Say Goodbye

By:  Lara

 

“Joey, I really appreciate this.”  Lara closed the back of Joey’s SUV.  “I really don’t feel comfortable driving up there all by myself tonight.”

“You shouldn’t be driving up there anyway.”  Joey looked at the grey sky, frowning.  “It’s gonna storm.  The roads will probably wash out.”

“I know…but it’s worth it.”  Lara hugged a pillow to her chest, sighing happily.  “A whole weekend with Justin.”

Joey sighed.  “Are you sure he’s coming in? Last I talked to him, he said they were having problems getting the track laid down right.”

“He swore to me that he’d catch the last available flight out of New York, Joey. He should be on it now.”  Lara looked at him sadly.  “He promised.”

“Then I’m sure he’ll do it, Babygirl,” Joey said, hugging her and kissing her forehead. “Got everything?”

“Got sleeping bags…got stuff to make dinner…got sexy lingerie…got wine…”

“Okay…too much information.”  Joey put his hands over his ears and she laughed.  “Let’s roll, girl.  I know that in fifteen minutes we’ll have to stop for you to go to the bathroom, anyway.”

“Screw you, Fatone.”  But Lara grinned as she jumped into the passenger seat of his vehicle.

“Let’s roll, Babygirl.”  Joey got behind the wheel and started the engine.

As he drove and she chatted, Joey glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, wondering for the hundred and fiftieth time why he ever let this one get away.  Even worse…why did he let one of his best friends snatch her up?  He had met Lara first…she was his friend first…they had been introduced by a mutual acquaintance at a party.  Joey had fallen hard and fast, an unusual occurrence for him.  He was painfully shy around her, wanting to touch her, to listen to her, to watch the blue eyes dart around as she talked fast and bubbly, but he could only watch.  And then he had to watch Justin swoop in and take what was his, because he was too damn slow to do anything about it.  Of COURSE she had fallen head over heels for Justin.  And he knew that Justin cared about her…though lately other things were taking precedence.  Joey didn’t think that was right.

“And then I thought, blue is the BEST color for bridesmaid dresses.  Don’t you think so, Joe?”

“What?”  Joey snapped back into the now.  “What bridesmaid?  Who’s getting married?”  He asked the question fearfully, dreading the answer.

“No one…for now…but Justin DID tell me he had a special present for my birthday next month.”  Lara’s eyes were like stars as she looked at him. “Do you think that’s what it is, Joey? Is it a ring?”

At times like this, Joey HATED being every girl’s best friend. He didn’t want to talk about Justin and rings and bridesmaid dresses with Lara.  Not with her.  “It could be,” he said evasively, smiling his sunny smile.  “You never know with Justin.”

“Yeah.”  Lara stared out the window. “I could be Mrs. Justin Timberlake…I could be like the little homemaker who invites his friends over for dinner.”  Lara looked at him, suddenly sobered.  “You’d still be my friend, Joey, right?”

“Of course, Babygirl…” Joey reached over and lightly tugged on her ponytail.  Both Joey and Justin used the endearment with Lara, though it rolled off Justin’s tongue in a sexy manner that reminded Joey of a snake slithering up to its prey.  Justin got whatever he wanted when he called Lara that.  Joey just said it because he did consider her his babygirl. It was his job to silently take care of her behind her back.  “Hold on…” he quickly swerved into the right lane to exit the highway.

“Joey!” Lara screamed, giggling. “Watch where you’re going!”

“Sorry…you were distracting me, hot stuff.”  They flirted constantly, but Lara had never caught on that it was any more than flirting.  The sky started to rumble and he frowned.  “We’re gonna get caught in this thing big time. Are you SURE you want to drive up there?”

“Please, Joey? I have been looking forward to this weekend forever,” Lara told him.  “I never get enough time with him…and this weekend could mend a lot of that.”

Joey bit back a reply about how they shouldn’t have to mend anything at all and instead said, “Okay…but if my car gets muddy you are SO washing it by hand.”

“If your car gets muddy I’ll wash it BY hand in a bikini,” she promised, laughing.  Joey smiled and looked out the window, driving the dirty thoughts out of his mind.

 

Joey slowly navigated the bumpy dirty road to Justin’s cabin, cursing as the vehicle bounced along. “Most people buy a getaway place at a beach or something, like a condo or beach house.  No…our boy buys a cabin in bumfucked Egypt.”  Joey turned the wipers on high.  “And this rain doesn’t help.”

