Chapter 31:
Chance Encounter
Howie watched AJ with
growing irritation, annoyed over the time it took for his friend to decide. He
had been here nearly an hour, aimlessly wandering around the small boutique
while AJ see-sawed between two distinctive hats. He turned to Howie. "I
don’t know. Which one do you like?"
"Bone, are you deaf?
For the tenth and last time, I like the white one. And why are you asking me
anyway?" Howie complained, noticing AJ favoring the black-striped one.
"You never listen to me anyway."
"That’s not
true," argued AJ, as he handed the cashier his credit card. "I listen
when you agree with me." He gave Howie a playful grin at the joke and
Howie smiled in return, shaking his head. Feeling a poke in his ribs, Howie
looked up from a watch display to see AJ motioning towards a young woman who
was wandering around in the small store.
"Does that look like
Claire to you?" he hissed. Howie craned his neck, trying to get a better
look.
"Yeah," he said
slowly. "I think so."
"Damn!" AJ
hurriedly signed the receipt, stuffing it into his pocket. He slipped up behind
the woman, swiftly placing a kiss onto the nape of her neck. She stiffened in
surprise and swung around to see a grinning old acquaintance.
"AJ! You scared me
half to death!" She gave him a warm hug, which turned into a warmer kiss.
Howie came forward, coughing a little.
"Hi, Claire."
Claire broke away from AJ’s grasp, delighted to see him. "Howie!" She
reached for a hug. "How are you?" She eyed him appraisingly.
"You’re looking better everyday!"
"Hey!" argued
AJ. "What about me?"
"For a thousand
bucks, I’ll tell you," teased Claire, her green eyes full of mischief.
AJ whistled his
admiration. "A thousand. Didn’t cost me a thousand last time,
sweetheart." He winked at her.
Claire took the bait.
"It will now." She gazed at Howie, a grin forming. "But for
Howie, it’s free. He’s so cute."
Howie smiled at her, then
turned to smirk at his friend. "I’m free," he boasted and AJ ignored
him.
"So, I heard you guys
were in town. Good timing. How’s Kevin?"
"Taken."
"Rats." Claire
pouted, then brightened. "Nick?"
AJ was enjoying their
teasing. "Immature."
"Not where it counts,
I’m sure." Howie and AJ laughed at her lewd joke.
"So, how’s
choirboy?"
"Bri? He’s..."
AJ paused, lost in thought. He had seen Brian this morning changing into sweats
in the dressing room of the arena. Curious, he had watched as Brian stretched a
little, jogging into place. "Wassup, man?" he questioned, "gonna
play some ball?" Brian had shook his head, not answering him, grabbing his
duffel bag and a couple bottled waters as he roughly walked passed AJ. Pissed
by Brian’s attitude he almost called him on it, only to stop when he saw the
passing look on Brian’s face as he hurried down the hall.
Haunted by that look, AJ
turned to Claire, an idea forming in his head. "Say Claire," he
drawled slowly, "are you busy tonight?"
* * * * * *
"B-Rok is so gonna
kill you, man," warned Howie, as they leaned into the backseat comfort of
their bodyguard’s car. AJ shoved his foot at the many packages lying on the
floorboard, trying to find some legroom.
"I tell ya, D, you
shoulda seen him. If he doesn’t need to get laid, I’ll eat my new hat
here." He patted it happily of his head, leaning over the backseat to get
a glimpse of himself in the rear view mirror.
"Hey," warned
the bodyguard. "Sit down. I can’t see."
AJ shrugged and leaned
back into the leather seat. He tried to ignore Howie’s accusing look, but
couldn’t. "Besides, Claire is something special, man. On top of being a
great lay, she can really look into the ‘ole mind. She’s smart. Didn’t I ever
tell you she almost has a degree in psychology?"
Howie shook his head.
"Uh, no. I don’t think you ever talked about her "abilities" in
that category."
AJ punched him. "Very
funny. Anyway, I’m worried about Bri. He’s not himself. I think Claire can
figure what might be going on."
"And if she
can’t?"
AJ shrugged and tilted his
hat over his eyes. "Then he gets the fuck of his life."
***
