Part 296
Nick needed to stay out of Howie's way tonight and surfing the net and checking his mail seemed just the way to kill time. As he booted up Sarah's laptop, he heard a giggle from the bedroom at the back and groaned. "Not fair, just not fucking fair. Howie gets it on a daily, sometimes twice daily basis and here I am, stuck talking to a damn computer."
The modem shrieked as it made the connection, and then Nick logged onto his email account. Hey baby, you've got mail, Kevin drawled in a bedroom voice. Nick cracked up, but then groaned once more at the sounds he was forced to endure from behind closed doors. "Music, I need music." As his email finished downloading, he found his CD player and put the headphones on. "Ah, success," he grinned. Trying to pace himself, he forced himself to read through his mail one letter at a time, and not jump ahead to find any mail that Becca might have sent. It was a stupid game he played, and he felt better if he read everything in chronological order. The guys would laugh their asses off if they ever found out about this quirk, but it worked for him.
God, where do they get this shit? He laughed. Junk mail. Junk mail, a letter from Aaron… Too cute. He'd attached a picture of Kathy. Apparently they'd gotten together again when Aaron was on location for something and now he was making plans to use her in his next video. He started to forward it to Becca, but saw that Aaron had already sent it to her. He typed out a quick reply, and then moved on to the next one. "A bigger penis in five days" Nick snorted. "Don't need THAT one." He grinned. "I AM the man," he chuckled aloud. A few more junk emails, then a subject line that had him laughing hysterically: "Attract men with bigger breasts" "Why in hell would I want a man with bigger breasts?" He was still laughing when he found Becca's first email.
TO: nickerz80
FROM: beckybsb
Nick grinned every time he saw her screen name. Let's see what she had to say.
I miss you.
Damn it, this wasn't a good start at all.
But it's okay, Nick. >laughing< Julie printed me out a calendar that I can cross off all the days on. I'm counting down the days till I can see you again, until you can hold me in your arms…Okay, sorry. I was getting carried away for a minute. LOL! So, are you driving Howie crazy yet? I know you, don't deny it. Things here are ok. Garrett is making me crazy.
That's my boy, Nick thought with a smile.
I thought I had him on a schedule, but now he's completely got his days and nights reversed. I feel like a vampire, because I seem to be up with him all night and then settling in to sleep just as the sun comes up. Lynne thinks it's funny, she laughed at my silly notion of actually having a newborn on any kind of schedule. She stopped when I threatened to send Kevin the address of her fanfic web site. Hah! That'll teach her to mess with the wife of a Backstreet Boy. >sigh< That sounds so nice… and I do miss you so much. I hope you're all right, Nick. Please take care of yourself. Damn, Garrett's awake, I gotta go. I love you.
xox
B.
"I love you too," Nick sighed. He pulled off his headphones and shook his head. Damn, she could get to him like no one else.
More junk mail, something from his mother, a couple of things from friends back home in Tampa, then finally, another letter from Becca. This one had a file attached. He clicked on the link, then read the letter as he waited for the file to open.
Dear Daddy,
I miss you like mommy does. I love you. This is what I do when you're not here.
Love,
Garrett
Right about then, a sound file began to play and Nick laughed loud and long. It was a thirty-second sound byte of Garrett howling in a fit of rage.
p.s. Aunt Julie made this recording for you. She says to tell you that you owe mommy big time. What does that mean?
Nick was still chuckling when he began to type his reply.
Dear Garrett,
Remind your mommy how much I love her and tell her that I can't wait to kiss that special spot that I discovered. She'll know which one I mean. And that's all part of what I owe her, now be a good boy and go sleep all night for mommy.
Love,
Daddy
Nick sent the email, then stood up to stretch. Things seemed quieter in Howie-land, so he ventured toward the kitchenette to grab a bottle of water. He'd no sooner left than his instant messenger screen popped up.
BeckyBSB: Nick? You there?
No, he was away from the screen and didn't see her message or hear the alert sound.
BeckyBSB: I guess not. I thought maybe you'd be online. I finally got Garrett calmed down and thought I'd look for you. I'll wait a few minutes before I log off. Buzz me if you're there. BRB….
Nick casually strolled back to find Becca's message waiting.
"Holy shit! Oh damn, please be there …. Please still be there…." Quickly he typed a reply.
Nickerz80: Bec??? BECCA? I'm here, baby, you still there?
Nickerz80: BUZZ!
BeckyBSB: >giggles< Hey baby! I thought maybe you were asleep.
Nickerz80: >snort< As if. With all the racket Howie and Sarah make late at night? Even your snoring would be a welcome relief. >ducking<
BeckyBSB: >frowns< You'd BETTER duck, Mr. Carter.
Nickerz80: >wiggles eyebrows< But I LOOOVE you! >grins<
BeckyBSB: Sure, sure. LOL! What's up?
Nickerz80: I could be, wanta play? What are you wearing? >reclines against pillows<
BeckyBSB: NICK! >blushes< Behave! >giggles< How are you really?
Nickerz80: >shrugs< I'm okay. I miss you, baby.
BeckyBSB: I know, Nick. Only a few more days.
Nickerz80: How are you feeling? I worry about you.
BeckyBSB: Don't! I'm fine. I'm tired, but that's to be expected with an infant in the house. My blood pressure seems to be back to normal, or at least what Lynne calls 'moderate'. I see Dr. Anthony soon.
Nickerz80: I can't wait to see you, Bec. I miss feeling you next to me at night.
Nick waited for a reply, and became worried when there was none.
Nickerz80: Bec? You still there.
BeckyBSB: Sorry. Damn, I hate these hormones. All I do is cry.
Nickerz80: Aw, hell, Bec, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. Please don't!
BeckyBSB: It's okay. I've been this way for days. I talked to Sarah.
Nickerz80: Yeah, she said you'd called.
BeckyBSB: Well, I didn't talk long. She seemed really busy … I think she was going shopping with Lisa.
Nickerz80: Oh yeah, right. She and Lisa have been real buddy-buddy lately. I swear they're surgically attached or something. >grins< It's good that she has someone you know? At least while you're gone.
BeckyBSB: Yeah, I guess. Look, I need to go, I have to sleep while I can, you know?
Nickerz80: Oh. Okay, baby. I love you, Bec. Give my boy a hug and a kiss for me. Tell him his daddy loves him.
BeckyBSB: I will, I love you Nick.
:::beckybsb has logged out:::
"I love you too, Bec." Nick touched his fingers to the screen and then turned it off for the night. He had no idea how his comments about Lisa had hurt Becca or how she'd closed her IM program in tears, a sudden headache flaring up behind her eyes.
All alone in the quiet dark of Toronto, Becca swallowed an aspirin and filled the ice bag. Pressing the comforting cold to her temples, she wrapped herself in a blanket and tried to get some sleep, hopefully without dreaming about Sarah and Lisa. Or Sarah and Nick. Or airplanes … She was in for a long night.
Nick, all alone in the dark of the bus, was settling in with a smile on his face. He always felt better after talking to Becca, and even if it was only via Instant Message, it was still 'her'. He found his favorite Journey CD, put his headphones on and drifted off into a deep sleep, dreaming of his reunion with his wife.