“I hope the plane landed okay,” Lara said finally, and Joey looked at her. She had not mentioned the possibility of Justin not making it until then.

“I’m sure it did.  Or, knowing Justin, he told them to land somewhere where it WASN’T raining, and he is in a rental car right now, hauling ass home to you,” Joey said consolingly.  Lara gave him a small smile. It wasn’t a totally crazy idea; Justin had done things like that before. 

Joey was cruising up the last mile of dirt road when Lara’s cellphone rang.  “Hello?  Hey, baby!”  She said happily, and Joey winced.  She squeezed his arm with excitement, then froze.  “What?  Justin…you promised.”  Tears were quickly wiped away as she bit her bottom lip.  “Yeah, it’s raining here…that doesn’t make a difference…you could make it…yes.  I know.  I know the song is important.  I’m glad, baby, but…yeah.  Okay.  No, I’ll stay up here and see if Joey minds coming to get me on Monday morning.  Yeah. I’ll tell him.  I love you, too.”  She hung up and stared out the window.  “Justin says thank you for driving his girl to the cabin.  They ran late in the studio and he didn’t catch the flight he wanted…then he saw on the news about this storm here and figured we couldn’t make it up here anyway.  Basically I guess he just didn’t want to make the effort.”  Joey pulled up in front of the cabin and Lara hopped out, ignoring the rain.

“Lara!” Joey hurried out, blinking against the rain that pounded his face.  He grabbed her by the arm.  “What are you doing?  Get inside!”

“I don’t want to get inside!” She yelled back.  “Just unload my stuff and go, Joey. I’ll see you Monday.”

Joey couldn’t tell the difference between the tears and the rain, but he knew the tears were there. “Do you want me to stay with you?”

“No,” she said sadly, but there wasn’t much conviction in her tone.

“I don’t want you to be alone, babygirl,” he said softly, and in a flicker of lightening he saw her shoulders heave with sobs.  “Come on.  Get your backpack and get inside. I’ll bring the rest.”  He gave her a gentle shove and she did as he asked.  He opened the back of his car and got out everything he could carry, jogging awkwardly towards the cabin.  She was standing inside the door, waiting to help him. She eased the bags off his shoulders and he sat the cooler on the floor.  Joey took a long look at her and smiled.  “You look like a drowned rat,” he said.  She sniffled and he took her in his arms.

“He promised this time, Joey!  He promised…I love him so much…I know he loves me…but more and more I come in second to work…he promised that would never happen!”

“Shhh.” Joey rubbed her back, kissing her head.  “Let’s get dried off…and you can cook me the fantabulous dinner that Justin is gonna miss…and then we can drink your wine and you can model your sexy lingerie.”

Lara giggled against Joey’s chest.  “I love you, Joey.”

“I love you, too,” he said, wishing with all his heart that he could show her how much.

“You know where the bathroom is…there should be towels in there so you can dry off,” Lara said as she wrung the water from her long hair.  “I think maybe Justin has some clothes here…” Her voice faltered on his name.  “Maybe some big sweatpants or something that would fit you.  I’ll check in the bedroom.”  She wandered off down the hall and Joey knew she was crying again.  He sighed and went to the bathroom.

Justin’s cabin was rustic, but still had all the comforts of home.  There was a small bathroom, two bedrooms, and a nice sized living area off the kitchen. They didn’t keep a lot of supplies there when they weren’t around, so Lara had lugged half her kitchen in Joey’s SUV.  Joey quickly dried off and waited for Lara to bring the sweatpants. He hung his sweatshirt and jeans over the shower curtain rod.

“Here.”  The door opened a crack.  “Here are some sweats and a sweatshirt and socks.”  Joey reached out and took them.

“I’ll be right out.”

“I’ll start dinner.”  Lara pulled the door closed and Joey quickly dressed.  The sweatpants were an extra large, so they were pretty comfortable.  The sweatshirt also fit; Justin loved oversized winter clothing.  He tugged on the socks and went out into the cabin.

Lara was standing at the kitchen counter, wearing one of Justin’s big tshirts and a pair of drawstring pajama pants.  Winnie the Pooh slippers were on her feet, and Joey couldn’t help but grin.  “Anything I can do?  Want me to start a fire?”

