Chapter 13
Interrogation
Once they were seated, and everyone had their drinks the boys began their own version of the Spanish Inquisition. As Howie had predicted, AJ got bored and went off to dance. Aadriana found the banter and ribbing that at the table
comical to say the least. When Brian and Leighanne went off to dance she noticed she wasn't the only one at the table smiling.
"I must've gotten all the dancing genes the family," Kevin said with a laugh.
Everyone stopped talking and looked at him. Nick was the first to recover, "Who do you think you're kidding old man? They say the memory is the first thing to go and if you think you can dance then you're already losing it. "Remember this," he asked, he stood and then imitated
Kevin's penguin dance.
Everyone cracked up laughing.
As the evening progressed, Anee noted that AJ didn't
seem the least bit concerned at the amount of alcohol being consumed around him. He drank a couple of O'Douls and then just drank water. She realized she was staring at him when he made a face at her. He laughed at her confusion and then said, "D, you are really slacking off. We've been here for
damn near two hours and you haven't asked this lovely lady to dance yet," to her he said," Would you do me the honor milady?"
She couldn't refuse, he had bowed to her and everything. She extended, her hand; which he made a big show of kissing and escorted her to the dance floor like they were about to be presented to the queen or something. She was shocked at how great a dancer he was. She had known he was good but, to see it up close was mind boggling. When they returned to
the table they were still laughing and enjoying each other's company.
"Well guys, I think Fatima may have some serious competition here," he said smirking," Did yall see here out there? This chick is nice. Howie waddaya say we replace on of the dancers with your girlfriend. I haven't met a woman yet who can keep up with me like that."
Everyone was so busy laughing at AJ they didn't notice
they way she grimaced at the word "girlfriend." Howie finally noticed and his eyes went wide as AJ kissed her cheek and sat down. She saw that and whispered, "What's wrong?"
"Hunh? Oh, nothing I was just thinking that what he
said wouldn't be a bad idea. Then I could have you with me all the time. You two did look great out there." She winced, like the words were physically painful and then adopted a more neutral expression remembering they weren't
alone.
"Bet I'd look better with you. come on let's show Fred
Astaire over there that he's not the only one with fire on the dance floor."
He looked at her to make sure she wasn't kidding, downed the rest of his drink and they went to dance.
"They look great out there together, don't they," Kristin observed, noticing that she wasn't the only one watching.
"Hell yeah, that girl can really move. Maybe we should
ask her to dance for us, that way Howie'd have a girl on tour and we wouldn't have to put up with his bitchy I'm-not- getting-any-so-no-one-can-be-happy-attitude," Nick said snickering.
"The girl has a job she isn't just gonna quit and come
on the road with us, stuff like that doesn't happen in real life Nick," Kevin said blandly.
"Dude, lighten up everyone else here knew it was a joke," Nick snapped back at him.
When they returned to the table Aadriana excused
herself to the restroom and Polly accompanied her. It was then that she decided to agree with AJ that subtlety was a quality that Howie must've acquired on his own because it
definitely wasn't a family trait.
"You looked good dancing out there," Polly said when
they'd reached the bathroom.
"Oh, thanks," Aadriana gave her a quick smile before
going into a stall.
"I can tell my brother likes you a lot."
"That's good, I like him, too. He's really sweet and he makes me laugh."
"Well, he seems really happy. Look, I don't want to
insult your intelligence any more than I already have so I'll just get to the point," Polly said when Aadriana had come out of the stall, "You know I came with so we could have a little one on one right?"
Aadriana stopped washing her hands and nodded for her
to continue.
"You're the first woman he's brought around the family, excluding the guys, in a while. You seem like a nice person and I've already noticed a major improvement in his attitude. I just wanted to let you know that if you do
anything to hurt him then I'm out for blood. I'm
trusting you to keep this to yourself if Howie knew what I just said he'd have me hung by my heels," she finished, her expression was one of uncertainty.
Aadriana smiled, on the verge of laughter she said,
"I'm not saying anything. I have a little brother whom I adore and have had to do the same thing dozens of times. You were just doing your job and I respect you for that. I'm not going to promise you anything as far as he and I go, but I can say I'm not gonna do anything to make you hunt me down."
Polly smiled back, offering her hand. Aadriana took it
and they exited the bathroom. No sooner than they had returned to the table, John took Polly off to see a mutual acquaintance, and Aadriana noticed that everyone except Brian was gone. She took her seat and gazed at him questioning silently.
"I haven't seen the smile go all the way to his eyes
like that in months," Brian said, "Thank you for helping to put it back there."
"I'm not sure how that can have anything to do with me
so, there's no need to thank me," she replied shaking her head.
"Howie, the rest of the guys and me, we're like family; sometimes, hell most times, we know what's best for each other. Sometimes we can see things before the person involved does. Right now, I see you. You did help him somehow, we couldn't have done that and so you have my thanks. You've also managed to tame AJ, so the only problem you have left now is Kev. A piece of advice if I may?"
