“Hey girl, come here?” AJ sneaks up on me, pulling me away from my friends and walking me over to a quiet spot by the pool.
“I’m here.”
“Who’s that girl you were talkin’ to before?” AJ nods his head over at a girl and I look.
“That’s Callie. Why? You like?” I ask. I would LOVE to fix AJ up with one of my friends, maybe then he’ll start being happy again. Well, any friend but Callie. I don’t think she’s his type and he’s sure as hell not hers. Callie goes for sweet shy guys.
“No but Howie does.”
“Howie does?” I ask and then grin. Perfect. “They would be great together!” I tell AJ.
“Well he sure likes the look of her.”
“Has he gone over?”
“Naw, he’s turned into mr geek,” AJ tells me. “All Peter Parker and no Spider-Man.”
“Aw!” I laugh. “Well, lemme see what I can do.”
“Much appreciated. The guy is seriously drooling,” AJ grins and I head off.
“Callie,” I join her. “You ok?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” she smiles. “Thanks for bringin’ me along here. Y’know how I LOVE the homes of the rich and famous,” she giggles.
“I know,” I laugh.
I’ve known Callie ever since I met her three years back on an interview with Madonna. We had both been kept waiting for three hours by the pop diva and then had been told we’d have to share an interview with her. Even though we were with rival publications we didn’t care cos in the past three hours we had struck up a friendship. Madonna had been real stroppy and we had both played up to it by asking her dumbassed questions and being sarcastic. Madonna was NOT amused but we were. So much so that we had gone out after the interview and gotten drunk together. She’s a cool girl and a very good friend. I haven’t seen her for a while cos she’s been based in Australia for the past year and a half. I invited her to Nick’s party for two reasons – I missed her being around and she is OBSESSED with other people’s houses. It’s kinda funny. She goes round to famous homes to interview them and then calls everyone up to laugh about their décor and furniture. I would love her to see AJ’s – girl would have a field day.
“But this one isn’t half bad,” she admits, a little disappointed. “Backstreet Boy’s got a lil bit of taste.”
“He does!” I laugh.
“Not as much as your one though.”
“Of course,” I giggle. “So Callie, you got an admirer.”
“I do?” she widens her eyes and I nod. “Do tell!”
“That would spoil the fun,” I giggle evilly and she hits my arm.
“Tell me!”
“Well, it’s a Backstreet Boy.”
“Oh Jade, I’m sorry,” she says seriously, her face falling.
“What?” I give her a look.
“I really didn’t mean to make your husband fall in love with me. I mean, can I help it if guys just fall for me with one smile?” she spreads her hands and shrugs.
“Love yourself much?!” I laugh.
“Oh it’s not him?!” she exclaims. “Shucks.”
“No, not Brian,” I tell her.
“Not initial guy?!” she exclaims. “I mean, I’m sure he’s real nice and all but… He’s kinda freaky.”
“Initial guy?!”
“Yeah, I forget his initials… BJ, CJ, DJ?”
“AJ!” I laugh hard. “And it’s not him.”
“Ok, and gorgeous Kevin is married and Ali is not over here whupping my ass so it CAN’T be blondie,” Callie ticks the boys off on her fingers. “The winky one?!”
“Howie doesn’t wink so much now!” I laugh and defend him. “He’s cute.”
“Hmm, lemme look at him more closely,” he looks around for him and finds him sat on the edge of a lounger chatting with AJ. “Hm, I guess he looks kinda cute…”
“Wanna meet him?” I ask.
“Maybe,” she says coyly. “But I’ll do it in my own time. None of those forced introductions thank you.”
“Aw, you’ll NEVER meet then!” I complain.
“Well, then we never meet,” she shrugs.
“Just go say hi!” AJ tells him exasperatedly. “Hi! How hard is it to say that one little word?!”
“LITTLE?!” Howie exclaims. “By the time I’m done with it that little word will be h-h-h-h-h-huh-huh-hi-i-i-hihi-hi… Hi.”
“You’re not THAT bad,” AJ laughs at his friend’s stuttering.
“Wanna bet?” Howie rolls his eyes. “Anyway, I don’t have time.”
“Dude, it’s a party. Of course you have time to go say hi.”
“But the hi turns into a how you doin’…”
“Or if ya REALLY lucky, a Howie doin’,” AJ interrupts and Howie throws him a look.
“And then I get her a drink and we swap life stories. Then we go on a date and I fall for her and she’s not interested and I don’t get the message and keep calling her, or she IS interested and we go on more dates and before ya know it I’m clearing my entire schedule for her!”
“Wow, who said romance is dead?” AJ remarks dryly. “Just chill and go with it man. You might go say hi and she turns out to be as dull as ditchwater.”
“I guess…” Howie mutters. “Oh, she’s comin’ over here! Why’s she comin’ here?!”
“Because the drinks are over here,” AJ points out dryly.
“Oh, yeah,” Howie calms down a little as Callie walks by his lounger.
“Hey!” AJ calls and she stops to look back at him.
“You hey-ing me?”
“Yup, I am,” AJ gives her a big smile. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m AJ and this is Howie.”
“Hi, I’m Callie,” she walks back to them and they both stand up to greet her, Howie blushing hard.
“Good to meet ya Callie,” AJ tells her. “So, how do you know Nick?”
“I don’t. Jade invited me along.”
“You know Jade?” Howie blurts out.
“Huh huh. I’m a writer too.”
“You are?” AJ responds.
“Jade is a writer too,” Howie tells her. “Uh, you just said that. Sorry.”
“It’s ok,” she gives him a smile. “Nick has a nice place here.”
“Uh huh, you should see Howie’s though,” AJ tells her and they both look at Howie.
“Uh-uh-uh… Yea-yeah,” Howie stutters slightly. “Uh, it’s ok I guess.”
“Where do you live?”
“It’s off the beachfront,” Howie tells her. “My family own the apartment block and I have the sixth floor to myself.”
“A whole floor?” Callie widens her eyes. “Wow.”
“It’s cool,” Howie smiles.
“Nice and private,” AJ winks. “Well, I’m gonna move on and mingle. Can’t deprive all the girls of my sparkling wit and sexy ass,” he grins and walks away.
“He’s lacking in confidence,” Callie remarks dryly and Howie laughs.
“That’s AJ for ya.”
“Yeah,” she smiles and they look at each other in silence.
“So, is Callie short for anything?”
“Yeah, Calista. But if you call me that, I may kill you.”
“It’s a nice name.”
“Thanks for lying so convincingly,” she laughs.
“Well I do like it,” he grins.
“Well thank you Howie. Can I get you a drink?”
“That would be good. Whatever you’re having.”
“Ok, be right back,” she heads off and he sits back down with a smile.