Part 497
Kevin approached the public park quietly, somehow avoiding letting the fall leaves crackle beneath his boots. Billy looked up from his spot on the park bench as he sensed Kevin behind him, and pointed toward the swing set where Becca was gently swaying to and fro.
"Thanks, man," Kevin said, patting him on the shoulder. His hands in his coat pockets, he strode lazily toward the playground, and before he could speak, Becca acknowledged his presence.
"Billy must be getting cold. He should go back to the hotel."
"Can’t do that, Bec, he has a job to do." Kevin seated himself on the empty swing next to her and kicked off, matching her easy rhythm.
"I didn’t ask for him to follow me," she stated defiantly.
"No, but Nick did, and he pays the bills."
"Go back and be with your friends, Kevin."
"I’m already with one of them, Bec."
Becca sighed, knowing there was no polite way to get rid of him, but she could ignore him.
"And ignoring me won’t make me go away."
"What will?" she asked, allowing just a hint of humor to seep through.
Kevin grinned. "Oh … let me see …" he pretended to think hard.
"Well?" she quipped.
"Nothing. Nope, I’m here as long as you’re here." He kicked his booted feet harder, and began to swing higher than Becca had ever dared to go.
"Impressive Kev. Does Lynne know how multi-talented you are?"
"Oh yeah," he smirked. "She knows."
"TMI, Kevin." Becca laughed finally, and slowed down her swinging until the tips of her shoes were dragging through the sand. "Go away, please?" she whined.
"Nope. Becca, Nick’s worried. Come on back with me."
"He knows I’m safe, Kevin, he’s the one who sent Billy to be my watchdog."
"It’s not the same, Becca, and you know it. When we love someone we need to see them with our own eyes or it doesn’t count."
"Stop it, you’re going to make me cry." Becca turned away and wiped her nose on her sleeve.
"So tell me," Kevin asked after a long pause, "did you really call Lou a ‘fat prick’?"
"Yeah, so?"
"I’m hurt, Bec," Kevin grinned. "I thought I was the only one you called a prick?"
"There’s a difference. I called him a ‘fat prick’. You’re just a prick."
Kevin roared with laughter. "Touché, Bec. And at least you called me a prick to my face."
"See? Now don’t you feel special?"
"Bec, for god’s sake, it’s fucking cold out here. Can we PLEASE go back now?"
"You’re not only a prick, you’re a wimp." Becca laughed, shaking her head. "Come on, Kev, let’s get you back and get you warmed up."
"Ooh …" Kevin cooed, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. "You don’t think Nick would object?"
Thank god it was dark so he couldn’t see her blush. "In your dreams, Kevin, in your dreams."
"We need to talk about this more, Bec," he said, and he didn't mean his dreams.
"No we don’t." Subject closed, end of discussion.
"Damn, you’re just like Nick. No wonder you both aggravate the hell out of me."
Kevin put his arm around her, and as they passed Billy they heard him mutter "Damn fucking cold out here."