Lara turned to look at him.  “You can start a fire?”

His grin faded.  “Well…uh…um…no…” Lara’s mouth fell open and he grinned again.  “Yeah, I can.”  He walked over to the small pile of firewood and began placing pieces into the fireplace.  “What’s for dinner?”

“Nothing special…just pasta and chicken.”

“I’ll never say no to pasta and chicken.  Are you sure you don’t want me to make it?”  Joey was slapped in the back of the head by a wet dishtowel.  “Okay, maybe not.”

By the time Joey had a small fire going, Lara had the pasta dish in the oven. “It should bake for about an hour,” she said, checking her watch.  “The stove is gas, so if the power goes out, we should still…” Lara stopped talking as the lights flickered out.  Thunder boomed, making her jump.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.  I’ll grab some candles.”  She went back to the kitchen, returning with a few pillar candles. She set them on the floor and on the small coffee table, then lit them.  “Wow…storm outside, dinner in front of the fire…this could be really romantic.”  She scuffed the head of one of her slippers on the floor.  Joey walked over to her, cupping her face in his large palm.

“Stop it, okay?  He probably figured that it was crazy to drive up here in this weather.  We outran a lot of it, but he wouldn’t have.  He could have wrecked or something.  He loves you, and I bet it’s killing him not to be here.”  Lara bit her lip as she looked up into his warm brown eyes.  “Okay?” She nodded.  “I know.  Let’s pretend I’M Justin…and you can have a romantic evening with me.”  Joey stretched out on the sofa, placing one hand under his head. He ran a hand down his body. “You know you want me. Everyone does.  I have electric hips and I did kiddie porn in a video at fifteen, and I sing like an angel.”

Lara was doubled over with laughter.  “Okay…stop it…that’s just mean…” She gasped with breath.  “Okay…Joey…I won’t be sad anymore…”  She fell on top of him and gave him a hug.  “God, I don’t know what I would do without you sometimes.” She put her head on his chest and trailed her hand up and down his arm.  “You’re one of my best friends, Joey.”

“You’re one of mine, too.” Joey prayed she couldn’t feel the way his heart had started beating double-time.  “Though I still think a romantic night with me would be MUCH better than a romantic night with Justin.”  Joey emphasized Justin’s name, making it sound like he was rolling his eyes with his voice.  Lara giggled again.  “I mean, isn’t it hard to keep up with something like that?”

Lara sat up, straddling Joey’s waist with her knees.  “Yes. I used to think that the eight plus year age difference wouldn’t matter…but at times it does.  And he’s just so beautiful, you know?  I feel sometimes that I’m not good enough for him.”

Joey sat up quickly and Lara almost fell off the sofa.  Joey grabbed her by the arms, not hurting her but holding on firmly. “I do not ever want to hear you say that again, do you understand me?”

“Okay,” she said slowly.

“No, not okay.  You are amazing. You’re beautiful, you’re smart, you’re a talented writer, you’re sweet and kind and sexy.  You are definitely good enough for Justin Timberlake…you’re TOO good for him.  You understand me?”  Lara’s blue eyes were wide as she stared at him and nodded. “Good. Now go finish my dinner. I’m hungry.”

Lara giggled and poked him in the stomach as she stood up.  She pulled him to her, hugging his head against her stomach as he wrapped his arms around her waist.  “Joey, you’re too much.”

“I know. All the women say that,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. She giggled again and went back to the kitchen.

 

“This is really good.”  Joey looked up from his plate and wiped his mouth with his napkin.

“You don’t need to sound so surprised,” Lara replied, kicking him.  “I mean, look who I am involved with. Do you think JUSTIN cooks a lot?”

“Guess not,” Joey admitted. He looked at Lara, watching her toy with the pasta on her plate.  “Why him?  I mean, yeah, he’s Justin Timberlake and all, but what makes you love him?”

Lara put down her plate and thought for a moment.  “There’s just like this…aura…about him, you know?  He’s so beautiful and so talented and so…full of life.  And the thing is, for as much as we all tease him about it, he’s not really egotistical, you know? He does NOT take his talent for granted, and that impresses me.  He’s smarter than you all give him credit for. He’s sweet…always thinking of fun ways to show me he loves me.  He’s romantic…he’s…he’s just Justin.”

