After Amanda took off, and left Howie and I to shop, I was trying figure out if now was a good time to tell him about my life that was no longer part of Orlando. Back then I was just a feshly graduated high school girl who wanted to make it big in the singing world, and Howie was that one nerdy looking guy that every girl knew. Who knew he would turn out to look so hot. And Aj, m god, what has he done to himself!
I could tell Howie about how I was doing good at aditions while he was on tour, and how i met Amanda. Funny how after three years she calls me now... And how my dad got transfered here to New Orleans as an accountant for some singer named Jenna. But I didnt know how he would react to me telling him about my little girl Anna, or the fact that i had also gotten married to when I was 22. But now that I am divored and at the age of 26 raising a 4yr old on my own..the father now where to be found.
"Hey lets go to The Tommy store " I said "And see whats new that they got in now."
"Good Idea, you lead the way." Howie said holding out his hug arm.
"Soo.. Hows your mom and dad?" We both asked at the same time. Both of us laughing at our jinx. Followed by a moment of silence.
"How are they?" Howie asked me again.
"Well, moms doing good. She started her own buisness making pillows and stuffed things. " I told him "And dads still doing accounting for the Jenna girl..only he picked up the Saints deal to sice her buisness was getting slow."
"Wow..they sound like they are doing great." Howie remarked.
"Yeah they are doing okay. and How about your parents?"
"Well, dad retired, but you already knew that, but hes basically doing odds and ends around towm. Now mom, whooo boy. She is loving the visitors.!"
"Visitors?" I broke in.."How many?"
"Oh she gets about thrity girl a week that stop by the house to see if im home.. they take pictures of the house and mom and dad..and then they leve. they are always so polite! But this one girl mom mae friends with. her name is Paula. They exchange cards every holiday, and letters a few time a month. I think its the name paula that mom like ssome much.. i ont know.." He said Laughing. "Ive never personally met her yet. But i am in march for sure."
"oh my ..they have been busy.." i said.
"Yep now tell me about you. You know all aboutme from the tabloids..but me " He said sincerlly" I want to know about you."
While we looked around severl other stores..not buying anything in any of them, i told him about the move. And yes, I did come clean about the baby and father. Surprisingly, He wasnt disappointed in me at all. He seemed rather, cool, non judgemental. Thats what I always liked about him. behind those big goofy looking glasses, i always figured there was a person witha soul. now that he is 26 and one damn fine man.. he proved it.
After we shopped a little longer, it was about three thirty and he suggested that we go for a swim back at his hotel, which to me, didnt sound like to bad of an idea. Before we called for a cab, I stopped into nautica, and went to buy myself a suit to swim in, but Howie refused to let me pay for it. He told me that I had a daughter to take care of , and that this was on him. After my argument was totally thrown out the window, i gave in. We left the store and called for a taxi.
When we got back to the hotel, Howie noticed that Aj and Amanda had not yet be there. So while I changed he ran down to the gift shop and bought him some trunks. WHen he came back to the room, he wouldnt let me see them until he walked out of the bathroom wearing the goffiest looking pink swim trunks i had ever seen.. thay had little yellow duckies all over them..
"are you serious?" I said laughing at him so hard I fell of the bed in the room.
"Yeah! WHAT you dont like them!?"he said trying to be man about the duckies.
"On you..haa haa, umm.. O K" I said getting off the floor. " But pink? Duckies?"
"hey was either these or Captain Crunch"
"Ohh believe me I would have gone for the CAptain Crunch ones.." I said giggling. still.
"No you wouldnt have! and besides they only had them in a kids small." He relied defending his shorts.
"
"Hey what ever floats your boat.." I said adding "QUACK QUACK"
"Lets just go.. before it gets to late." howie said grabbing his towle from the bathroom."Here" he said tssing me one.
"Thanks.. alrighty, ill cool it with the fowl jokes.." i said laughing again " fowl..get it f-o-w-l as in ducks.. haa haa haa"
"Fuuuuunnny. A regular comedian I see we got here.." Howie yelled back while he head ou the door of the room.."Come on chris rock."
"Ohh come on now you cracer with attitude..." ai mocked chri rick from the 1999 vma's.
"AHHHHHH..!" he cried as he ran down the hall to the elevator.."stop! stop the insanity!"
"okay..ill stop.. or now." I told him as the elevator doors slid open.
"Good now behave yourself okay." He instructed me as we boarded the elevator.
"Yes Daddy" I squeled..as the door shut and we headed down tolevel 1 to go to the pool.