Swollen Issues - Chapter 17



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“Do you think you can calm your ass down for at least the dinner portion of tonight?” Kevin hissed into Nick’s ear as he grabbed onto an elbow trying to usher him towards the banquet room.

Nick jerked away from Kevin’s hold and clumsily brushed the front of his tux off. ”I’m fine, asshole!”

Kevin glared, “Yeah, sure you are!”

Staring at Brian and Leighanne across the table, Nick started into a laughing jag, the more it went on, the louder it became, causing Brian to scowl.

“Nick! Stop it!” Brian mouthed.

Wiping the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand, Nick bit his lip as he tried to stop but it was to no avail, he started giggling again, but this time it was supressed laughter and his shoulders were shaking violently.

AJ elbowed Nick sharply into his side. “Knock it the fuck off, Nick!”

Gasping from the blow, he stopped, but then he smirked, looking at Brian.

“Okay, tell me what’s so funny,” Brian asked in an annoyed tone.

“I know what you and Leighanne are gonna do tonight after dinner,” Nick sing-songed.

Brian frowned, not sure what Nick was getting at. “What do you think we’re going to do? Go to a show?”

“Nooooo, something better!” Nick announced in a loud voice. “You’re gonna do this all night long!”

Brian, Leighanne and the rest of the table watched in shock as Nick held his hand up, made a circle with his index finger and thumb and then with his middle finger on his other hand, thrust it into the circle repeatidly.

Kevin grabbed Nick’s hands and pushed them down. “What has gotten into you?”

“Nothing daddy, just havin a good time and being hospitable,” Nick grinned. “Where the hell’s the food? I’m fucking hungry!”

”Shhhhhhh!”

The group at the round table tried their best to silence Nick, each of them praying that Nick wouldn’t say or do anything further to embarrass himself or the group. Relief settled upon them as they saw the kitchen staff enter the room with serving trays.

“Thank god, if his mouth is busy at least he’ll be quiet,” Howie whispered over to Kevin. Kevin nodded in agreement.

Nick decided he really was hungry after being so sick the past few days. The food smelled wonderful and he was happy to see that they were being served something besides Japanese cuisine.

“God, I’m so glad to see actual meat and potatoes non of that fuckin rice shit,” Nick stated in a loud voice as he unwrapped his silverware and then tucked the napkin into his collar. Kevin winced at Nick’s table manners but then decided that was better than him still displaying vulgar expressions and words.

The plates that were set before each person was a healthy serving of prime rib, baked potato, and glazed carrots. Nick plowed through his plate in no time and requested a second plate and then a third.

Brian had watched Nick as he devoured the food. It looked as if he had been starving for months, at least, he decided, the actions of his shoving the food into his mouth looked like he had been starving. His face and neck looked like he had been doing something other than starving. Now Brian was starting to think the double chin and the fullness of his face and neck was from overeating and not being sick.

As Nick was getting ready to signal the server for another plate of food, Kevin stopped him. “Nick, I think you’ve had enough, you’re going to make yourself sick.”

Nick stared at Kevin for a few moments and then trained his gaze on the rest of the people seated at their table. He face grew sullen and grabbed the napkin from his collar and threw it angrily down onto the table. He started shaking his head back and forth, his jaw set.

“Okay, I get it..... I see what you’re getting at,” Nick stated in a low voice.

“Get what?” AJ asked innocently.

“You don’t think I know my limits do you? You think I’m just a punk and a fuck up!”

“No, none of us have ever said that,” Kevin replied in a slow and even voice.

Grabbing the glass of white wine, Nick downed it in one gulp and then reached over and took AJ’s glass, downing that as well. “Well I’ve heard all this fuckin bullshit for ten fuckin years! Nick makes stupid comments, Nick is a baby, Nick is immature,’” Nick stated in a mock whiney voice. ”Nick is fat!” “Well you know what? I am fat and I don’t care so just let me eat when and how I want and stay the fuck off my back, okay?”

“Nick, no one ever said that,” Brian stated in a consoling voice. “Please, just sit back down, okay? Everyone’s looking.”

As Nick sat down, AJ sat a basket of bread by Nick, hoping that he would occupy his mouth with chewing since he seemed to be leaning towards alcohol again. The banquet room was buzzing and it was obvious the comments were geared towards Nick’s irratic behavior. Kevin’s eyes met with Bruce’s across the room and he knew that the man wasn’t pleased with Nick’s display of temper. Bruce simply shook his head and Kevin’s heart sank knowing that Bruce would have to work quickly to smooth over any damage that had been done.

Nearly thirty minutes and one full basket of bread had passed when Nick moaned loudly. “I.. I don’t feel that good.”

Leighanne’s attention was directed across the table and she drew her breath in when she clearly saw that Nick was ill. His face was flushed, glistening with sweat.

As Nick looked over towards Brian, he wanted to tell him that he didn’t feel so good in his groin but that was too embarrassing to tell anyone, best friends included. It was a firey ache like the one that was plaguing his throat and his stomach for the past few days.

“Nick, are you running a temp? You look soaked,” Leighanne asked, concern in her eyes.

“I dunno,” Nick replied quietly.

“And now, it’s with great pride that I introduce to the Moshomuto Businessowners Association, Brian, Nick, Kevin, Howie and AJ, The Backstreet Boys!”

As the room erupted in cheers and applause, Nick stood up quickly, sending his chair toppling over backwards, and then clamping a hand over his mouth, sprinted towards the exit, looking for a restroom before he threw up in front of God and everyone.

Chapter 18