“Just Justin,” Joey repeated slowly, his heart sinking.  Of course Justin was perfect. Duh.

“He’s also spoiled, lazy around the house, used to being the center of attention, and a baby when he’s sick,” she added, and Joey laughed out loud.  “I mean, God, he’s only human, Joey. He’s not perfect.”

“No, I can vouch for that,” he replied.  “I’ve known him forever, remember? I definitely know all his imperfections.”  He took a few more bites, then a big swallow of wine.  “I asked him the same question about you, you know?”

“What?”  Lara froze in mid-bite.

“I wanted to make sure that he wasn’t playing around with you…I worried.”

“Joey…my relationship with Justin is none of your business!”  Lara’s cheeks were pink with embarrassment. “I can’t believe you asked him that!”

Joey put his plate down and leaned over to put a hand on her knee.  “Babygirl, I was worried. I’ve seen him play women…just drag them along so he wasn’t alone. I love you too damn much to let ANY man treat you that way…and I knew he’d honestly answer my question.”

“What did he say?” Lara whispered.

“He said you’re beautiful. He said you’re funny and sweet. He said you take care of him.  He said you put up with his diva moods, and you comfort him when he’s down. He said you make him feel a million feet tall.”

“Wow,” she whispered. “I didn’t know I did all that.”

“I did,” he said simply. “You do it for everyone in your life…not just your boyfriend.  You make me feel that way, too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”  Joey looked down at his plate, positive she would see the love shining in his eyes.

“Um…do you want more?”  Lara stood, her empty plate in hand.

“Nah. I’m good.”  He handed her his own plate and she took them to the kitchen.  “Bring the bottle of wine from the cooler, though,” he called after her.

She soon came back with a bowl of fruit for dessert and the bottle of wine.  She set them down on the floor next to Joey, then went to a closet and yanked out about four blankets.  She tossed two at Joey, then created her own cocoon with the other two.  “Why don’t you have a girlfriend?”  Lara asked, peeling a banana and taking a bite.

“Oh…I’m not ready to be tied down to just one girl,” Joey said evasively.  “I don’t mind playing the field for a while. I’m still young.”

“Thirty is just around the corner, young man,” Lara said, wagging her finger at him.

“Hello, like six years away, you old hag,” Joey retorted, and she laughed.  “I’m just…what I want belongs to someone else right now…so I need to find it somewhere else.”

“I see,” she said, nodding.  She filled his wine glass and her own.  “I’m gonna start looking for someone for you,” she decided.  Joey took a long swallow of his wine and looked at her.  “You need a woman.”

“I don’t need a woman…I don’t need you to find me one,” he told her.  “I’m happy like this.”

“Sure you are.”  Lara watched him over the rim of her glass.  “You’re never happy. Your eyes aren’t happy.  You’re a big faker.”

“Sometimes it’s easier that way,” he said simply.  “You take what you can get.”  Lara said nothing.

 

Within the next hour, they had finished the bottle of wine and were quietly talking in front of the fire.  Lara had moved her cocoon next to Joey’s, and she was snuggled up against his chest, though still wrapped in her own blankets.  They were a little tipsy, but far from drunk.  “I think you should move in with me,” she said.  “I wanna sleep all curled up next to you every night. You’re a great pillow.”

Joey buried his face in her hair and sighed. “I don’t think Justin would like that,” he said softly.  “But I would.”

“Me too.”  Lara hugged him tight.  “I bet Justin wouldn’t mind.”

“Hah,” Joey said, rolling his eyes.  “He is the most possessive person I know.”  Lara slowly sat up.

“But you’re just my friend.”

“So.  I’m still a guy.”  Joey played with a lock of her hair.  “I’m not made of stone.”

Lara blushed pink and smiled.  “You would want me like that?”

Joey swallowed, took a breath, and swallowed again.  “I already do.”

Lara stared at him. “You probably shouldn’t have told me that.”

“Probably.  I can say tomorrow that the wine was talking,” Joey said, looking away from her.  She took his face and gently turned it back.

“You want me like that,” she repeated.  He nodded.  She stroked his face with the back of her hands, enjoying the way his beard felt against her skin.  Her fingertip traced his lips, and he couldn’t help but press a kiss to the finger.  “Have you felt this way for a while?”

“Since I’ve known you,” he admitted, and she sighed.

