"The Danger of Loving You"
By: Mandy
Chapter Three
Julia opened the door. "HOWIE!"
Howie felt himself stumbled as Julia launched herself on him. "Hey you!"
"I missed you." Julia said, giving him a passionate kiss.
"Missed you too." Howie agreed as they both went into her apartment. "I
told the boys now that we are on break I was going to do some site seeing."
"Where do you want to go?" Julia asked.
"Here's fine." Howie grinned. "I see all I want."
Julia practically melted. "You know, you're too sweet."
"I even 'accidentally' forgot my cell phone." Howie's grin got bigger.
"I'm yours all day!"
*****
"Home sweet home!" Brian announced as he carried Tricia through the door.
"Um, you don't have to carry me every time." Tricia pointed out.
"I know, I want to though." Brian laughed as he gently placed on the couch.
He sat down beside her. "This is how I always pictured it, you know,
after I got married. I wanted the perfect place to come home to, and see my
beautiful wife waiting for me. But in my dreams, I was always a basketball
player and my wife was a cheerleader!"
Tricia laughed. "Sorry buddy, this girl does not carry pompoms."
Brian smiled back. "But I'm glad that it worked out this way. With you
and the rest of the guys, we all feel like a family. We've been through so
much together and I know there is more waiting for the band and for us.
Tricia, I knew the moment I saw you that you were my cheerleader."
Tricia's eyes misted a little. "And I knew that you were my cowboy."
"Huh?" Brian asked.
"Come on, I lived in Kentucky. It wasn't hard to picture a cowboy riding
up on his horse and taking me away." Tricia sighed. "Although, all my
fantasy usually started with them tipping their hat and saying 'Howdy
ma'am'. I guess I had to settle for a simple hello."
Brian leaned over and kissed her. "So, what do we do first, unpack or take
a walk on the beach?"
"Unpack, then we have something to look forward too." Tricia pointed out.
*****
"We are not hiring that woman." Sam declared as she watched Mrs. Claire
Black leave.
"Why not?" Kevin asked, sighing. This was the third wedding planner she
had turned down.
"Because she's too old!" Sam walked around to the kitchen of the condo she
shared with Kevin. "Did you hear what she said? 'I guess I could plan a
wedding to suit your needs'. I guess! What? My tastes aren't whacked out
are they? It's not like I wanted to ride on the back of an elephant up the
aisle while you hung from your heels like Batman from the rafters of the
church. I just want a simple church wedding with a nice reception
afterwards."
"Honey…calm down!" Kevin practically pulled her back to the living room
where they had been meeting the planners. "We still have one more person to
see." Please let her be good enough…Kevin added in his mind. When he heard
a knock on the door he went to open it. "Hi…Vicky!"
Vicky grinned. "You must be Mr. Richardson. I'm Ms. Yip, your wedding
planner."
Sam peered around the corner. "You never told me you did this!"
"You never asked." Vicky walked into the room. "My Aunt started the
business, I just work for her until I achieve my real dream profession."
"What's that?" Kevin asked, finally shutting the door and joining the girls
in the living room."
"Porn star."
Sam laughed.
"Seriously, I want to be an actor, but in the real movies." Vicky said.
"Until then, I guess I'll just make arrangements and watch someone else walk
down the aisle. Always a bridesmaid, never the bride…"
"You're hired." Sam said.
"You didn't even ask her if she minded some of you're more offbeat
requests." Kevin pointed out.
"I don't have to, she's my friend. She listen to anything I say." Sam
grinned.
"You got that right!" Vicky laughed. "I practically had to beat my aunt
with a stick to get this job. I'm not going to do anything to jeopardize
it. So, any idea what your colors are going to be?"
*****
Howie was so happy. He and Julia had spent the day, talking and having fun.
They had shopped together, and then went to the carnival on the pier.
"How about one more ride?" Howie asked, noticing it was getting dark.
"Which one?" Julia asked, they had been just about everything.
"The ferris wheel."
"NO!" Julia said, immediately. "You know I hate heights. I am not getting
up there."
Howie took her hands. "I'll be there. I won't let anything happen to you.
Trust me…"
Julia looked into his eyes, and nodded. "You can get me to just about
anything with those puppy dog eyes of yours."
