Chapter 58
“He said he was going to leave the group?” Howie asked, now very concerned with the situation.
“He can’t leave the group. If it takes me leaving, then I will. BUT, I will not watch you all suffer because of me.” Dee sighed and went to sit down.
After a short while, Nick and I finally found everyone. They all looked like they had been hit by cars. Dee was crying over in the waiting room, Howie was staring out the window from the corridor, and Brian was pacing back and forth. Each of them seemed like the world was coming to an end. Nick went over to talk to the guys while I went to sit with Dee.
“Oh honey, don’t cry. Please. It will be okay. Look, it was a mistake. AJ just needs time to figure things out, and you just need to stay calm. Have you said anything to Kevin about all this?”
“Heavens no! If I had told him anything over the phone, could you imagine the monster that would get off that plane?” Dee asked in hysterics.
“Look, maybe I should talk to him...” I tried to say.
“No, I will do it. I have to be honest with him. I am not going to lie to him about anything anymore. I just can’t take it...” she said.
After Nick found out all that had happened, we all decided to stay quiet when Kevin arrived. None of us wanted to get in the middle of it, not for our own good, but for the sake of AJ, Dee, and Kevin. We all felt that staying neutral in the situation would be best.
*** *** ***
We had all gone down to the cafeteria to eat while Howie stayed up in the room with AJ. The attendant brought a very unappetizing dinner to AJ and asked Howie if he wanted anything. Howie only shook his head and then watched as AJ picked at his food.
“AJ, you have to eat...and you don’t want me to get your mom up here to force feed you, do you??” Howie asked, now annoyed at is friend.
“Look Howie, I just don’t feel like eating...okay?” AJ snapped.
Suddenly, Nick appeared at the door. “AJ, Kevin is here and he wants to see you.”
“Nick, tell him to come la...” AJ said, but was cut of as Kevin stepped through the door.
“AJ! Hey, man, how ya feeling? Any better?” Kevin asked, glad to see his friend.
“Um, yeah...a bit better, thanks for coming.” AJ responded.
Kevin stepped over and hugged his friend. “I’m just glad to see that you are still with us.”
Nick and Howie looked at each other and then motioned to leave. “We’ll see you both later. We will be down in the cafeteria.” Nick said as the two of them exited the room.
“So, what brought all this on AJ? This isn’t like you man. Did something happen while I was gone, cuz, ya know, everyone around here is acting kinda weird.” Kevin said as he stared at AJ.
“Umm, well, there was something I needed to talk to you about.” Replied AJ.
Kevin looked at him suspiciously, “Yeah, what about?”
“Well, it’s about...” AJ tried to say.
“ME.” Dee said as she walked in the door.
“Baby! Am I ever glad to see you! I missed you so much.” Kevin said as he walked over to Dee and kissed her.
Dee immediately pulled back, and turning her head away from Kevin.
“Dee, what’s the matter, and why does AJ want to talk to me about you?” Kevin questioned.
“It’s because of something I did.” Dee answered.
“No Dee, it was because of me. Trust me, it was all my fault.” AJ butted in.
‘Look, I don’t care who’s fault it is...just tell me what is going on.” Kevin demanded.
“Well, umm, remember that little game you all were playing at the shop, umm, the day I was altering your tuxes?” Dee questioned nervously.
“No, what game?” he said.
“The one where you all asked me to tell you who was more sexy?? Well, umm, you and AJ vowed to prove to me...and well...” Dee stammered.
“I proved to her what a jerk and dishonest friend I was by sleeping with her behind your back.” AJ finished.
“YOU DID WHAT?!!!” Kevin hollered. His voice echoed down the corridor. Several nurses had come to the room when the attendant sitting in the corner of the room called the nurses station.
Kevin then lunged at AJ, ready to hit him....
*** *** ***
The six of us, sat in the cafeteria waiting for the sirens to come blaring down the halls. We knew there would be a fight, but we didn’t know when or where it would take place.
“I think things are going to be okay. I mean, people do stupid things...but they can forgive. I just hope that AJ and Kevin don’t get into a fight. I think they have all been through enough. And to tell you the truth...I can’t handle any more stress. This baby is getting mad at me for keeping it up.” I said as I rubbed my tummy.
Nick looked over at me. “Honey, are you feeling okay? You look tired.”
“Yeah, I’m okay...just exhausted. For some reason or another, I can’t seem to keep my energy level up. But, don’t worry, it’s probably nothing.” I answered.
As Howie, Brian and Nick talked, Leighanne and Denise started asking about the baby.
“So, how are you really feeling?” Leighanne asked. “I mean, this is a wonderful piece of your life, but you have been through a lot lately, and I hate to see you stressed. It’s not good for you or the baby.” She said, offering any help she could.
“Well, with the wedding stuff all done, I can get some better rest. And, although I feel like a one ton water buffalo, I think I am doing fairly well. But enough about that...let me tell you...we had a wonderful honeymoon...” I said as a big smile crossed my face.
“Oh, do tell honey!” Denise insisted.
*** *** ***
The guys sat around an joked about the latest events in their lives and then Nick finally brought them back to reality.
“Well, we haven’t heard anyone call for security on the fourth floor yet, so, maybe everything is okay.” Nick said optimistically.
“Frack, I give it about five more minutes.” Brian said to Nick.
Suddenly, we heard over the hospital intercom...”We need security in Room 419, security to Room 419 please. Stat.”
“Shit. That’s AJ’s room. Here we go.” Howie said as he, Denise, Brian, Leighanne, Nick and I made our way out of the cafeteria and to AJ’s room.
*** *** ***
Kevin grabbed AJ by the arm and was about to punch him square in the face, when an armed security guard came racing into the room.
“TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF HIM, SIR.” The guard said.
Kevin immediately let go of AJ’s arm, but reluctantly stood back.
“What the hell is your problem Dee?! Am I not good enough in bed with you? Do I disgust you so much that you had to go and sleep with this asshole to prove it to me?!” Kevin yelled.
“Kevin...it didn’t happen that way...I swear!” Dee screamed.
“I never want to see your face again...get the hell outta here! You can pick up your stuff off my front lawn tomorrow morning. Just get your scanky ass away from me!” Kevin yelled as he pushed her away.
Dee was sobbing as she ran from the room. I saw her and tried to stop her, but she got onto the elevator before I could reach her.
“And as for you AJ...I promise, I will get you for this...I swear. You will pay for ruining my life.” Kevin threatened, as he raised his arm to AJ again.
The guard immediately took a hold of Kevin, and escorted him away. We all arrived just moments before and witnessed AJ and Kevin’s argument. Kevin saw us, and immediately felt betrayed.
“You all knew about this...I thought you would be friends enough to tell me.” Kevin said as he was taken from the room.
After a few moments of silence, Howie finally broke the silence.
“I take it, it didn’t go very well, did it?”