“Joey, why didn’t you ever say anything?”

“I have no clue…and I hate myself for it because then Justin stepped in and swept you off your feet.”  Joey smiled at her but his lips trembled slightly. “And now I’m your best friend and I’m okay with that. Really. You belong with Justin, Lara.  He loves you.”

“So do you,” she pointed out and he shrugged. “But I’m not with Justin tonight. I’m with you.”  She snuggled closer and Joey held up a hand.

“Lara, don’t.”

“I’m not doing anything.” She laid her head on his chest and wrapped his arms around her. “Hold me.”

“God.” Joey buried his face in her hair once more, welcoming the warmth of her body. She squirmed for a bit, and then suddenly she was under his blankets and not her own. “Lara…please don’t.  I fucking dream about this, okay?  I don’t want to ruin anything for you and Justin…but at the same moment, I just…I wanna beg you for tonight.”

“Beg me,” she whispered, her blue eyes trusting as she looked up at him.

“Tonight I want to leave our friendship at the door,” he whispered, touching her cheek.  “I want to be your lover tonight…and then go back to being your friend tomorrow.  You can go home to Justin, I’ll go home to being alone.  But tonight…I want…”

“I want it, too,” she murmured, and he finally gave in, bending his head down to kiss her.

 

So here we are tonight, you and me together…the storm outside, the fire is bright and in your eyes I see what’s on my mind…You’ve got me wild, turned around inside…and then desire, see, is creeping up heavy inside here…and I know you feel the same way I do now…now let’s make this an evening, lovers for a night, lovers for tonight…stay here with me, love, tonight…just for an evening…when we make our passion pictures…you and me twist up, secret creatures…

 

 

Lara sighed against Joey’s mouth, her hand running up to stroke through his short dark hair.  Her body molded against his perfectly, and he was just as warm and comfortable as he looked.  “Joey,” she mumbled against his mouth.  “Are you sure about this?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” He whispered, his lips finding her forehead, her nose, her chin.

“You’re the one that has to be alone tomorrow. You said it yourself,” she said softly, and he smiled tenderly.

“Yet another reason why I love you.  You care more about other people then you do about yourself.” He captured her slender fingers in his hand and began to kiss each knuckle.  “This is wrong. I know it. I know you’re with him, and you’ll never be with me. I know you love him.  I know you’ll feel incredibly guilty, and I will too.  But I’ve wanted it for so long…wanted you…”

Lara let out a small whimper and pulled him to her once more.  This time Joey’s hands wandered, sliding down her body and back up under the shirt.  She shivered slightly as his hand came in contact with her warm skin.  “I want you, too, Joey…I think I always have…” she said, moaning as his warm lips nibbled at her ear.  “You’re just…you’ve always been there and I never realized it.  I want this night, too.”  She arched her back as his hand found her breast, lightly toying with the nipple.  “Joey…” she whispered, her eyes closing.  “Make love to me.”  Joey froze, realizing how far this was truly going to go.  Thoughts and concerns and worries raced through his brain.  Lara’s eyes fluttered open and she sat up slightly.  Her eyes were sad as she inched away from him.  “Okay…maybe not.  I’m sorry.  I…”

Joey stood, blankets falling in a pool around his feet.  He yanked cushions from the sofa, then went to the bedroom for pillows. He wouldn’t do this in the bedroom. That was THEIR room. Lara and Justin’s bedroom.  Instead, he created a warm circle of pillows and blankets in front of the fire, the flames casting shadows behind them on the wall.  He knelt in front of her and slowly pulled the sweatshirt over his head.  Lara swallowed deeply, reaching out to touch the broad chest that was covered in dark hair.  Her finger traced over the muscles, down to Joey’s stomach. It tickled and his abdomen contracted.  She giggled softly.  She struggled to her own knees, pressing herself against Joey as she kissed him.  His hands shook slightly as he tugged at her sweatshirt, finally pulling it up over her head.  He glanced over her shoulder, watching the way their bodies wove in the dark shapes on the wall. 

“Lara,” he whispered, his hands pulling her hair to spill through his fingers.  “Babygirl…I don’t know…I just…damn…”

Lara stopped kissing his neck and pulled back to look at him.  Her eyes danced with amusement.  “You’re nervous.  The great flirt, Joey Fatone, Jr., is nervous about making love to a woman.”

