Part 499
Howie was finishing with his hair as Sarah headed out to the common area of the suite. That’s where she found Nick pacing the floor and looking very much like a thundercloud.
"You’ve been around Kevin too long," teased Sarah taking a seat on the couch to wait for her husband.
Nick looked up and growled, "What’s THAT suppose to mean?"
"You look like him when he’s pissed. What’s wrong?"
"I shouldn’t be going out having fun. It’s two nights in a row."
"Did you tell Becca what you were gonna do?"
"Yeah, I told her everybody was going out," sighed Nick as he sat beside Sarah putting his head on her shoulder.
"And?"
"She said for me to go and have fun. I asked her to come, but she said to go on without her."
"Then what’s the problem?"
"I don’t know," he sighed, "I just ..."
"Look, tell ya what. I’ll go say good-bye to Becca myself and see what kind of mood she’s in."
"Thank you, sis."
Sarah shook her head and headed into the bedroom. She found Becca curled up
on the bed reading a parenting magazine and Garrett playing happily in his
bassinet. "Hey, sis. Need me to bring you something to eat?"
"No thanks. I’ll call room service in a little while. Have fun tonight.
Nick said you were going clubbing after dinner."
"Yeah, Howie thought it would be cool to check out some of the local
clubs."
"And you’ll have all five guys with you?"
"Like it use to be before my life got so damn complicated. I’ll see you
in the morning. Have fun."
"Thanks. I’d tell you the same but I know you will," smiled Becca. There was a strange sense of de`ja vu to it all. This was how it had been in college…. Sarah going out partying while she stayed back to study. Watching Sarah start to leave, Becca decided to ask Sarah the question that had been burning in her brain since Lou left. "Sarah, I need to know something."
Stopping at the door, Sarah looked back as Becca sat up, "What’s up?"
"Last night, you were so furious that you were throwing things because of Lou. Today, ‘he’ shows up and you were perfectly calm. I don’t get it. How and why did you do it?"
Sarah went back and took a seat by Becca. "You’re analyzing this WAY too much. Let it go."
"Please Sarah, I need to know."
"Okay. First, I stayed calm by counting to a hundred and held Howie’s hand tight. If you ask him, he’ll tell you I just about cut off the circulation in his hand. Why…well, Howie promised me he’d handle all this and he has. Steve is already on it and you know Steve is as ruthless as Lou is loathsome. He’ll make sure Lou doesn’t print any of that stuff."
"You can’t stand Steve though."
"No, I can’t but Howie trusts him to handle his business and I trust
Howie. Steve will do what Howie wants. Is that it?"
"Yeah. Thanks."
"No problem." Sarah started to leave again but looked back as Becca returned to her magazine. She knew her best friend was brooding over what had happened with Lou and the scene in the living room became completely clear now. This was why Becca needed some time. She started to speak but heard Howie coming out of their room. It would have to wait. Maybe Kevin and Nick would shed more light on all this.
"There’s my beautiful ‘angel’," said Howie as Sarah joined him. "Talking to Becca?"
"Saying good-night. Nick, come on and let’s have some fun," said Sarah.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Let me go say good-bye to her then. You two go ahead and I’ll catch up."
"Nah, we’ll wait for you, Nicky," grinned Sarah as she put her arms around Howie.
Nick went into the bedroom where Becca was and returned just minutes later. Sarah knew he still wasn’t completely sure about going out without Becca so she decided that she’d give him a way out before it got too late. Together, the three went out to find AJ, Kevin, and Brian waiting for them at the elevators as planned.