Scene 6 Howie and AJ's Dinner
Howie drove to AJ's, hoping he'd keep his promise and leave Johnny at home. Sometimes he just took the whole alter ego thing way to far. Like coming to his house far earlier than AJ would've normally been awake this morning. Then to come "as" Johnny, when he knew Howie couldn't stand the guy. "Okay, now he's got me referring to him as another person. First talking to myself now this... I'm cracking up," he thought.
"Hey, bro how ya been," he said as AJ got into the car.
"Doin alright today thanks." AJ replied, as they pulled off down the street. "Whoa, do my eyes deceive me? Is that a smile I see? She must've put it on you for real. You look.... hmmm... If you were a woman I'd say you were glowing. So tell me everything don't leave out one hot, nasty, filthy detail!"
Howie had been expecting this but not so soon. "Now you know I don't kiss and tell," he was grinning from ear to ear, " so all I'll say is this; she's amazing. She's smart, she's funny, and pretty, and sweet, and she listens and..."Howie would've continued to gush but AJ cut him off.
"Hold the friggin phone, man. You're really scaring me; you sound like whipped or some shit like that. D, you've had one night stands before and there is no way in hell I'm gonna believe that you're falling in love with a girl after fucking her once," AJ exclaimed.
"Twice," Howie cut in still grinning.
"Okay twice," AJ continued," so now you're telling me that after twice you're losing it? C'mon man I expect this shit from Nick or Brian but not you! You're almost as good as I am when it comes to the ladies. It's not like you've never had good sex before, remember that damn hot box model in Italy? We all had a good time with her but no one was in love the next day. It was a good piece of ass that's all get over it," he finished disgustedly.
"Dammit, I didn't say all that. All I said was she was a nice girl. Gimmie a friggin break! Does liking someone all of a sudden mean you're in love? Hell no! So shut up about it." Howie said trying to cover his embarrassment with anger.
"Like I said before; call it what you want the end result is still the same. If you like her, call her; date her, hell marry her if you want. Just be careful," AJ said with a sigh.
They were silent as they walked into the club. They remained that way until AJ decided to try again, after they ordered their food.
"So was it really good or is all this based solely on conversation?" AJ always did just skip right to the heart of things.
"Oh....um," Howie realized as he stammered he was also blushing, "I told you I'm not going there but it was unbelievable," he said hoping that would be enough to end it. It was.
"So what are you gonna do while your on vacation? You already know that Johnny has some shows in England, so that's where I'll be."
Howie was glad of the change of subject as their food came he thought about it.
" I have no idea. I'm kinda in limbo right now. I plan on attempting to do the whole R&R thing, you know. I'll probably just do some writing, and swimming. I have to check out the whole real estate thing and makes sure things are running smoothly at the club. Mostly just chill though," he sighed.
"Just chill huh," AJ wasn't buying it, " so when are you going to seeing her again?"
Howie realized that he wasn't going to get out of it. "I don't really know. She said she would call. She may, but I don't think she will."
"Quit thinking so much! I admire a lot about you but sometimes you just think too fucking much. You want her, go get her. Be aggressive, do anything you have to but dammit don't just sit there and think.... ACT!" AJ said all that with a serious and intense expression, he wasn't playing around anymore. "Listen, I know I was riding you about it earlier but I can see a change in you already. Anyone who can put that look in your eyes after only one night has to be more than just a nice girl. You've been out of it for weeks and all of a sudden you're almost normal. All I meant earlier was take your time. I like the girl already cause because she put me in my place last night. What is it? What don't you get?"
He noticed that his friend was just sitting there picking at his food. Something wasn't right.
"Okay," Howie answered finally, " we had a great time last night. She's so honest, she told me everything about her. Would you believe she moved here just cause it worked for me. Don't look at me like that" AJ's eyebrow raised and he opened his mouth but Howie continued before he could speak.
"Yes, she's a fan but not the crazy "cut out pieces of your lawn kidnap your dogs" kind. She intended for us never to meet. She's really inspired by us and hoped that Orlando would be good luck for her too. She wasn't starstruck... she treated me like a normal person. Hell, she was about to blow me off . The part that gets me is..." He stopped there not quite knowing how to word the next part.
" Okay, we had sex.... on my beach, honestly it was awesome . She cried man. I don't mean like I hurt her cried; I mean shedding real tears. It was kinda kinda scary.... one minute she was clawing my back and the next she was crying. Well? Teach me oh wise one" He ended with a joke but he meant it.