“That’s why.” Joey was dead serious.  “This isn’t just sex. This is making love.”  His hands cupped her chin, his thumbs tracing her cheekbones.  “I want it to be perfect.”

“It will be,” she said, pressing against him once more.  He slowly moved her down onto the floor, stretching his body over her. 

The kisses grew more passionate, Lara’s nails running up and down his back as their hips moved against one another.  “God, I want you so bad…” Joey panted, lightly biting at her shoulder bone.  “I…oh shit.”  He sat up, running a hand through his hair.

“What?  What is it?”

“I don’t…I didn’t…hell, I didn’t even plan on staying the night. I don’t have condoms.”  Joey cursed himself repeatedly.  “I usually have one in my wallet but I didn’t replace it from the last time I had sex, which I swear to GOD was like nineteen ninety-eight…”

“Quit babbling,” Lara ordered. She stood up and went to her duffel bag, pulling out a box of condoms.  Joey stared at her.  “Come on. Like Just…like he’s ever prepared for anything. I always bring them.”  She tossed them to the floor beside their makeshift bed.  Before Joey could say anything, Lara pulled off her slippers and shimmied out of her pants and underwear.

“God,” he said in a choked voice, his eyes drinking her in. She blushed slightly.  He stood, drawing her into the warmth of his embrace. “You’re beautiful…and I love you…are you sure…”

“Stop asking and just love me.  For tonight,” she murmured, kissing him.

 

And we’ll stay here…tomorrow go back to being friends…but tonight let’s be lovers…we kiss and sweat…we’ll turn this better thing to the best of all we can offer…just a rogue kiss tangled tongues and lips…see me this way…I’m turning and turning for you…girl, just tonight…

 

 

Joey didn’t know where to start.  He had never imagined being face to face with the dream, and now that it was reality he was at a loss.  He decided to just kiss and touch and let his body take over for his addled brain.  His hands were gentle, tracing around every curve, learning every inch of the body he loved.  Lara moaned and moved beneath his touch, gasping his name as her fingers fluttered over his face, clutched at his hair, grabbed at his shoulders.  Sweat soon covered both their bodies, his from concentration, hers from trying so hard not to scream with passion.  And nothing had even happened yet.

“Is there anything…I mean, is there anything you DON’T want me to do?” Joey asked, moving up to kiss her cheek as he looked into her eyes.

“I don’t want you to hate me tomorrow,” she said softly, and Joey decided he had never loved her more.

“You’ll be the one doing the hating. You’ll hate yourself, and you’ll hate me. I could NEVER hate you,” he said soothingly, and she believed him.

“Then there’s nothing you can’t do for me,” she breathed, and he smiled at her.

Lara was wet and warm and ready and when Joey slid inside her it felt as if he was doing it for the hundredth time instead of the first.  Her legs wrapped around his waist, and she sighed as he filled her, moaning his name.  He whispered words of love in her ear, and it was easy for them to forget that anyone else existed in the world.  There was only Joey and Lara and the rain outside.

 

Float away here with me…an evening just wait and see…but tomorrow go back to your man I’m back to my world and we’re back to being friends…wait and see me, tonight let’s do this thing…all we’re doing is wasting hours until the sun comes up it’s all ours…on our way here…tomorrow go back to being friends…

 

 

Joey was awakened by a cold sense of loneliness. His eyes fluttered open and he looked at the embers of the fire.  Lara wasn’t next to him.  She was crawling to her bag to answer her ringing cellphone.  “Hello?  Oh, hey…” She grabbed the top blanket, wrapped it around herself, and headed to the bathroom.  “Yeah…Joey stayed here with me…Justin, God…what time is it?”  The bathroom door closed behind her and Joey fell back onto his pillow.  He sighed, then got up to throw some wood on the fire.  After he had a small blaze going, he checked the clock on his pager.  Two-thirty.  He sat up against the sofa, wrapping himself in a few of the blankets.  He rubbed his eyes and stared at the fire, mesmerized by the shapes of the flames.

Lara soon came back out from the bathroom, carrying the blanket and wearing the shirt he had thrown over the shower curtain earlier.  His heart and groin leapt at the sight of her in nothing but his shirt.  “It sounds like it stopped raining,” she said, grabbing some more of the blankets.  She sat down next to him and once more arranged a cocoon for herself.

