Part 66
As the limo pulled up in front of the hotel, they all saw the swarm of press. Sarah was fairly toasted by now and said, "They’re like a fucking swarm of vultures."
Becca was now scared. "Sarah…they can’t see me! Not now."
"Don’t worry about it. Hand me your cell phone," said Sarah angrily. Then to the driver, she said, "Drive around to the back of the hotel." The others looked at her wondering what she was going to do. "Billy…. get someone down to the back entrance….the damn press is swarming the front and Becca doesn’t need it….no, I’ll go back and face the music. They’ve already seen the limo so I’ve gotta do this."
Sarah hung up as the limo pulled up to the service entrance. Two minutes later, Billy and Carlos were at the door and Sarah said, "You guys go with Becca and meet me in the bar."
Ali spoke up, "Vanessa and I will go with you, Sarah. No need to let you face them alone."
"Thanks but I’m use to it."
Billy said, "Sarah…hurry up. They’re gonna find out you’re around here. Raoul and Marcus will meet you up front."
Sarah pushed Becca out of the car, "GO DAMNIT! This is what you want."
Becca looked back at Sarah as Sonja got out with her. "Thanks, Sarah."
The limo door closed and Becca and Sonja disappeared into the hotel with Billy and Carlos. Sarah sighed with relief as the limo pulled away and went back to the front of the hotel. Sure enough, Raoul and Marcus were already waiting trying to hold the press back so that Sarah, Ali, and Vanessa could get out without too much trouble.
Amazingly sober, Sarah said, "You two let me talk."
As the door opened, flashbulbs went off in their face and Sarah stepped out to a hail of questions being yelled at her. She smiled sweetly and headed towards the door waving and greeting the press.
"Sarah…how does Howie feel about the way you’re dressed?…What’s the tattoo on your shoulder?….Who are the other two with you?….Why did you circle the block?"
With Alison and Vanessa safely inside, Sarah turned back, "Thanks for being so supportive of the guys. I know they’d all appreciate you coming out for the kick off of the second leg of their tour."
"Sarah, where have you been tonight? Are you and Howie having problems already?"
"No, I’ve been at Howie’s club…Tabu…handling business for him since he has the tour getting started again. And no, we’re NOT having problems."
"You’ve been seen around Orlando with a pregnant woman. She looks to be the same young lady who accompanied Nick to the party back in January. Is there something the guys aren’t telling us or the fans?"
"Not to my knowledge and the lady I was with is my best friend."
"Is the father of her baby one of the guys?"
"That’s NONE of your business and I’d appreciate you leaving her alone. She doesn’t need the stress of you hounding her."
"We’ve got to know….How does Howie feel about the way you’re dressed tonight?"
Sarah laughed, "You are freakin’ amazing. What does it matter how I’m dressed?"
"Well, it’s rather trashy for the wife of a pop star who is supposedly
a role model for young people. Not to mention the tattoo on your shoulder. And
you appear to be rather drunk. How do you think the fans will react to the image
you’re projecting now? Are you spending time with AJ? We hear he’s been
doing quite a bit of partying lately and we all know what good party pals you
two were last year."
Raoul stepped between Sarah and the reporter who made the comment and started to grab the guy’s camera but Sarah stopped him. She said menacingly, "Let me tell you something, you print the FIRST thing about what YOU suspect about my drinking or comment that YOU THINK I’m setting a bad example for the guys’ young fans and I WILL see to it that you’re slapped with a lawsuit! If you can’t print something NICE about the guys, then don’t print anything at all!"
With that, Sarah spun around and headed into the hotel only to be met by a horde of teenage fans. She thought, ‘Oh just fuckin’ lovely! Just what I need now!’ but she put on her best smile and spoke to the fans as she moved through the lobby.
Sarah, Ali, and Vanessa made their way to the bar in the hotel. The first thing Sarah did was order a shot of tequila and downed it quickly. She turned to see the other four waiting for her and she joined them. They headed to the elevator that would take them to the penthouse floor where the guys would be in the middle of Nick’s bachelor party.
Sarah didn’t think it could get much worse but as they approached the elevator, she was to find out she was wrong. A hotel security guard met them at the doors of the elevator and stopped them.
"Where do you think you’re going?" he said to all five girls.
"To my fucking room," said Sarah angrily. "What’s your problem?"
"I’m sorry but no one is allowed on that floor except the people with passes."
Raoul and Marcus had already gone up at Sarah’s okay leaving them without their crew passes. Sarah looked at the man angrily. "I am Howie Dorough’s wife and I AM GETTING ON THAT ELEVATOR," pushing her way to the elevator.
"No ma’am, you’re not. You don’t have the security pass that gives you approval,"
he said as he cut Sarah off.
Becca said, "Sarah, he’s just doing his job. Just call Howie and get him to send Raoul back down with your pass."
Sarah eyed the guard angrily. "You’d better be glad she’s sober so she can keep me under control."
Becca handed Sarah her phone again and Sarah called Billy once again. Seconds later, Billy came through the elevator laughing that Sarah couldn’t get up to the floor. He cleared the girls and all five got on the elevator with Billy.
On the ride up, Alison told Sonja and Becca about the press out front and the questions they had answered. They also told them Sarah’s response to which Becca was grateful. She didn’t say anything but Sarah knew, even as drunk as she was.
Stepping off the elevator, they all heard the music blaring from Howie’s and Sarah’s room. Like a light switch, Sarah was happy again, ready to party. They all headed to the door that magically opened and Brian appeared.
He was thrilled to see Sonja and the first one to disappear from the group was Sonja as Brian whisked her away to his room.
Sarah, Ali, Vanessa, and Becca looked at each other giggling as Becca asked, "Are you sure we should crash the party?"
Without hesitation, Sarah said, "HELL YES! My husband is in there with your future husband and the father of your child with BELLY DANCERS. What the hell do you think I AM GONNA DO? Besides, Howie and I NEVER party without each other!"
"What? Is it against some married couples code of ethics or something?" asked Vanessa.
They all broke out in giggles with that and Sarah said, "Uh….yeah! Come on…..I can’t wait to see what they are doing!"