Part 557
AJ stood and stretched as the movie came to an end. Glancing out the window, he could see the glow of Vegas in the distance.
"I’m gonna go wake ‘Tigger’…if you don’t mind."
"Go ahead."
AJ headed to the back of the bus and opened the door gently. The emergency lights cast a soft glow over her sleeping form and he smiled. She was so beautiful, even more so pregnant.
Damn, Howie’s one lucky man, he thought.
He moved quietly to the bed and sat down beside her. Tenderly, he brushed her hair back and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Hey, ‘Tigger’, time to wake up," he called softly.
"Ummm," moaned Sarah as she moved her head towards his hand.
With his thumb, he caressed her cheek. "Come on, Sarah. We’re almost to Vegas. You need to wake up."
Eyes still closed, she mumbled, "Where’s ‘D’?"
"Out on the couch."
Sarah took a deep cleansing breath and let it out.
"What’s wrong, baby?"
"Contraction."
"This early? Do we need to go to a doctor?" Panic laced his voice.
"No, it’s just Braxton-Hicks…false labor pains." Opening her eyes, she looked up at AJ and put her hand on his. "Did you and Howie talk?"
"Yeah, we did. Thank you. Did you have a good nap?"
"Uh huh." Sarah squeezed his hand. "Alex."
"Yeah, baby."
"Hold me?"
"Are you sure? I mean, I could…"
"You, Alex. I want you to hold me."
"But…"
"Stop arguing and come hold me."
Sarah scooted over to allow AJ to join her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
"Your husband is gonna kick my ass when he comes in here."
"Nah," said Sarah running her hands over his arms. "Alex, you’re a good man who deserves to be loved. NO ONE is gonna hold your mistakes against you…not if they are your true friends."
"How do you do that?"
"I can see it in your eyes…and I use to do it myself when Howie and I first started dating."
"She still does it now," came Howie from the door.
The two looked up at him as Sarah said, "Hey, ‘D’."
"Hey, ‘Angel’. You aren’t gonna be able to sleep when we get to the hotel are you?"
"Nope!"
"Why don’t we hit the casino in the hotel then?" suggested AJ.
"All three of us?"
"Sounds like a plan to me. ‘D’?’
"Just so long as we don’t stay too long. It’s already almost 2 now and the driver said we’re still about thirty minutes out. Tomorrow’s a busy day too."
"An hour, ‘D’…then I should be able to get to sleep."
"An hour and NO arguing with me…EITHER one of you."
"Yes sir," both chorused with silly grins.
Howie shook his head, "You two are bad…REALLY bad."
"But you LOVE us," smirked AJ.
"Uh huh…why don’t you get out of that bed and leave my wife alone?"
"Just doing as the lady requested. ‘Tigger’, thank you."
"No problem. Alex, I believe in you. Don’t ever forget that."
"Not for as long as I live."
AJ gave her a kiss before leaving her with Howie to get ready.