~*~ Comforting Arms ~*~
Standing in the door, Howie watched as Andi lay on his bed crying. All she had wanted was to have her love back, to make things right again, but AJ had destroyed that. In fact, in the short time he’d been there, AJ had managed to destroy two relationships and no matter how hard he tried, they’d never be the same again.
He had known AJ now for ten years or better and they had been like brothers. Howie knew it was the alcohol but it hurt just the same. He had tried to do the right thing, to look out for Andi, take care of her and all it had gotten him was the accusation of having slept with her. God knows, he certainly wanted to and it had left him with…well, that wasn’t important…not as important as the woman’s heart that was broken.
Andi looked up, wiping her tears, "Is he gone?"
"Yeah," answered Howie going to take a seat beside her on the bed. He brushed his fingers across her cheek. "You know it was the alcohol, right?"
"Yeah, but it still hurts."
"I know, baby. Look, I’m gonna go get a shower. Why don’t you scoot under the covers and go to sleep?"
"I’ll go back to my bed," offered Andi as she started to get up.
"No, stay put," said Howie softly as he stopped her. "It may be wrong but I need you, Andi. He hurt both of us and I need to hold you to ease MY hurt."
"But.." she started to protest.
Seeing the question in her eyes, Howie said, "I simply want to hold you, Andi, nothing more…two friends comforting each other."
Andi settled back into the pillows. "Thank you, Howie," she said softly as she took his hand.
"Doing the right thing has only gotten us heartache," whispered Howie looking at her.
Andi saw the hurt in his eyes. "Oh, ‘D’, I’m so sorry."
"For what?"
"Dragging you into this. I shouldn’t have turned to you."
"I’m glad you did, Andi."
"But you two have been friends for so long and you have to work together. This is just going to put a strain on that."
"Like I told him, we’ll survive…and so will your marriage." Andi tried to stifle a yawn and Howie laughed, "Go to sleep. I’ll be back in a few…after I’ve gotten a shower."
Howie leaned over to kiss her tenderly on the lips as she ran her fingers through his hair. Whispering against his lips, "Go, Howie."
Stealing another kiss, Howie headed to the bathroom where he stripped quickly. Turning the shower on, he waited for the water to reach the perfect temperature, then stepped into the stream welcoming the feel of the warm, steady pulsating water as it washed over his tense muscles. Leaning his head back, he let the water rinse over his face and got his hair wet too, making it curl uncontrollably in the water.
Andi lay watching the ocean through the glass doors waiting for Howie’s return. Her thoughts were of Alex though; they were always of Alex. She had never seen him so bad and she wanted to help him but unfortunately, there wasn’t much she could do. She knew that he had to realize he needed help first and then want to get it. As soon as that happened, they could salvage their marriage. Until them, she’d just have to pray he didn’t destroy everyone around him in the process.
Looking at the clock, Andi realized Howie was taking much longer than normal in the shower. She decided to go check on him since she was beginning to worry. He had stayed so calm through all of this and she’d seen the tortured look in his eyes.
Pushing the door open, she looked around and spotted Howie still in the shower, standing with his back to her, his hands against the wall and his head hung down. She could see the subtle shake of his shoulders, a dead give away that he was crying. Quietly, she slipped her gown off and moved to the shower. She stepped in and ran her hands around his waist to embrace him. Gratefully, he leaned back against her, his tears mixed with the water that washed over him.
"I NEVER meant to hurt him," sobbed Howie.
"Shh, I know that and so does he."
"I only wanted to take care of you, BOTH of you. I thought it was what he would want."
"I know."
"I can’t stand to see him like this, Andi."
Howie turned in her arms and she clearly saw the guilt and fear of what AJ was doing to himself in Howie’s eyes. "Neither can I, Howie, but there’s nothing more we can do for him at this point. He has to realize he needs help and then ask for it."
Howie buried his face in her neck holding on to her crying for the pain that his best friend was going through. He cried knowing that he couldn’t help anymore and they’d have to just stand around and pick up the pieces.
