Part 484
"Hey, D, this place is pretty cool!"
Howie grinned as he watched Nick take in all there was to do at Funplex. "I thought bowling might be fun, it’s been a while since I whipped your butt."
"In your dreams, Sweetness," Nick smirked. "Awesome, they even have miniature golf! Let’s go!"
"Nick, I dunno …"
"What? You know I’ll win?" Nick grinned, dancing around like a kid.
"No, goofball, it’s freezing cold out there."
"What a pussy. You’re afraid of some cold air?"
"Wise ass, that’s not what I meant," Howie said rolling his eyes. "If you catch a chill, then you lose your voice. You can’t sing, and our shows are screwed. And besides, Garrett doesn’t need you bringing any more germs home. Nick, he’s already fighting something and doesn’t need you adding to it. And if you’re sick, then you can’t help Becca-"
"All right! I give up!" Nick backed away, waving a napkin like a white flag of surrender and laughing at the look Howie was giving him. "Okay, so …"
"There’s plenty left to do, Nick." Howie looked around, but before he could suggest something else, Nick found the pinball machines against the back wall and was pumping tokens into the slot. Knowing he’d been beaten, he reached out his hand for a token and set up shop at the machine right next to Nick.
The men had been playing in companionable silence for almost an hour when Nick began to get restless. Looking around, he spotted the basketball hoops and laughed. "Remember when Sarah trashed me in Baton Rouge?"
"Yeah, busted your ego a bit that night, eh Kaos?" Howie laughed and put his hand on Nick’s shoulder. He looked up at his friend and saw that he was a million miles away, lost in some memory. "Come on, let’s go sit."
Nick let himself be led to the party room and sat playing with a discarded straw wrapper as Howie went to get a pitcher of beer. A full glass appeared in front of him and he looked up as Howie raised his glass.
"To friends," Howie said softly.
"Yeah, man," Nick agreed softly. "To friends." He took a long drink and raised his glass again. "To the future, whatever it holds."
Howie clinked his glass against Nick’s watching him in silence. Finally he set it down and laid his hand on Nick’s wrist. "You okay Nicky?"
"Yeah, I think so." He looked into Howie’s eyes and smiled tiredly. "Just been a weird day, yanno?"
"I bet. Sarah told me that you found Bec’s journal."
"Yeah, actually her landlady gave it to me." Nick chuckled. "Mrs. Chambers. What a trip SHE was."
"How’s Becca?"
"Better." Just the way Nick said it made Howie believe it. No hesitation, no unsureness, just very matter of fact. "Thanks for inviting us, D."
"Nick, I’m sorry, I really am. I never even thought how Becca might react to being here in Denver."
"No! I meant it when I said thank you! I think this was the best thing for Becca, and for me too. It wasn’t easy, but I think we can finally move on and have a real life. We’ve come full circle and come out on the other side, pretty much unscathed."
"’Unscathed’?" Howie laughed.
"Shut up! I’m not as dumb as I let you think I am." Nick picked up a new straw and shot the wrapper at Howie, hitting him right between the eyes.
"Yeah, real mature, Nick," he snorted, rolling his eyes. They both laughed as Howie poured another round and sat perfectly at ease in their silence, totally relaxed for the first time in who knew how long. "So tell me…"
"Yeah?"
"You’re on the other side now and ready to move on, you and Becca. What’s the future look like to you?"
"Tough question, D." He sat for a minute and then smiled broadly. "The future … hell, D, I want it all. I have the most amazing wife in the world, I have a son who is a gift from God, make no mistake about it, and I have some of the best friends anyone could ask for. I wanta grow old in this business, D. Maybe do some of my own stuff some day, I don’t know. Bec and I can’t wait to get back home so we can settle GT into his own room and do normal family stuff."
Howie watched as Nick’s face lit up and smiled. "What else?"
"I want to do real stuff, like help around the house and cut the grass and maybe even go to church on Sunday-" He stopped and took a breath. "I want to be the husband that Becca deserves and the best father to GT that I can possibly be." He stopped and looked at Howie before continuing quietly. "I want to grow up."
Howie couldn’t reply past the sudden haze of wetness in his eyes. He held Nick’s gaze and reached for his hand. "Got a news flash for you Nick. It’s already happened, man."
Nick stood and pulled Howie into a fierce hug. Before the scene could possibly degrade into further sappiness, he pulled Howie off toward the bowling alley. "Come on Sweet D, show me whatcha got."