Part 498

"Now go back in there and give him a big hug," Kevin advised her as they stood outside the door to their suite.

"Kevin-"

"Bec, just do it, please?"

Billy swiped the key card and Kevin pushed Becca in ahead of him. She took one look at the concern on Nick’s face and she crumpled. "I’m sorry," she said, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face into his sweater. "I didn’t mean to worry you," she sniffled.

"It’s okay, Bec," he reassured her, looking over her head at Kevin and mouthing ‘thank you’. "Everyone needs some space sometimes." He held her tightly, rubbing her back to get some warmth back in her. "You’re freezing, Bec."

"I think I’ll go take a hot shower. Where’s Garrett?"

"Sleeping, but he’s going to be hungry when he wakes up." Nick smiled and chuckled. "That bottle I gave him didn’t make him too happy. He was looking for his mom to cuddle with."

"You Carter men are all alike," she said and managed to smile weakly.

"Are you really okay?" Nick asked softly, brushing her hair back away from her face.

"No," she whispered, "but I will be. I just need some time, Nicky."

"Then you’ve got it, Bec."

"Kevin! When did you get here?" Sarah asked, finally wandering out from her nap. "Where’s AJ?"

"About an hour ago, and in our room."

Sarah looked at Nick and Becca, then to Kevin. She started to ask the obvious questions about what was going on, but Kevin caught her eye and shook his head. ‘Later’ he mouthed, and she nodded her head, more curious than ever, but willing to let it go. For now.

"I’ll talk to you all later," Becca said as she moved out of Nick’s embrace and toward their bedroom.

"Bec, are you going out to dinner with us?" Sarah called after her.

"Not tonight, sis," she replied tiredly. "Go have fun, okay?"

"Sure, okay," Sarah said.

Wanting to change the subject, Kevin asked, "What did you do with ‘D’, baby…wear him out?"

Joining the others, Howie put his arms around his wife as she rested her head on his shoulder. Giving Kevin a smirk, he said, "Not hardly. I was just checking our dinner reservations. Who’s going to dinner?"

"AJ, Brian, and I are going with you."

Sarah spoke up, "Nicky, are you going?"

Shrugging his shoulders and looking towards the door where Becca had disappeared behind, Nick answered, "I don’t know."

"She needs some time, Nick," Kevin gently reminded him. "And you said she could have it."

"It’ll do you good to get out, Nicky. Please, go with us. It’s been FOREVER since my five most favoritest guys escorted me," begged Sarah taking Nick’s hand. His blue eyes met hers and with a pout, whispered, "Please?"

Nick knew he’d lost the minute Sarah started talking and those eyes and her pout. Damn…she KNEW how to work him over. "You don’t play fair, sis," he grinned pulling her into a fierce hug. "Howie, I don’t know how you do it."

Laughing, Kevin teased, "And you give US hell for not saying ‘no’ to her."

"Yeah, yeah…she plays us all like a fine-tuned violin," quipped Nick.

"Oh, cool! I’m gonna have the five HOTTEST guys in the world taking little ol’ me to dinner," sassed Sarah in her best Southern accent.

Nick smirked, "There’s NOTHING little about you these days."

Sarah stuck her tongue out at him as she bounced back into Howie’s arms.

At the same time, AJ and Brian entered the room and AJ shot, "Oh good gawd! Who let ‘Tigger’ loose?"

From Howie’s arms, Sarah shot, "’Bone’….BITE ME!"

"Gladly…just hold still and stop bouncing!" laughed AJ.

Brian shook his head, "What’s up for dinner?"

"I was just telling everyone that I made reservations for us."

"Where are we going?" asked Kevin. "So we’ll know how to dress."

"A place called ‘The Beehive’. Sounded like THE place to go," said Sarah. "You guys are going clubbing with us afterwards, aren’t you? Howie’s got a whole list of places to pick from."

The four men looked at each other and decided it wasn’t worth fighting with Sarah about NOT going. It was quite obvious that her powers of persuasion were in full force tonight so they all agreed, even Nick. With that, they all headed to their rooms to get ready and agreed to meet at the elevators in half an hour to head out on the town.

Part 499        Index