~~~Chapter 11~~~
It had been two weeks since that day by the lake. In that time they had spent numerous days and nights together. Talking, riding horses, laughing, writing ... doing other things; dependent on her work schedule. They were sitting on his balcony when he finally got around to asking her.
"Anee? What're you going to be doing next Friday?"
"Umm, I dunno my usual probably. Why?"
"Well, there's this thing, and I want you to come with me -- that is if you don't have any other plans." She smirked at how awkward he sounded.
"What kind of 'thing' is it," she asked curious as to why he looked so uncomfortable.
"Well, before we go back into the studio, we get together and have dinner at my parent's house. After that everyone under 40 goes to Tabu to party a little bit. It's not really gonna be that big of a deal. Just a few people -- Kevin, Kristin; their kids; Bri, Leighanne; their kids; AJ, whoever he brings; Denise; Nick and whats-her-name; Polly; John; Angie and her husband Tim; my mom and my dad. So are you gonna come," he finished weakly.
"That's a pretty impressive guest list. You don't consider that a lot of people ... wait this is you we're talking about, of course you don't," she was starting to get flustered.
Her inner voice tried to calm her," Why are you trippin? It's just a shit load of people you don't know; no big deal."
"Hello? You're so not helping at all here," she mumbled to herself.
To Howie she said, "So one more question, okay." She had not planned on meeting the rest of the boys; the meeting the family; meeting the friends situation, put her into the "girlfriend" category, and that was a weird place to be in with him. How could she refuse when he was staring at her like he was; eyebrows raised expectantly, chewing on his bottom lip with his head cocked to one side.
She was so busy admiring his expression she didn't notice he had given her the go ahead to ask her question.
"You change your mind about that question," he asked wearing a small smile of amusement.
"Oh, sorry. Is this something I'm going to have to go shopping for, cause I really hate to shop. Or is it a more casual to semiformal deal?"
"I dunno what to call it. Just be comfortable, everyone will be kinda dressy without being semiformal if that makes sense. Just wear something purple."
"I will, if you will," she replied quickly.
"Deal. I have this deep purple silk shirt that I've never worn," he stated with a very self-satisfied look.
"Gotcha beat. I have this bad ass black suit with purple pin stripes. I've worn the blouse I bought with it but not the suit itself. I have had the damn thing for close to nine months," she said relaxing again.
They compared clotheshorse history for a while and then sat back to watch the sun go down in silence.
"Anee," he asked his voice almost a whisper.
"What's up?"
"You need to come inside and help me shampoo my hair."
"Why now?"
"Cause you're sitting there thinking about Darrien," he said his voice barely above a whisper,
"I can tell cause you always get this look in your eyes, it's kinda like you're real far away and dazed. So, to distract you from that; and seeing as how I love having your hands in my hair; I figure you and I should strip, get in the shower and you know, shampoo my hair," he said wearing a smile that would have made AJ proud.
It went completely unnoticed by the person it was directed to however," I'm not really in the mood for a shower sweetie," she replied watching him from the corner of her eye.
His eyebrows furrowed in concern," Okay ... umm ... hmmm," he said clearly thinking very hard, " I got it! I know exactly what you need, come with me."
He grabbed her hand and tugged her back into the kitchen. He sat her down at the bar, and put a glass of wine in her hand, before walking out of the room. He left her with," don't move until I come back. I won't be long."
She stared at the glass in her hand, sniffed the contents, and took a small sip. At that moment the air around her was suddenly filled with the sound of a Chopin waltz.
"What in the world?" she asked the empty room.
"Just be patient," answered the annoying voice in her head.
"Who's side are you on anyway? You're supposed to be helping me here," she said before realising she was talking to herself again.
He returned, after what seemed like an hour; time flies when you're talking to yourself, in actuality it had only been about 10 minutes. After noting the confused look on her face he walked her into his bedroom. Once there she heard the running water and turned to him with a look of annoyance.
"I thought I said I didn't feel like taking a shower."
"I know and you're not going to take one," he said while removing all of her clothing.
"So then, what's all this about," she asked gesturing to her semi-nude body.
"It's all about you shutting up, and letting me help you relax. So don't ask another question or say another word until I tell you to," he said only partially kidding.
Then he saw the way her face was all scrunched up and added, "Don't worry ... it'll be cool I promise."
She had to laugh at the memory of that particular phrase, and how he seemed to know exactly when to use it to get his point across. She nodded, and when her clothes where on a neat pile on a chair, he wrapped her in a towel, and quickly exchanged his own clothing for a towel.
He led her into the bathroom, which, to her surprise was dimly lit with scented candles ... lavender scented candles. She smiled at the bathtub filled to overflowing with trillions of tiny bubbles that looked very inviting.
"What are you waiting for? Lose the towel and get in." His tone was forceful, but he ruined the commanding effect with a grin. She gave him a mock salute before stepping gingerly into euphoria.
"Feel good," he asked after slipping in behind her, and pulling her back so she was resting against him.
"Mmm Hmm," was all she could manage as he started to massage her temples. She lay there; her head on his shoulder, her eyes closed, and surrendered to his ministrations.
"What are you thinking right this second," he whispered in her ear after a few seconds.
"I'm not," she replied with a groan.
"Good that was the point. A friend of mine once told me that it's not good to think too much. Of course, those weren't the words he used exactly but that was the gist of it," he said moving his fingers down to the base of her neck.
"Mmm Hmm," she sighed contentedly.
"Still feel good," he asked, his voice slightly raspy.
"Mmm Hmm"
"Wanna feel better?" He almost purred the question.
"Mmm Hmm," she did purr.
"Turn around," he said before turning her to face him. In one smooth motion she found herself impaled on him. She laughed when she noticed the wide grin on his face.
"I should've known you had an ulterior motive"
"Don't I always?" He accentuated his question with an upward thrust of his hips. She giggled as he wrapped her legs around his waist.
Later, after they had gotten out of the tub, while she watched him sleeping peacefully beside her; she started to wonder what possessed him to invite her to that party ... More so she wondered what the hell she was thinking when she agreed. Was this going farther than she wanted it to? She heard his voice telling her not to think too much, but when she looked she saw that he was still sleeping soundly beside her. It was then that she started to wonder if her own inner voice had instead formed an alliance with him and she hadn't noticed.
"I'm really losing my mind," she thought and she drifted off to sleep wearing a small smile at the absurdity of it all.