Chapter 1
Howie ran his finger around the edge of his glass and sighed. He didn't want to be here, but AJ had insisted that he came, and Howie had eventually given in. Now here he was, alone in a sea of people. He looked around for the others. Kevin and Brian were sat at a table, looking almost as bored as he felt. They were obviously missing their wives. 'Man, they are whipped' Howie thought to himself. Nick was on the dance floor, grinding away with a red head. He saw Howie looking and shot him a grin. 'Well, at least one of us is enjoying himself' Howie thought before turning to look for his best friend.
Howie heard a familiar cackle, and looked up to see AJ flirting wildly with a couple of girls, who were glowing with the attention. 'Make that two' Howie sighed again as he watched AJ pull both girls onto the dance floor and begin grinding with them. AJ looked good, Howie thought, he was in a tight black wifebeater, which showed of the tattoos that Howie adored and the tightest pair of leather pants Howie had ever seen. The pants fit him like a second skin, and Howie idly wondered how AJ could wear anything under them. He concluded that he probably wasn't and Howie shifted uncomfortably as he felt his groin begin to stir.
He stared as AJ moved his lithe body to the music. He looked healthier now. Only a few months ago, AJ had looked frail, as the endless nights of drinking and partying had taken their toll. Howie shook the image out of his head. That was all in the past, and now, hopefully, AJ was well on the road to recovery. Howie smiled to himself, yes AJ was feeling better, and was almost back to the person he had known before. Before Lou had betrayed their trust, before Amanda had trampled all over his heart, and before he lost his beloved Grandmother. AJ was much better, and Howie realised as he stood transfixed by his friends dancing, that he was still just as much in love with his best friend, if not more so, than he had ever been.