band as if nothing had happened.
Howie looked at her and shook his head. "That’s it. You aren’t going to argue with me about it?"
Looking up at him, she smiled, "Why should I? You said ‘no’, I gave it my best shot to change your mind, and I couldn’t. No big deal."
Howie grinned, "Uh huh! And why do I get this feeling that this isn’t the end it?"
Innocently, Sarah said, "It is, D. I respect the fact that you said ‘no’."
Howie looked at Sarah as she played with his hand. He knew full well that Sarah was planning something. He just hoped that she wasn’t going to be foolish enough to perform. But what if she did? He knew she wasn’t going to do anything to put the babies or herself at risk….not after this last round.
As she twirled his wedding band, Sarah thought about what she wanted to do. How mad would Howie be? She had to perform…to do this set she had in mind and in Montreal. The songs she had chosen were upbeat for the most part and fun. That’s what she needed…and she needed to do the love songs for Howie. She just hoped Howie wouldn’t be too angry with her.
The next problem was who was going to introduce her. She couldn’t get Kevin, Howie, or Brian. All three of them were against her performing and Kevin and Brian would tell Howie if she told them. No…Nick and Alex were on her side and it would have to be them. They would have to help her get sound checks done and keep Howie and Kevin occupied long enough to get on stage. Neither one would dare stop her once she’d started her set. She’d talk to them in the morning. She also knew she needed to rest. She made her mind up that that’s exactly what she’d do for the rest of the day.