Chapter 8
You've got something so incredible in my eyes
My heart starts pumping
Whenever you're around
The whole world's upside down
Boys Will Be Boys
I couldn't sleep. I looked at the clock beside me. Two 'o clock.
There was a sliver of light that passed under the door. Somebody downstairs can't sleep either I guess. I stood and wrapped my robe around my body and with my fuzzy slippers, padded slowly to the living room.
AJ was asleep on the sofa, clutching his blanket like a little boy. I could see the light was on in the kitchen and I decided to investigate.
"Howie," I called softly to the figure bent over his laptop, "It's three in the morning. What are you doing?"
He smiled and responded, "Oh, hi Cathy. Just catching up on my business back home."
"You never rest, do you?" I pulled out a chair and sat next to him, "You know, you're supposed to be on vacation."
"Yeah, well I couldn't sleep" he replied.
"Me neither".
He went back to his typing and we just sat there in silence.
It was getting really late, "I should go back upstairs, but not with you still working. You have to go back to sleep".
"Ok, ok" he laughed and closed his laptop.
"That's better. Now get some rest, we're gonna wear ourselves out tomorrow".
"Ahh, this is more like it" Nick said happily as we arrived on the beach for our final morning. He and Brian grabbed a towel each and spread them out on the sand.
Sam was walking slowly behind me. She was feeling the effects of drinking last night, and had dark sunglasses over her eyes.
"Where's AJ?" I asked her.
"Back at the house" she replied with a frown," He got a call from that singer he was seeing, Marie" She said the name as if it was venom on her mouth. "He was still talking to her when we left."
I could tell Sam was insanely jealous, but I didn't want to press the matter.
Somebody's pager started to go off.
Kara dug around her straw bag, "Darn, it's my agent. Be right back, you guys." She took her bag and ran to the direction of the pay phones.
"C'mon, Howie, let's take a dip" said Angela tugging on his arm to make him stand up, and they both ran to the water.
Kevin shielded his eyes and looked far down the beach, "Hey, Bri, isn't that the girl at the carnival".
"Really, where?" asked Brian.
"Over there" Kevin pointed. I looked over and saw her clad in a skimpy red bikini, walking towards us.
"Why, hello there," She smiled seductively at Brian, "Didn't I see you at the carnival yesterday."
"Umm, yeah, hi, it's Anne, right?"
"Yes. Nice to see you again, Brian. Mind if I join you?"
"Sure" Brian said hesitantly, looking over at the payphones, where Kara was standing. Her back was turned to us.
"I'm going for a swim", announced Nick.
"Me too" said Kevin.
"I'm gonna see if Kara has sunblock, then I'm joining you guys," I told them as I walked over to her.
"Are you kidding?" she said with disbelief to the receiver, "I thought I bombed the audition?" She saw me and placed a hand on the phone.
"Yes?" she mouthed.
"Do you have some sunblock I can borrow?"
"Sure" she retrieved it from my bag and handed it to me with a smile.
"Thanks."
She nodded and turned back to the phone, "Right away? Sure, I'll try," she was saying to her agent as I walked away.
"I love it when I'm tanned" Sam exclaimed as we got home, two hours later.
AJ was sitting on the sofa, waiting for us. He looked up from the magazine he was reading. "Oh, hey guys, you're back".
"Wait a minute" Kevin stopped in his tracks, "Aren't we missing anyone?"
"Oh yeah," Nick realized, "Where's Brian?"
"And Kara?" I added.
