“Ahhh the phone always rings during the good parts in the movie,” I said reaching over to grab it. “Hello?”
“Hey honey, it's me,” AJ said on the other end of the phone. “How's everything there?”
“Fine,” I answered. “Me and Rhon are just watching a movie and eating some ice cream.”
“You two seem to be doing that a lot lately,” he joked.
“Well what do you expect for the last two weeks you've been in the recording studio and I'm getting too big to move around as freely. So what's up?” “Nothing just calling to tell you that I'm gonna be late, I'm gonna hang out with an old buddy tonight.”
“Who?” I asked.
“No one you know it's just an old friend I haven't seen in awhile.”
“That's cool,” I said thinking that being off tour was starting to get to him and that maybe a night out with a bud was all he needed. “Is that all?”
“No…” AJ said hesitantly.
“What is it?”
“Umm can you give Rhonda a message for Howie? Tell her that he can't make it tonight, something came up and he has to stay late.”
“And he can't tell her that himself?” I asked not believing that Howie was going to start with this again.
“He's recording right now. He can't come to the phone.”
“And he's been in there all day right with no chance to pick up a phone huh?”
“Honey, come on, don't be like that,” AJ said.
“Well you at least have the dignity to tell her yourself.” I handed the phone over to Rhonda.

Rhonda's View

“Hey J what's up?” I asked as Amber handed me the phone.
“Umm…it's nothing just that Howie wanted me to tell you he has to stay late and finish this recording.”
“Fine,” I said in a low voice.
“He's really sorry Rhon…he is. He says he'll call you tomorrow.”
“Sure, fine, whatever…” I said trying not to let myself get upset. “I'll talk to him tomorrow then.” I hung up the phone and turned towards Amber. “Well I guess it's just going to be you and me again tonight.”

Amber View

I woke up as the bed creaked and opened my eyes to find AJ trying to be as quiet as possible climbing into bed. I squinted at the clock to try and make out the time. The numbers glowed 3:00. “Did you have fun?”
He jumped not realizing that I was awake. “I didn't mean to wake you baby,” he said leaning over to give me a kiss. His wet hair dripped on my nose making me laugh.
“Did you take a shower?” I asked running my fingers through his wet hair.
“Yeah I kinda smelled like a club and didn't want you to have to smell it all night,” he said as he wrapped me in his arms. I wondered if he was trying to cover the smell of him smoking again but ruled that out, he hadn't smoked ever since he broke up with Amanda. “Sooo…” AJ said rubbing his hands up and down my arm causing me to shiver, “don't you want to welcome me back home?”
I rolled over onto my side and ran my nails lightly down his chest. “Welcome home,” I purred. The sound of Arrianna crying stopped us from going any farther. "I'll get her," I sighed as I got up.