“Yeah,” he said.  “Thought I bet the roads are hell.”

“Probably.”

“I have a SUV.  It has four-wheel drive.  If you want, we can hop in and make a go for it,” Joey suggested softly.

Lara stared at him.  “Go where?”

“Well…home.  I thought…”

“I don’t want to go home yet.”  Lara looked up at him and he automatically opened his arms. She snuggled against his chest with a grateful sigh.

“He’s up late.”

“He was worried.  I didn’t call him to let him know we got here okay, so he was worried.  And apologetic.  He said he was sorry he didn’t even try to get up here. I told him it was okay.” 

“If you want to go home, honestly, Lara…I’ll drive you back,” Joey said.  She sighed.

“If you’re in that much of a hurry to get home, we can go,” she replied.  “But I’m fine being here tonight.”

“I like it here, too,” he said, burying his face in her hair and kissing the top of her head.  She pulled back to look up at him, smiling before she gently kissed him.

“I was right. You are warm and comfy to sleep with,” she whispered, kissing him again.

“If I had you in my bed every night, I’d never sleep,” he whispered back. She giggled and blushed and he rolled his eyes. “Pervert.  I meant I would like just lay there and watch you.  You’re so beautiful.”

“No, but thank you,” she said, lowering her eyes.  He tilted her head up. 

“Beautiful,” he repeated, bringing her mouth to his.

The passion flared, more intense than the first time. This time it was not curiosity. There were no searching fingers, no touches used solely to learn.  This time it was all about pleasure.  Lara slid down Joey’s body, kissing her way down until she found what she was searching for.  Joey wanted to scream her name as she took him into her mouth, and when he finally remembered that they were alone in the middle of nowhere, he did scream.  She brought him close again and again until he finally pulled her up to sit across his waist.  Her fingernails scratched down his chest as her head went back.  They barely remembered to slide the condom onto Joey before he was inside of her.  Her long hair trailed down over his face as she planted kisses on his chest.  She whispered to him, and Joey frowned at the words, but he soon forgot everything but her name as she drove him over the edge.

 

“You apologized,” he said as he leaned on one elbow to look down at her.

“Hmmm?”  She said sleepily.

“You said you were sorry.  When you were on top of me…you whispered that you loved me, and then you said you were sorry.”  Joey’s brown eyes were unhappy.  “Don’t ever apologize for this.”

“It’s not this.”  Lara blinked away tears.  “I’m just sorry I can’t be…what you want…I don’t want you waiting around for Justin and I to fall apart.”

“I’m not that pathetic.”  Joey sat up angrily.  “I’m not waiting in the wings. I didn’t do this to seduce you away from him.  God, this is so fucked up.”  He grabbed the tshirt that she had discarded, yanking it over his head.  He tugged on the sweatshirt and stood up.  “I’m not just gonna sit around and pine away for you, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

Lara stood as well, wrapping a cover around her naked body.  “Oh, really? Then why don’t you have a girlfriend, Joey?  Girls throw themselves at you left and right…you go out on tour and have them knocking the damn door down.  Why haven’t you gotten laid in months?”

“That’s none of your business,” he growled.

“It IS my business because the reason for all this is ME.  You’re in love with ME.  Well, snap the hell out of it because you and I will NEVER happen!”

“Good!  I couldn’t stand your whiny ass for more then five minutes anyway!”  Joey yelled back.  Lara stared at him for a moment, then picked up the ends of the blanket so she could walk.  She went into the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.  “Oh, GOD,” Joey moaned, sitting down on the sofa.  He hadn’t meant anything he had said, and he had seen in Lara’s eyes how much he had hurt her.  Suddenly the situation had gone from bad to worse.

Joey wiped his eyes, shocked to see they were wet. Of course they were.  It always hurt him when Lara was hurting, and the fact that HE had hurt her made it worse.  He didn’t hear the bedroom door open, and he was surprised to see Lara’s feet in front of him. He looked up at her.  “I don’t want to hurt you,” she choked.  “I’m so sorry, Joey.”

“Oh, Babygirl…” Joey pulled her down onto his lap, cradling her against his chest.  “I am the one who is sorry.  I shouldn’t have said what I said, and it was a lie.  I would LOVE to have you as mine.”  He rubbed her back as she sniffled on his shoulder.  “But you’re not mine.  You’re Justin’s.  And one day you’ll get married, and have a whole bunch of beautiful kids with your brains and his rhythm.” She giggled.  “I love you, Lara, but this…this ends tonight, okay? It won’t happen again…tomorrow we’re back to being friends.”

