Lance got up and headed for the shower. The phone rang. Lance grabbed it and pushed the 'on' button.
"I'm up," he said while rubbing his face.
"Did you know it was me?"
"Hi, J.C. I just figured it probably had something to do with the session," Lance said in a low, sleepy voice.
"Okay, well as long as you're up I'm gonna hit the shower. I called Joey and he isn't feeling well." Lance let out a chuckle. "Can't say I didn't warn him."
"Yeah. Well, it ought to be fun with him hung over. You're feeling alright though, huh?"
"Me? Sure. I think I nursed the same beer all night."
J.C. laughed, "Good. Is there anything on your mind, though?"
"Like what?" Lance asked.
"Well, I don't know...something bothering you?"
"Like what J.C.?"
"Lance, what I'm trying to say is that if you ever want to talk about anything you know I'm here."
"I know that, J.C. Thanks. I'm fine, really."
J.C. hesitated, "Well, okay then...just remember that the offer stands."
"Yeah. I'll see ya later." Lance said, then hung up the phone and sat on the edge of his bed. 'I should have talked to the guys after that trip to Vail.'
"This place is awesome! Rustic, yet...wealthy!" said Justin. Joey laughed.
"When have you ever known Liam not to take it over the top? Man, I cannot believe you voted to stay in Orlando, Scoop. Aren't you glad now that you were outvoted?"
Lance just shrugged.
The guys were mulling around the lobby waiting for their room cards and Liam brought them over from the desk. "Now guys," Liam said handing out the cards, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do! Enjoy yourselves!"
Lance immediately noticed that he was sharing a suite with Liam. His jaw set like steel, he didn't like that idea very much.
The suites were spacious and elegant. There were two separate bedrooms/bathrooms in each sharing a common living room. The view of the mountains was breathtaking. Still, as soon as the luggage arrived, Lance set out to J.C.'s suite.
"Hey, Lance is this GREAT or what?" said Justin.
"What cha guys doing?"
"Snow boarding, wanna come?"
"Yeah, I do. Lemme get changed."
As Lance entered his suite, the door to Liam's bedroom was open and Lance could overhear the telephone conversation Liam was having.
"Yeah Babe, I'm here. OOoo, you know I love it when you say those things to me."
Lance blushed when he realized that Liam must be talking with his wife all the way down in Florida. There was a tinge of envy detected, but Lance fought to block it out. Lance was happy for Mercedes that Liam was being so loving and attentive, especially after Lance had been so concerned over Liam's reaction to Mercedes' pregnancy.
Lance started rummaging through his suitcase for a certain blue sweater Justin wanted to borrow. When he came out of the bedroom, he heard Liam finishing his conversation. "See you in 10 then Lover."
Lance was confused.
"What, did Mercedes decide to fly up for the weekend?" asked Lance.
Liam gave him a funny look, "No. Why'd you ask that?"
"Weren't you just on the phone with her?"
"No. Mercedes knows this is strictly a guys weekend. She understood that, she always understands."
"Well, I don't think she'd understand the conversation I just overheard."
Liam gave Lance a nasty look, "What's it to you?"
"It isn't right, Liam."
"Grow up Lance. Right is whatever we can get away with," Liam smiled.
"That's not true. You don't want to do this Liam. You and Mercedes are starting a family together."
"Oh Lance. Are all the boys in Mississippi as boring as you are? Don't worry, I know Mercedes will never find out about this weekend so there's no reason for her to get hurt. See, I CAN have my cake and eat it, too."
Liam grinned and left the suite.
"Hey, look who made it!" Johnny clapped his hands together.
Joey held his head with one hand, and his finger to his lips with the other, "Shhh!"
Lance was relaxing on the overstuffed couch in the recording studio and Chris was sitting behind him on the back of the couch.
Mercedes came into the control booth. "Are we ready now, guys?"
"Absolutely," said J.C.
Johnny was asking Justin about his throat. Mercedes cut him off in mid-sentence. "Johnny, if you really want to help could you ask someone to go out and get Joey a tylenol?"
"Please," she added.
All the guys had trouble keeping a straight face. Justin looked up into the booth and mouthed the word, "Thanks."
During the playback, Lance couldn't keep his mind from drifting back to that last night in Vail.
"I'm not making any more excuses for you!" Lance was screaming at Liam. "This was all just one big romp for you and that girlfriend, wasn't it? You used all us guys as a cover to get away with her."
