~*~ A Friendship Forged ~*~
Andi spent the rest of her shift waiting on Howie, AJ, and Kevin, shamelessly flirting with all three of them. They even coaxed her onto the dance floor despite her protests. And even though she’d been angry with AJ, she was disappointed when he said goodnight.
Now at three in the morning, her shift was over and she was standing out front of the club waiting for her cab when a car pulled up. The door swung open and Howie leaned over.
"Get in."
"What are you doing?"
"I promised you a ride home. Now get in."
"But I’ve called a cab and it’s on it’s way."
"Okay, fine. I’ll wait with you and you can tell them you don’t need them."
Howie got out and circled around to stand with her.
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
"Why shouldn’t I be?’
"Well, I DID spill your drinks in your lap."
"An accident. You did an awesome job after that…and before too from what I’m told."
The cab pulled up and Howie pulled out his wallet. Andi watched as he handed the driver a fifty and sent him on his way.
"Now, let’s go," said Howie taking her by the arm. "Are you hungry?"
As she got in the car, Andi answered, "Sorta."
"How about breakfast?"
"Is this a date?" she asked curiously.
Howie grinned, "Nah…employer getting to know employee. How’s Denney’s?"
Andi crinkled her nose, "Gross! How about I cook for us?"
"Live alone?"
"No."
"My place and you can cook there?"
"Okay."
Howie closed her door and ran around the car to get in. He handed her his cell phone. "Let your roommate know where you are so they don’t worry."
Andi dialed the number, waited, and then said, "Drew, I’m with my boss and he’s taking me to breakfast." Looking at Howie, she whispered, "How long?"
Howie shrugged his shoulders, "Mid-morning?"
"Drew, I’ll see you at the meeting."
Andi handed Howie’s phone back to him and he asked, "Drew?"
"Brother-in-law."
Silence befell the two as Howie put the car in gear and headed out of town. Andi’s mind raced trying to figure out exactly what was going on. She was attracted to Howie, without question, but she was more interested in AJ. What was she doing going home with a man she’d just met, even if he WAS her boss?
A block away from the club, Andi asked, "So, what ulterior motives do you have in taking me to your place and having me cook for you?"
Laughing, Howie said, "I promise, my motives are purely honorable."
Once again silence and it remained that way until they were several miles out of town.
"Where exactly do you live?"
"On the coast."
"OH!" Andi tried to think of something to talk about and said, "You know, you keep giving me special treatment and NONE of the other waitresses are gonna like me. I already get the impression two of them would just as soon I die as look at me."
"Don’t worry about Star and Kim. They’re mad at me."
"You knew?"
"Yeah. I use to date Kim and Star is her best friend. We broke up and now they’re both ticked at me. That’s why I don’t want to get involved with employees any more. What about you? Do you have a boyfriend?"
"Not one that I care to mention."
"Trouble?"
"Not really. See, it’s tradition for the chief’s child to marry the medicine man’s child and my grandfather has one last hope of the tradition being continued."
"You?’
"Yes. Seth’s a nice guy but NOT my type." Andi turned in her seat to face Howie. "I have a confession."
"Oh?"
"When you said mid-morning, I was thrilled. Seth’s suppose to pick me up around nine to go to the Tribal meeting."
"Your grandfather isn’t going to be happy."
"As long as I’m there and dressed appropriately, he won’t say too much. How about going with me?"
"I’d love to. So, what’s your type of guy?"
"Wild, carefree, passionate, tender, attentive, devoted."
Howie smiled, "Sounds like you."
"Kind of. You like that?"
"Not really, but I have a friend that fits that description." Howie grinned slyly.
"His name wouldn’t happen to be Alex, would it?" laughed Andi.
Howie laughed too. "Maybe. My turn to confess. I’m talking to you for AJ because he’s shy."
"To see if I’m interested?"
"He’s been hurt before and scared to get involved again but he was blown away when he met you. He wasn’t sure if you were still mad at him."
"You’re a good friend to do this for him."
"I’ve known AJ for a while now, before the Backstreet Boys, and he’s my best friend."
Andi reached to take Howie’s hand. "What about you?"
"I won’t lie to you." Howie put her hand to his lips and kissed
it softly. "I find you extremely attractive and would love to date you but…"
"But you aren’t gonna cut in on Alex."
"No, I’m not. He expressed his interest in you and I respect that."
"I respect that in you. I take it you don’t have a girlfriend."
"Nope, no one steady. We’re here."
Howie parked the car and the two headed inside.
"Got something I could change in to?" asked Andi kicking off her high heels.
"How about some sweats?"
"Works for me."
Leading her to his room, Howie found a pair of sweats and a shirt then left her so she could change.
Twenty minutes later, Andi came out showered and wearing his clothes. "Hope you don’t mind but I took a quick shower. I could smell the club on me."
"No problem. Kitchen is this way."
A friendship was formed in the hours the two spent together. They talked, shared their stories, laughed, cried, and even sat in silence just holding each other’s hand getting to know each other. By the time they said good-bye late that afternoon, it was as if they’d known each other all their lives.
Standing on her front porch, Andi asked, "Are you going to be at the club tonight?"
"I doubt it. Do you have to work?"
"Yeah. I don’t know how though. SOMEONE kept me up."
Howie laughed. "I would apologize but I’ve had a good time. Why don’t you go in and get some sleep? I’ll come back to get you in time for you to get to work."
"You haven’t had any sleep either."
"I’ll go crash at my sister’s for a little while. I’ll see you later."
Andi leaned to Howie and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "See you tonight."
Watching Howie leave, Andi’s mind wandered to all the things he’d told her about Alex. They had discussed him at great lengths even after the conversation in the car that morning and now she wondered what would happen. What would Howie tell him?