AJ looked thoughtful for a moment and then spoke very carefully, " I've known you for a long time. You're my best friend, so I know you always give them a chance to back out. What did she say when you asked her?"
"She said she didn't want anymore regrets. It couldn't be that she was regretting it though, she came to me in the shower for round 2."
"I hate to say this D, cause I know it's not gonna help you much but, maybe it was just that good. Seriously, I've had a couple girls tell me that when they reach this one level of pleasure, they don't know what else to do but cry. I think that's just a woman thing," AJ said, watching the look on Howie's face go from confused to complete disbelief.
After a few seconds he responded, "If I'm that good then why didn't she give me her number ?" His thoughts were racing, he was completely blown away....Who knew that all AJ's years of being a man-whore would teach him so much about women?
"She's trying to protect herself," AJ said after thinking a few seconds, "It's as simple as that, as long as she's calling the shots she doesn't have to sit around waiting for the phone to ring. She can be the one to make that decision, "he paused to allow his words to sink in, "If I were you and I was interested in becoming more involved with her, I'd do something unexpected. Something that'd completely knock her off her feet. Just enough to let her know I was serious and very interested. The important thing is to catch her off guard."
As AJ finished Howie started thinking, "so I shouldn't wait for her to call?"
"No, damn was I talking to myself just now? She's a nurse right? Send her some flowers or something like that. Women eat that shit up like baby food. But you have to take it to another level, put your own spin on it. I can't tell you exactly how to that. You'll come up with something."
"Thanks man, I have an idea that's working it's way up... don't have it all worked out yet but I will. Now I kinda feel sorry for her, you know? She's not gonna know what hit her," Howie said and flashed one of his famous smiles.
"So you owe me one then right," AJ asked.
"I guess J, as long as it's within reason,"
"Would I be unreasonable? How about hooking me up with that girl over there? Go play me up to her the whole 'my friend's shy' routine. Get her over here and we're even." AJ knew he didn't have to go through all that but it was fun and Howie wasn't gonna let it go 'til he let him do something so....
"Whatever you say, so is she meeting Johnny or you?" Howie knew the game well and ordinarily they would've played it in reverse later but his mind was on his plans.
The girl took the bait, hook, line, and sinker; so Johnny got himself a quickie in the bathroom.
As Howie drove him to the airport AJ asked," So it's true what they say huh?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Howie laughed at his friend's ability to come out of nowhere with a question.
"The whole thing about love at first sight."
Howie reached over and punched him jokingly. "Why didn't you ask what's her name in the bathroom?"
"Her mouth was too full, I wouldn't have understood her answer," he replied thinking about the incident, "and what a mouth it was. That girl's tongue was just outta this world..."
"You are such an asshole, you know that?" Howie couldn't help but laugh at Aj's vulgar comments.
"Yup, and a very lucky asshole, have you ever gotten head in a bathroom?"
Howie pretended to think about it and said, "No I can't say I've had the pleasure."
"There's nothing like it... nothing. It's just such a big rush"
"I'll take your word for it."
They had reached the airport and Howie asked," Do you want me to come in and wait with you," but he already knew the answer.
"That's alright, I'm a big boy," AJ said with shrug.
"Well, at least let me help you get your bags out, go get a cart," AJ was crude and vulgar but he always missed him when he was gone.
"Suit yourself," AJ said and as he went off to get the cart his thoughts turned back to the girl in the bathroom.
After they had the luggage loaded up Howie said, "don't forget to call me when you get settled."
"Sure thing, by the way, what's her name?"
"Her who?" He wasn't sure if AJ was referring to the bathroom girl or someone else.
AJ smirked and said, "The one who'll be Mrs. Dorough by the time I get back to the states." He said it jokingly but he'd been through this already with Brian, and he sensed it was pretty much gonna be the same thing.
"Whatever, that ain't gonna happen. Anyway, her name is Aadriana."
"Aadriana, that's pretty. Oh well, I got a plane to catch so come on over here and give me a big manly hug so we can get this goodbye shit over with." AJ said with a shrug.
Howie was shocked, AJ wanted a hug? Something was going on, something had to be up. He went and hugged him anyway still wondering.
"Take it easy, Alex. Take good care of yourself, tell Johnny I said good luck and if you need me call, don't hesitate okay, day or night."
AJ nodded and walked away leaving Howie standing alone looking dumbstruck.
As he drove home his idea started to become clearer, as he worked it out in his head.
"This is going to be the first Monday I've looked forward to in ages."