Chapter 28: Shaky Relationship

"You haven't been having them weird gut-clenching moments in a while, whatcha do?" John asked.

Nikki sighed. "I've been taking pills. Relieves them."

"What was it all about really?" Trish asked.

"I don't know. My doctor said just simple stomach flu. Said I shoulda stayed in bed. Would've made me feel better." Nikki answered.

"So you're okay now?" Stacy asked.

"Yes." Nikki assured.

Randy came around from the corner. "Good grief. You had us all worried."

Nikki laughed. "And you were worried the most?"

Randy frowned. "Maybe…"

Everyone laughed. Randy went to join them on the floor. They had been pigging out on food and playing blackjack for the past hour.

"Hey Nikki, do you still have that weird ass blanket with you?" Randy asked.

"I dunno. Why, you need it?" Nikki said.

Randy nodded. "Just to wrap around me. It's damn cold."

"Then turn on the heater you bug doofus." Stacy added.

"Shut up." Randy said.

"Why don't you?" Stacy argued.

Trish placed a hand on both of their mouths. "Just shut the hell up you two. This is exactly why you two wouldn't make great parents, you argue with each other too much!"

Nikki got up to get the blanket. Randy followed her. Nikki walked into her closet and searched for the blanket. Randy looked around her closet, finding the athletic sportiness style of clothing everywhere, with a delightful punch of sophistication. Nikki entered another small room from her closet, in which Randy had never seen before.

He followed her inside. "I've never seen this before. And what's with the…" Randy paused to look at what was on display. "… the hats?"

Nikki found the blanket and handed it to him. "Something."

"I know you buy lots of hats but I didn't know you had this much." Randy stared at the hats.

She put her hands in her jeans pocket. "137 hats."

Randy was taken aback. "Why so many?"

Nikki walked out of the room. "A lady has her reasons."

Randy followed again as well. "OK… but I find it awkward."

"Whatever." Nikki flopped down on her chaise.

"Aren't you going to go play again downstairs?" Randy pointed out he room.

"Nah. I betcha by now they already looked at what I have and cheated. I know them. And I don't feel like it. I'm tired." Nikki clicked a remote which turned on the stereo. She closed her eyes, which meant she wanted to be alone.

Randy shrugged and headed out for his room. He placed the blanket on his bed and when he turned around, he found an angry Stacy.

"Are you hiding something from me?" Stacy asked calmly.

"No, why do you think that?" Randy answered.

"Nothing… I just have a hunch." Stacy said.

"A hunch for what?" Randy asked.

"I don't know babe. You tell me." Stacy said.

"Babe? You haven't called me that in months." Randy said.

"You haven't been really with me in a while either." Stacy defended.

"I thought raising the baby was suppose to be your thing." Randy said.

"I'm still pregnant." Stacy said.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Randy became suspicious.

"Nothing. You and I haven't been… you and I ever since this stupid baby." Stacy said.

"Don't call the baby stupid. It's not even born yet." Randy said.

"I mean haven't been you know…" Stacy looked at the bed.

Randy turned. "Oh. Don't you know having sex while a woman is pregnant can cause a dysfunction with the development of the baby?"

Stacy was surprised. "How'd you know that?"

"Instinct. You should know that. You've been taking classes." Randy said.

Stacy eased up. "But I know there's something going on."

"Going on what?" Randy asked.

"You. You and someone else." Stacy said.

"I am not dating anyone else! We're together!" Randy exclaimed.

"Liar! I know it. I saw you, in the park with her." Stacy said.

"Huh?" Randy didn't know what she was talking about.

"Yeah. Your little rendezvous with that slut last week. I saw how you looked into her eyes. I saw how she really wanted you. You two kissed for crying out loud!" Stacy yelled.

"Almost kissed!" Randy yelled.

Stacy raised and eyebrow and crossed her arm in finality.

Randy covered his mouth.

"You're such a liar. You're cheating on me!" Stacy yelled.

Trish walked by the doorway. John yelled to Trish why Stacy was yelling and Trish simply said she was probably PMSing or side effects from pregnancy.

"I am not!" Randy argued.

"You said you two almost kissed!" Stacy yelled.

"I didn't kiss her! I was trying to help her up because she fell!" Randy defended. He doesn't remember a thing about being in the park.

"Oh shut up. You're a liar, a hider! You filthy undeserving scumbag!" Stacy yelled with fury as she stormed out the door.

John popped his head through the door. "Now that last line sounded like an angry spoiled rich girl."

Randy threw a pillow at the door and John had dodged it. Randy sat on his bed. Almost kissing a girl? Who could that be? I don't remember going to the park last week.

"Hey loverboy. We're going shopping, wanna come?" Trish asked.

"OK." Randy got out and went out with them, leaving Stacy alone at home.

As they stepped into Abercrombie & Fitch, Randy looked insecurely at the model at the front. He eyed the poster as the others went inside.

"I am so going to find the hottest stuff ever!" Trish squealed and headed over to a rack.

John had left for a jersey store and Nikki went to Banana Republic. Randy had wanted to go with her but Nikki can't concentrate on shopping if there's anyone with her.

Randy stood at the front staring at the model. He didn't like the model, felt he was too blonde and ugly, that Abercrombie totally disses anyone who isn't blonde, and he didn't like that.

As Nikki and John walked in Abercrombie together, Randy had already taken all of his clothes off, leaving his boxers, to show that his body is just as good as the model's. John saw this as a hysterical dare, and Nikki stared astonished.

Nikki gasped. She looked around. "I need to buy a hat."

John was still laughing on the way home. "Homie… did a random guy like dare you to do that? Cool and everything but that was a riot! HA!"

Trish got pissed. "Stop laughing, we're going to have an accident with you driving like that."

John still couldn't stop laughing. Nikki was in the back seat with Randy pulled down under her new hat.

Trish turned around. "Are you OK Nikki?"

Randy turned to look and John turned around. Trish scolded John and John began to focus on the road again.

"Are you OK?" Trish repeated again.

Nikki looked up smiling. "Yeah. Never been better."