Howie lead her through the small crowd and got in line for the ferris wheel.
Once they got on, he glanced over at Julia. Her eyes were screwed shut and
she grasped his hands tighter. "I'm still here."
"I know." She felt the ride begin to move. "I just want to take you with me
if we fall."
Howie smiled. He had asked her on this ride for a reason. Once they
reached the top and stopped to let more passengers on, he turned to her
again. "Open your eyes Julia."
"No!" Julia protested. "I know we are at the top and I don't to see how
high we are."
"Just open your eyes and look straight ahead not down." Howie pushed. "I
promise you that you'll be amazed." He gave her hand an extra squeeze.
Julia finally gave in, opening her eyes and gasping. She was looking out at
the ocean. The sun was slipping down creating a whole rainbow of colors.
Plus storm clouds loomed in the distance giving it the extra effect. She
felt like she was looking at a painting. "It's so beautiful." The ride
suddenly moved again.
"Not as beautiful as you." Howie said. "I know, it's cliché but it's
true."
Julia placed her head on his shoulder and sighed. She felt so peaceful with
him and not a bit afraid. In fact the next time they reached the top, she
kept her eyes open.
*****
Tricia pulled her sweater closer around her as she and Brian continued down
their little private beach. She saw the storm clouds. "It's gonna rain
tonight."
"I like the sound of rain, it puts me to sleep." Brian admitted.
"Although, I think I will have no problem after all that work we did this
afternoon."
"I'll second that." Tricia said, taking her husband's hand. "Tomorrow we
can drive into our new town and see what is there."
"I like the sound of that." Brian said. "I like everything about
this…having you as a wife and settling down."
"You're not really settling down. Next month you'll be on your European
tour." Tricia pointed out. "I should really try to see if there are any
jobs available in town."
"Why?"
"I know what you do for a living has given you a fair amount of…" Tricia
trailed off.
"Does it bother you not to work?" Brian asked.
Tricia thought for a moment. "Not really. I never really had a solid
profession. I just do those odd jobs that everyone else hates. I just want
to do my share…"
Brian interrupted her. "Tricia, you are doing your share. I want you to
be on that European tour with me. I need you with me…or I'll get
distracted, miss you and mess up. I guess I could say that you are my
inspiration. Without you waiting for me when I come off stage I feel like I
can't do my job properly. So you could say that you already have a job.
You're my assistant."
"I like the sound of that." Tricia grinned. "Do I get a nametag?"
"Yeah, Mrs. Littrell." Brian laughed as he leaned over to kiss her. Before
their lips could meet, a huge raindrop hit his nose. He looked at the
clouds. "Spoilsport!" The rain drops started coming faster. "We are about
to get wet!"
"Let's make a run for it." Tricia said, as she pulled him towards the
house.
By the time they made it to the backdoor they were completely soaked.
*****
AJ heard the door to his apartment open. He knew it must be Vicky. She
was the only one that had the keys to his apartment. "I'll bet that they
were surprised."
Vicky nodded. "They were. I guess I forgot to tell everyone what I do."
"Kevin and Sam hired you, I take it." AJ then said.
"Of course." Vicky said. "We spent all afternoon going over flower
arrangements and wedding invitations. It bored the hell out of Kevin…he
tried to play interested. I never saw Sam to be so traditional. She wants
everything perfect. I thought she would be like one of my other clients and
want to get married on Terror Tower at Disney World."
AJ laughed. "Did they actually go through with it?"
Vicky nodded. "After the priest wed them, the ride started. The groom
puked!"
"Romantic moment." AJ shook his head.
"Anyway, I just wanted to drop by and see you." Vicky kissed his forehead.
"But it's kinda late so I should be going home."
"See you tomorrow?" AJ asked.
"Of course, we are going to see a movie right?" Vicky asked.
"Right…"
*****
She closed her eyes, smiling at how happy she was at that exact moment.
Here she was on a plane to Florida. It had all come into place after the
concert.
She had quit her job, not caring that she was letting her boss down. She
had packed up all her things and got ready for her new life.
She had connections through the internet. She knew exactly where AJ lived.
She knew there was an apartment for rent in a building half a block away
from him. This was her new home. She was about to get what she wanted…
"It won't be long now…"
End of Chapter 3
Chapter 4
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