“It is tomorrow,” she reminded him softly.

“Oh. Yeah.”  Joey laid back on the sofa, continuing to hold her.  “Yeah, it is.”

 

Go back to being friends…tonight let’s be lovers, say you will and hear me call, soft-spoken whispering love…a thing or two I have to say here…tonight let’s go all the way then love I’ll see you just for this evening…let’s strip down, trip out at this…one evening starts with a kiss…run away…

 

And tomorrow back to being friends…lovers…love…lovers…just for tonight, one night…love you…and tomorrow say goodbye…

 

 

Joey woke up around ten the next morning with Lara asleep on top of him. He shifted to the side slightly, trapping her between his body and the back of the sofa.  She snuggled close, sighing in her sleep.  He watched her for almost twenty minutes, lightly tracing her eyelids, her nose, her lips, with his fingers.  He finally got up and got dressed, then went out to check the road.  He walked for about a half mile, judging the depth of the mud.  The sun was already out in full force, and he figured they’d probably be able to make it without a problem.  When he came back into the cabin, Lara was packing everything back into her bags and boxes.

“Hey,” he said quietly, and she jumped. She turned around, smiling.  Joey noticed that she was once again wearing his tshirt, along with a pair of jeans.  He had forgotten about the tshirt.  He still wore Justin’s clothing.  “You’ve been busy.”

“Yeah, well, I figure we should get on the road,” she said.  “I made coffee.”  She nodded towards the pot.  “And there’s sugar in that canister there.” Joey smiled.  She knew what he liked. 

He walked over to her and took the clothing from her hands.  He made her face him and held her hands in his.  “Are you okay?”

“Joey, I’m fine.  No need to freak on me.”  But her blue eyes were nervous, darting around the room.

“I’m not freaking on you. I’m worrying about you. I’m your friend…that’s what friends do.” He tilted her face up to his.  “I don’t want you stabbing yourself in the heart over this.”

“I think every time I look at you from now on, I’ll do a tiny bit of stabbing…but I’ll be okay. I promise,” she said, and he finally released her.

 

The drive back to her small house was quiet, punctured only by the sound of the radio.  After the first mile, Joey slowly reached over and took Lara’s hand, and they held hands the rest of the way back. 

Lara gasped slightly as she saw the familiar sports car in her driveway.  “Wow…he’s up early,” Joey commented.  “Especially if he was still up at two.”

“Yeah…I figured he might do this, since he feels guilty,” she said with a sigh. Lara smiled at Joey.  “It’s hard dealing with a child sometimes.”

“And you want more just like him?” Joey said in disbelief, and Lara smacked him.  Justin came flying out of her house as Joey pulled into the driveway.

“Hey, babygirl.”  Justin engulfed her in a hug.  “I missed you.  Can you ever forgive me?”

“It’s okay, Justin, honestly.”  But Lara hugged him long and hard as Joey busied himself getting her things out of his car. 

“Hey, man, thanks. I’m sure it was boring as hell for you up there at the cabin.” Justin gave Joey a big hug.  “Thanks for taking care of my girl.”

“No problem whatsoever,” Joey said, smiling at Justin.  His eyes darted over to Lara.

“Baby, why don’t you start taking the stuff inside? I wanna say goodbye to Joey without you groveling all over me,” Lara said.

“I don’t grovel,” Justin pouted, making Lara and Joey smile.  Justin grabbed an armful of bags and staggered into the house.  Lara enveloped herself in Joey’s embrace.

“Call me tomorrow,” she said.  “We can have lunch.”

“On Justin?”

“Duh,” she said, and he grinned.  He gave a glance towards the house, then discreetly kissed her nose.

“I’m still your friend…and I still love you the same. No matter what.”

“Me, too,” she whispered.  She stood on tiptoe and kissed him hard and fast.  “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”  Lara turned on one heel and hurried into the house.  Once again, Joey knew she was about to cry.  He sighed and got back into his car, carefully avoiding the pile of bags that sat in the driveway.  He backed out of the driveway and went on down the road towards his own empty house.

The End

Tell Lara what you thought of this story!