"Lance, you're really beginning to piss me off. Again, what's it to YOU?"
Liam was brushing his pants off with a lint brush when a wicked grin appeared on his face and he turned to face Lance.
"Oh, I got it. I can't believe I didn't notice before now. Oh, man. Not cool, Lance. You call yourself a Christian. *tisk tisk* Poor Lance, what a dilemma. 'What Would Jesus Do?'"
"I can't believe I ever thought you were someone to admire. I never really knew you at ALL." yelled Lance.
Liam rolled his eyes, "Yeah. With my help you guys are on the brink of mega-success. A year from now and you won't leave your house without a security detail. THAT, my boy Lance, is something you SHOULD be impressed with. I am damn good at what I do. I could provide references, if you'd like. Start a little black book of your own."
"No thanks."
"Hey, you want to enter the world of Entertainment Management, don't you? I could teach you a few things and the other things...well, that's what the black book would be for."
"You asshole."
"Oooo, Lesson One. Very good. Now, if we could only get you loosened up a bit. You, boy, you need to get laid."
Lance never hated anyone before, as much as he despised Liam at this moment.
Lance spoke to him calmly. "You don't deserve someone like Mercedes. She has trusted you. I can't be a party to your cheating on her. I can't stand myself for being a witness to it."
"Face it, Lance, the only thing you can't stand is that you haven't screwed her yourself."
Lance's quick and violent reaction startled both men. He shoved Liam up against the living room wall and knocked over a vase of flowers.
"What the hell?" Liam said.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Don't EVER talk about Mercedes that way," Lance yelled.
Lance soon let up a little and Liam pushed him back across the room. Lance tripped over the coffee table and landed on the carpet in front of the couch. Liam straightened his shirt, then, as if nothing had just happened.
Lance pulled himself up from the floor. Liam smiled. Lance knew that smile, he had seen Liam wear it during negotiations within the company. Liam knew Lance's weakness now. He knew there wasn't anything Lance wouldn't do for Mercedes. Therefore, Liam knew his secret was safe. Liam walked out of the suite with an arrogant swagger, confident that Lance would never let Mercedes be hurt by this. Lance knew it and hated himself for it. He took one swing and broke the lamp on the desk. Before he rested, the suite was in a shambles. Lance had trashed the place.
Lance packed his bags and paused at the door. He scanned the suite and the damage he had inflicted.
"God, forgive me, but let Liam do some explaining for a change."
No one ever mentioned the condition of the suite. Lance never gave an explanation of why he left Vail so abruptly.
"Lance are you with us?" Lance awoke from his trance.
"Earth-to-Lance," kidded Chris.
"Sorry," Lance looked up to the control booth and around at his friends.
"That's okay. I think we all could use some caffine. Let's take a break and discuss this harmony," Mercedes offered.
She came down, grabbed a stool and sat next to Lance. Mercedes smelled so good. Her hair was pulled up and the curls fell down from her clip just like a morning in her kitchen. Lance had all he could do just trying to concentrate. Mercedes was talking to the guys about adding "I Thought She Knew" to the new CD.
All that popped into Lance's mind was, 'Did she know?' About Liam, about him, about his feelings, Liam's infidelities. Was Mercedes completely, utterly, blissfully ignorant of it all? Lance longed to ask her. But, no she'd be better off not knowing. Lance did long to hold her. To be able to freely hug her like the rest of the guys did. Mercedes was a 'touchy-feely' kind of friend who gladly complied to hugging requests. She was the type of friend who would reach out and hold your hand before a solo take, during a difficult time, and it was that closeness that instilled such loyalty from the guys.
Mercedes loved to connect with people. It's probably what made her such a great producer. Her support of J.C. gave him the confidence he needed to pursue solo production projects. She had been there for him when he was hospitalized after the last tour. Even though she was fighting to carry her baby to term, she sat at Lance's bedside with his family, all night until the doctors were sure the crisis had past. And she encouraged the guys to break away from Lou. How that ever played out at home, no one knew. Lance had stopped hugging her the day he returned from Vail, afraid he might reveal himself. Mercedes seemed to respect his space. But, was she puzzled or maybe even a little offended by it?
"So, that's the vocal cue Lance." said J.C. Lance looked up and noticed J.C. talking to him from less than ten feet away. He hadn't heard a thing.
"Fine," Lance replied, faking it. 'How am I ever going to get through this?'
