"I'll go let him up," Audrey said, grateful for any excuse to get out of that kitchen and away from a certain barely-clothed popstar.
"Make sure to tell him to bring my bag up!" Justin couldn't help but grin as he watched her practically race out of the room. Oh yeah, I'm getting to her. Lifting another forkful of eggs to his mouth, he tried to chew but with the large, evil grin forming on his face it was kind of difficult to keep his mouth closed.
Audrey remained in the living room with the excuse that she was waiting for Mike so she could let him in, when in truth, she didn't think she could handle seeing Justin again until he had some pants on. She breathed a sigh of relief when she opened the door to reveal a burly black man holding the most wonderful sight she'd ever seen: the bag containing Justin's clothes.
"He's in the kitchen, right through there," she directed, pointing the way out to him. "There's some eggs and toast if you want some, as well."
"I already ate, but thanks," he grinned. The baring of teeth more resembled that of an angry dog rather than a grin, but the sentiment was there.
Settling down on the couch, Audrey turned on the TV and flicked through the channels until she came to one of the daily talk shows that she so enjoyed watching. She was just getting engrossed in a story about a man dating his mother's boyfriend when Justin walked in to the room, fully clothed this time, thankfully.
"You coming?" he asked.
"Coming where?"
"With me. You know, to interviews and stuff..."
"Yeah, Timberlake, I really want to spend my day watching you field such thought-provoking questions as 'What's your favourite colour?' and 'Will you be my promdate?'. I've got to work on tying up all my loose ends here if I'm going to take that job with you guys."
"What do you mean, 'if'?" Justin asked. "I thought you'd already agreed to take it."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever, just get out of here and let me get some work done."
"Yeah, looks like you're getting a lot of work done." He indicated the show she'd been watching before he'd interrupted her.
"Will you just go?"
"I'm hurt. We spend the night in each other's arms, and come morning you just can't wait to kick me out! Were you just using me? Am I just a piece of MEAT to you?"
"GO!"
"Okay, okay. Do you want to get together for dinner to night with me and the rest of the guys?"
"Yeah, sure. Now get going."
"Yes, ma'am!" Justin slipped on his jacket, pausing briefly to press a quick kiss to her cheek before saluting and heading towards the door, Mike in tow. "I'll call you around five or six, and we can make the dinner arrangements then. Oh, and don't forget to listen to the tape!"
"I won't," she assured him, her eyes dropping to the tape, which was still in the same spot she'd left it the previous day when she's rushed down to meet Justin. She had completely forgotten about it! "Bye, Timberlake."
"Bye, sweetcakes." He grinned at the look she gave him. "What? It rhymes with Timberlake. I'm a poet, you know. A songwriter. An artiste."
"GO!"
One more impish grin and he was out the door, and Audrey was left staring once more at the mysterious tape. What was on it? The possibilities were endless. Okay, not really. It was probably just some songs or something. Maybe an advance copy of their as-of-yet unreleased CD.
Okay, stop wondering about it and just put the damn tape in already! Audrey reprimanded herself. Sliding off the couch, she shut the TV off and moved over to her stereo, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of it and pressing play, since the tape was already in there.
"Hey Audrey. I figure one good tape deserves another. Ha ha. You're supposed to laugh now. Anyways, this tape isn't really much like the one you gave me. Okay, it's not at all like the one you gave me. But I thought you might like it. I guess you could say this present is partly from JC, too. He's providing the piano accompaniment. This is for all those times when I'm not around to sing you to sleep."
Audrey let out a soft sigh and couldn't help the grin that spread across her face as she heard JC play the opening melody. Her breath caught in her throat as Justin started to sing.
"Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper 'I love you'
Birds singing in the sycamore tree
Dream a little dream of me
Say nighty-night and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me
Stars fading but I linger on, dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger til dawn, dear
Just saying this
Sweet dreams til sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams, whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
Stars fading but I linger on, dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger til dawn, dear
Just saying this
Sweet dreams til sunbeams find you
Keep dreaming, leave your worries behind you
But in your dreams, whatever they be
You've got to make me a promise, promise to me
You'll dream, dream a little dream of me"
Chapter Thirty-Four
Say Cheese