Chapter 6: I'm Gonna Always Be Loving You

Kermit the Frog sat in the bench of a small café, talking on the phone. He nodded. "Yeah, that's great. I'll be up over there next week. Uh-huh. Just tell Leon that I still sign the checks. Yeah. No, you're doing great, Digit. Just get them all fixed up and I'll take a look." He heard Piggy's voice laughing behind him. "I gotta go. You know how our dates go." There was a long pause. He scrunched up his face. "Yeah. Bye, Digit." He hung up his cell phone and turned around with his warmest smile.

And Piggy was arm in arm with … it couldn't be.

Nicky saw him first and cleared his throat. Piggy followed his gaze and gasped. When they reached Kermit's table, Piggy laughed coyly. "Kermie? I have news."

Kermit frowned as he glanced back and forth between Nicky and Piggy. "You have a new guest star?" He nodded. "I have to say … I'm surprised. I was certain Scooter insisted on background checks for each star. Oh, wait, that was me."

"Kermit? It's not what you think," Nicky offered.

"Try me," he replied. "I may be a simple swamp frog, but I can be pretty creative."

"I'm in love, silly!" Piggy blurted out forcefully, grabbing Nicky's arm tighter. "I need someone to love moi as I love him."

Kermit sighed. "Where are the cameras, Piggy?"

"Cameras?" Nicky and Piggy asked together.

Kermit nodded and smiled. "You do realize I must be late getting her flowers or something, right, Nicky?" He chuckled and turned his back on them and sipped some water. "She's got it in her head to make me jealous. She doesn't really love you. This is just a game to her, and you're her most recent pawn."

Nicky looked down at Piggy. She was pale and trembling. Kermit was right. She was playing him … playing them both. He smiled. He knew how to play as well. "Well, Kermit," he said, still gazing at his lovely pork goddess, "I may be a pawn, but I couldn't ask for a better player. It may be a game, but I'm glad I'm on the winning side."

Piggy and Kermit both gawked at him.

Piggy cleared her throat and nodded, turning back to Kermit. "It's … not a … game, Kermie," she struggled to spit out. "This … this … is … for … for real," she added wistfully.

Kermit nodded and turned back and motioned for the waiter. "Well, the good news is, this saves me a lot on my bill." He gave the waiter a few bucks and stood up, facing them. He smirked. "I give it about a week. Once she tires of the novelty, she'll be at my office hoping I haven't," he glanced at Piggy, "fired her."

"Actually, Kermit," Nicky said, "if you fire her for not dating you, that would be sexual harassment. She could take you to the cleaners." See if you can come up with a retort for that, frog, he thought to himself.

Kermit glared at Nicky and gulped. "Well, be that as it may," he managed to croak finally, "good luck." He turned and walked off.

Piggy's heart was about to break. He didn't even argue. Was she really so … disposable?

Nicky bent down on one knee and kissed her, stroking her hair. "You realize, of course, you broke his heart." He grinned. "However, I'm glad you made your decision." He caressed her cheek. "You won't regret it."

"Yeah," she replied softly, leaning against Nicky.

An hour later Nicky stared at Piggy as they sat at the café. "You've barely touched your hero."

Piggy sunk slightly lower in her seat.

"I meant your sandwich," Nicky offered.

"I know," she retorted.

Nicky cleared his throat. "Actually, darling, I have some news as well."

"Oh?"

"My job is taking me, uh, out of town."

"Vous just got here."

"Yeah," Nicky said, nodding, fiddling with his fork. "It's in Arizona." He sighed. "It might take a few weeks." He snapped his head up. "I promise, I'll return."

"I don't believe you've mentioned what kind of job you have."

Nicky chuckled and leaned back. "Private investigation." He saw her stare at him in disbelief. "Come on, Piggy," he added in a suave voice, "what better detective can there be beside a former master thief?"