“Dude are you sure she’s coming?” JC asked as he finished off his water. “I’m hungry!”
“Well I invited her yesterday when we got to the hotel and she said she was,” Lance said checking his watch again. “Maybe we should go ahead and order and I’ll call up to her room and see what’s going on.”
Justin had just joined them. “No man you don’t have to call her, she’ll be here. I just talked to her this morning.”
“When?” Lance asked. “I haven’t seen her all day.”
“Uh, I ran into her in the hallway when I went down to the gym.” Justin didn’t want to bring up the fact that he and Sam spent the night together. He wasn’t sure how the rest of them would take it and he couldn’t explain it without compromising Sam’s trust.
“Oh okay, well then I suppose we can go ahead and order. She’ll probably be down soon.”
“Naw man, it’s okay I can wait a couple more minutes if that’s all it’s gonna be.” JC said.
Sam walked into the hotel restaurant and noticed a group of girls walking around trying not to look obvious. One of them talked to Sam as she was walking out.
“Don’t bother,” the girl huffed. She was wearing a tube top and a very small skirt. Sam wondered why the girl had bothered to put any clothes on at all. “The stupid bodyguards aren’t letting anyone near them. I think they went back into that private dining area.”
Sam just smiled, “Thanks for the tip but I think I’ll give it a try anyway.” She walked up to Lonnie and Dre and greeted them.
“Hey guys! How ya doing today?”
“Fine sweetie, but you really should wear your pass.” Lonnie said slightly frowning at her.
“I know I should but it attracts the teenies,” she said whispering while pointing at the girls still trying to figure out a way to get past the large men.
“Alright, I’ll let it slide this time but if I catch you again you are grounded young lady!” He said while shaking his finger at her.
“Yes sir. I promise.” Sam said flashing that innocent smile at the two of them. They both smiled at her. Dre noticed the group of girls making their way towards the three of them.
“Uh speaking of teenies, you better get inside before they get over here and figure out you have a way in. Tell the guys we’ll send the waitress in.” He opened the door and shut it behind her just before the crowd reached them and started asking questions about Sam.
“Sami! There you are. See I TOLD you she was coming Lance,” Justin said while staring at his group-mate.
“Well, you are late,” JC teased. “And Lance insisted that we wait for you. Look at me, I’m wasting away here.”
“Yes you are but that has nothing to do with me. And if it wasn’t for your protectors giving me a lecture about not wearing my pass, I would’ve been in here five minutes ago,” Sam said while sticking her tongue out at him. “But thank you for waiting, you really didn’t have to.”
“They’re right you know,” Lance said while pulling out the chair for her. “You should wear it, not everybody knows you as well as Lonnie and Dre.”
“Yes Mr. Boss Man I know. I already promised that I would remember to wear it from now on.”
“I love it when you call me that,” Lance whispered in her ear. Sam giggled and growled at him.
“Uh, would you two like to be alone or can we eat now?” Justin asked.
“Sorry,” the two of them said in unison.
The waitress came in and took their orders and they chatted some more as they waited for the food to arrive. “So where’s everybody else?” Sam asked.
“Well Chris and Dani decided they would much rather have some, uh, alone time,” Lance said smiling. “And nobody knows what’s up with Joey.”
“What about me?” Joey asked as he came in and sat down next to JC. He noticed that Sam was sitting between Lance and Justin. ‘How cute’ he thought to himself.
“Nothing man,” JC said. “We were just all wondering if you were coming or not.”
“Well I’m here so let’s order.”
“Actually we just did, but I’m sure if you go tell them what you want they should have it done at the same time,” Justin said.
“Gee thanks for waiting,” Joey mumbled as he got up to find the waitress.
“Is it just me or is something going on with him?” Sam asked.
“No it’s not just you. I tried talking to him, but whatever is bothering him he doesn’t want to talk about it yet.” Lance sighed, “I don’t know what else I can do.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it too much,” Sam said. “When he’s ready he’ll talk.”
Joey rejoined them and they all sat silently for a few minutes until Sam and Justin yawned at the exact same time. They looked at each other and laughed at the humor of why they were both so tired.
“Oh how precious,” Joey muttered under his breath.
“What?” Justin asked.
“Nothing.”
“Whatever man. What’s your problem anyhow?”
“I don’t have a problem. I’m sorry if everybody’s life isn’t as perfect as yours.”
