moment1

"So where's the man of the hour?"Howie slid into the booth she was occupying at Tabu expecting AJ's arrival for his Birthday any time now.
"Who knows? He probably fell asleep as usual."
"Why do you put up with it? I mean he's an hour and a half late already tonight."
"An hour and forty five minutes to be exact."
"I'll beat him up for you if you want me to. I could,"he goofed as he tryed prying a smile off her angelic face.
She tried supressing her amusement but it was useless. Howie tried so hard sometimes. He had one of those dry senses of humor. You could never tell if it was a joke or for real. She knew tonight he was just trying to make her feel better.
"There it is,"he smiled.
"Would you stop that?"
"What? Being cute?"he responded in his ever so cute manner.
She gave him a playfully stern glare."That you could never avoid."
"Oh, so now you hit on me."
Her elbows planted upon the table, she stared at him.
"What?"he leaned on the table next her never losing her gaze.
She shook her head."I don't know how you do it. You always make me feel good in the worst of a situation."
"I try."
"What am I gonna do with you?"
"I have some ideas."
She nudged him in the side.
"Now if you'd let me finish, I was going to say you could use the phone in my office to find out where his scrawny ass is."
"Scrawny it may be, but I love it nonetheless."

"Stop using those big words around me,"he teased.
"Oh shut up! Lead the way," she followed him to the back of the club.
She dialed the number and heard his feigned grogginess respond,"Hello?"
"Where are you?"
"At home."
"You're supposed to be here at the club with me for your Birthday that was supposed to be a surprise."
"Oh Baby. I'm so sorry I ruined your surprise."
" You know don't even bother."
"Come on. I said I was sorry,"she heard the feminine voice in the background inquire of the caller on the other end.
"Don't bother. I wouldn't want to ruin your perfectly Happy Birthday you asshole!"she slammed the phone down. She turned and found Howie timidly sliding back into his own domain.
"She doesn't know, does she?" the mystery female inquired on AJ's end.
"I wanted to surprise her and if I don't get there soon, she'll be gone."
"It'll work itself out I'm sure. Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah, let's go before she leaves."
"I take it all is not well,"Howie stated.
"What ever gave you that idea?"Julie hissed.
"Sorry."
"No I'm sorry. He's the jerk. Did you know anything about his little private Birthday celebration?"
"I'm as shocked as you are about this Julie."
"Maybe I should just go. You know his guilt will get the better of him and he'll show up here anyway leaving yet another broken heart in his trail. I don't need him to try and talk me out of anything again."
"Is there anything I can do for you?"He innocently took her hand.
"Thanks but I think I should go,"she nervously withdrew her hand from his as she felt something for him she hadn't felt before.
"Look Julie I feel bad about this whole thing. You put your heart and soul into this party. I would hate to think you didn't enjoy some part of it."
"Wouldn't be the first time he ruined a perfectly good evening for me."
"I really wish there were something I could do to make this better."
"Maybe you can,"she moved closer to him.