"Umm Brian I'm not trying to charm or fool anybody.
What you see -- a short black girl with a thing for purple and a twisted sense of humor, is what you get. Howie accepts me as I am and that's all I'm concerned about. He doesn't mind my quirks and he makes me laugh. If his friends can't deal with that then, it's not me who has a problem now is it?"
Brian was amazed at how she said words that should
have contained anger wearing a bland expression and in a dull monotone. He did smile at how quickly she'd gotten defensive, that hadn't been his intention.
"Honey, all I was going to say was don't let Kev convince you he's as all knowing as he likes to think he is. And don't believe most of Bone's stories. And don't go shopping with him or Howie. Oh yeah, and don't play video games
for money with Nick, he likes to try to hustle the new
ones," he said wearing a genuine smile.
"So what should I know about you? I mean, you've told
me stuff about everyone else. I'm also going to point out that you haven't told me anything that I haven't been reading in magazines for years ... read your own press much? So what should I watch out for with you, I'm guessing it has something to do with basketball, or should I just ask Leighanne," she said her words dripping with sarcasm. While he was sputtering for a reply she couldn't contain her laughter, "I told you I had a twisted sense of humor.
I was just picking on you, it means I like you."
He was starting to answer back when the others returned.
"Bone, was right about you," was all he said, his earlier smile had returned letting her know she hadn't upset him. She made an internal note to ask AJ what he'd said about her.
Nick was the next to interrogate her, he chose the
dance floor to hold his session. He grabbed her hand and as they danced he gave her his version.
"So, um, are you having a good time," he asked.
"Yeah, this has been an experience. I couldn't
possibly go out like this every week but it's fun. You guys are all so interesting," she said knowing exactly where he was heading.
After a few moments he blurted, "You're not like
Howie's other girlfriends."
There was that word again, the more she heard it the
more concerned she became, she didn't know if she wanted to be anyone's "girlfriend". Now was not the time to address that however, so she said, "Is that a good or bad?"
"Oh, it's really good. It's like, you just seem so, ya
know, like not his type. Now that I think about it, you're like more Bone's type."
"I'm not following you." She'd always thought a serious conversation with Nick would be confusing, she just didn't think it would be as enlightening as it was becoming.
"I mean, like you don't hang all over him or try to
what's the word-- monopoly his attention. You don't act like the others did either; like you're trying to get us to like you and stuff. You're like, I dunno ... just
different. Like, he said that you were gonna diss him
when y'all first met, and that you didn't like, call him right away. That's cool it's like, you treat him, ya know, like the same way you'd treat any other guy. That's the
type of girl or woman or whatever AJ like goes for."
"Well Nicky, I hate to be the one to break it to ya,
but he is just another guy; an extraordinary one but essentially not much different from any other guy I've dated. If he pisses me off, I let him know."
"Yeah, well whatever your angle is it's working. And
don't call me Nicky. He likes you ... a lot. Bone is crazy about you, Rok ain't complaining, so far, so good. The only thing you gotta worry about is Kev. He might like, ask you
for a blood sample or a resume, or something or he may
just wanna ya know, talk to you. Trust me the blood sample thing would be like way easier on you. Kev's really boring," he said flashing her a grin that made her feel
suddenly light headed.
They walked over to the table, with her thinking about
how ludicrous the night had been so far. As she sat down she could almost see the wheels in Kevin's head spinning, as he tried to think of a way to get her alone. She
decided to save him the trouble.
"If you guys will excuse us, it's Kevin's turn and I
don't think him following me to the bathroom would be a great idea. I'd really like to go ahead and get it over with, if y'all don't mind. Everyone looked from her to Kevin a few times before vacating the table.
"Okay, I believe you have the floor, Mr. Richardson,
all I ask is that you make this as painless as the others have."
"Direct, that's a good thing. So the short and sweet
version. You seem to fit in well with us, that's important to him. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you could probably fit in anywhere. That's why AJ likes you so much, you're what some would call kindred spirits. Alex's is something of a chameleon that way, he's himself all the time you know, he goes his own way, but he makes it work in group settings. Howie and Alex are very close so it's
good that you two get along so well. You know what they say about opposites attracting, that's them. I also know what they say about birds of a feather and so I'm basically saying that you need to choose one or the other and
don't be stupid enough to try to play them off each
other-"
She cut him off, her temper flaring, "I don't think I
like what you're implying so you should probably stop right there. I can appreciate your concern for Howie's feelings and he's lucky to have friends looking out for him. You just overstepped yourself there. I only met AJ one time prior to tonight and he made a complete ass of himself. This conversation is over."
She stood up to walk away, purse in hand, when he
grabbed her arm, to stop her.
"It wouldn't do you any good telling him what I said
so, -"
"Don't worry, Kevy, I'm not gonna rat you out. I'm
going to go walk this off. Tell him I went to the bathroom or something," she said as she pulled away.
Unbeknownst to either of them AJ had overheard the
majority of the conversation and he followed her exit from the club.