Ch. 13
"Howie!" Sally exclaimed as she saw us walking through the termial.
Howie grasped her elbows spinning her around angrily. "Why did you do that?!"
"What?!"
"That picture in Rolling Stone! WHY?"
"I thought you would be happy that people were now thinking I'm pretty instead of a big fat blob."
"I never thought that. Why would you think that?"
"I don't think that, but every single one of your fans does! They call me fat and everything else in the book."
"So, that's what they did, not what I did. What on earth is going on with you?"
She dropped her jaw in exasperation. "What's going on....I've been losing weight and toning up. Not to mention you didn't even notice."
"I noticed," Nick chimed in as he examined every inch of her body.
She did look wonderful in her white halter top and blue jeans, her long hair hanging at her waist.
I glanced at the crowd that surrounded us. "Um......come on guys, you can finish this conversation in the limo."
"Howie, I don't see what your problem is," Kevin sighed as he shut the door behind Kristin. "It's not like you've never dated a girl who showed some skin."
Kristin shrugged. "He's right, Howie. Maybe you should leave her alone."
"You're all on her side?"
Sally rolled her eyes. "For Pete's Sake! Would you just drop it! It's our six month annverisary! Can't we just enjoy that?"
Brian patted her arm. "Calm down, sweetie. I'm sure he didn't mean to upset you."
I stared out the window. "THAT'S IT! Howie, you went to Playboy mansion, you watch Baywatch, you're being a complete and utter hypocrite- drop it before she decides to drop you."
*******
"Howie...." Sally whispered as we reached the steps of Walt Disney World. (The rest of us were to meet our girlfriends there.) "We need to to talk."
Howie took her aside guiding her to a secluded area of the park. "What?"
"I'm sorry." Tears rolled over her cheeks. "I was just trying to please you and your fans. I've never had a nice body and I just wanted to show it off. I'm so sorry."
"Don't be sorry." He wrapped his arms around her small frame. "You're just so different than anyone else I've dated. You don't have to show your body to be beautiful, you already were."
She wiped her eyes. "So, you don't like my new look?"
"No, it's not that. I'm just worried, that's all."
"You don't have to worry, Howie. I'm fine."
He kissed her temple gently. "I'm sorry, baby, I dunno what came over me."
"It's all right. Let's just move on, okay?"
"Okay, but one more thing."
"Yes?"
He held the red rose to her view. "Happy Anniversary."