“What are you talking about? You of all people should know that my life’s not perfect!” Justin said, his tone getting harsher with each word.
“It looks pretty good from my point of view,” Joey said staring at Sam.
“What the hell is that suppose to mean?” Justin was now shouting at him.
“You’re a smart boy, you figure it out.”
“Look, I don’t know what the hell is going on with you lately but you need to snap out of it. If you’re gonna be an ass just keep your mouth shut.”
“Hey guys, let’s just drop it okay?” JC said trying to play the peacemaker.
“I’ve got a better idea,” Joey said standing up. “I’m leaving. Have the waitress send my lunch to my room.”
“Wow,” Sam said after he had left.
“Yeah tell me about it. Maybe I should go try to talk to him again,” Lance said.
“No you said yourself he’s not ready, you’ll only make it worse if you try to force him,” Sam said trying to reassure him.
“Sam’s right Lance,” JC said. “Just let him be alone for awhile. Let’s just try to enjoy the rest of our lunch.”
“I suppose you guys are right. I guess it’s just so frustrating because it’s so unlike him to be in a mood for this long,” Lance said.
“That’s right, and that’s how I know he’ll eventually snap out of it and let us in, but for now lets just drop it,” Justin said starting in on his lunch.
They all finished eating silently, each of them wondering what Joey was implying when he pointedly looked at Sam during his rant. Justin and Sam didn’t look at each other for the rest of the meal. Lance watched the two of them intensely to see if he could pick up on anything and JC watched Lance watching the two of them.
***
Lance walked Samantha to her room and they couldn’t help bring up the Joey situation again. Lance wanted to know what he was trying to say about Sam and Justin but he didn’t want to just come out and ask so he tried dropping some hints.
“I wonder why Joey was looking at you when he made that statement to Justin. What do you suppose he was trying to imply?” he asked.
“I have no idea.”
“Well do you think he thinks there’s something going on between you two?”
“I don’t know why he would,” Sam said kicking her shoes off and sitting up on the bed. “Why do you think there’s something between me and Justin?”
“I don’t know. Is there?” he asked, holding his breath.
“Would it be a problem for you if there was?”
Lance sat down next to her. “I’m not sure, it could be.”
“On a personal or professional level?” Sam asked looking into his eyes.
“Possibly both” he said smiling.
“Is that so?”
“Yep. So is there?”
“Yes there is.” Lance got up and turned his back to her. She went to him and placed her hand on his back. “You didn’t let me finish.”
“It’s okay, I don’t need to hear all the details,” he said pulling away from her.
“Well you need to hear this. Lance please look at me.” He turned around and Sam could see the hurt in his eyes. “Justin and I do have something, but it’s just a friendship.”
The pain was instantly fading from his face. “Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes I’m positive. It’s a very close friendship but that’s where it stops.”
“Good.”
“It is? Why?”
“Well I wouldn’t want your personal life interfering with your job,” he said smiling.
“I see. And that’s the only reason it would be good?” Sam asked with her hands on her hips.
“Absolutely,” Lance said pulling her into his body. “What else could it be?” he asked sarcastically as he put his arms around her.
“Mmm, this is nice,” Sam said as he squeezed her tighter.
“Yeah it is. How come we never did this before now?”
“I don’t know.” Sam thought about how many times she’d wished he would hold her like this. She was so happy that it was finally happening. Something was keeping her from fully enjoying the moment though. “Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask me anything you want.”
“Do you think Joey’s attitude has anything to do with me being here?”
“No. Why would you think something like that?”
“I don’t know. It just seems like he’s been this way ever since I started working for you.”
“Well that’s true,” Lance started. “But I’m sure that’s purely coincidental.”
“How can you be so sure?” Sam asked.
“Because everybody else loves having you around. Especially me,” Lance said as he tucked some stray pieces of hair behind her ears.
“On a personal or professional level?” she asked gazing up at his handsome face.
“Both.” He leaned in to kiss her and she knew that she wasn’t misreading signals this time. Their lips were just about to touch when Sam’s phone rang.
“Ugh,” she said resting her head on his chest. “Just forget about it. Now where were we?”
“No you should get it,” Lance said as he released her from his embrace. “I really need to get my stuff ready to go. I’ll see you later,” he said almost sprinting to the door.
“Lance,” Sam called out to him. It was too late. The door had already shut behind him. Her phone was still ringing and Sam was becoming extremely annoyed. “What!?!” she screamed at the person on the other end.
***