As Lance watched Laurie and Michelle leave again,
he followed JC into his room. He closed
the door behind him and watched while JC unpacked a few necessary things.
“Lance, keep whatever lecture you’re going to give
me in that pretty little head of yours, because I don’t want to hear it.”
“I don’t have a lecture to give,” Lance shrugged
innocently. “I just came in to see how
you were.”
“I’m fine.” JC said and went in to the bathroom to
put some things on the counter.
“Oh.” Lance examined his cuticles. “So… heard from Alexandria lately?”
JC froze.
“Not in the last day or two.
Why?”
“Just wondering why she hasn’t been around lately,
that’s all. Usually she’s hanging off
of you. I don’t think you two have seen
each other since Toronto.”
JC surprised himself by laughing. “And you’re complaining?”
Lance held up his hands defensively. “Not in the least. I’m curious if she’s going to be on tour with us this weekend
since Laurie’s going home.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” JC snapped.
“Nothing… don’t be so touchy. You…”
The shrill ring of JC’s cell phone interrupted
Lance in mid-sentence.
“Hello?”
“Hey sweetie,” Alexandria’s sugary voice came over
the line.
JC flinched.
“Hi Dria.” Lance raised his
eyebrows. “How are you?”
“I’d be even better if I was with you,” she
purred. “I was hoping that I could fly
out and see you this weekend.”
“Umm…” JC shot a look at Lance. “Sure, you can fly out this weekend. We’ll be in Denver on Friday… what time do
you think you’ll be here?”
“Oh later in the afternoon.” She said
breezily. “You’ll probably be doing the
silly soundcheck party.”
“Ok, I’ll let security know and I’ll have an extra
keycard made for the room. But listen,
I’m really tired, so I’m going to let you go.”
“Sleep well honey.”
“Thanks Dria, night.”
JC ended the call and glared at Lance. “That was your fault.”
“What?”
“It’s like you wished her on me by mentioning her.”
Lance burst into laughter. “You’re mental. That was just a coincidence.”
“Get out of my room,” JC growled. “Laurie should be back soon.”
“Nope.” Lance shook his head. “She’s with Michelle, she won’t be back
until at least dawn.”
“Get out!” JC roared.
Lance was still laughing as he left JC’s room.
**********
Friday morning found Laurie standing on the balcony
belonging to the room she shared with JC.
It was just before dawn and the orange, pinks and yellows of the sun
rising to start the day were just beginning to kiss the horizon.
She thought they were in Denver. After being on tour with JC for so long, the
days were starting to run together and she too was having trouble keeping track
of where they were. Not surprisingly,
JC was still sleeping when she slipped out of bed and quietly slid open the
door to the balcony.
The air was already starting to become warm and she
couldn’t help but think that it would have been nice to be able to sleep
outside last night… she hadn’t been camping in ages.
She was nervous about what the weekend would
bring. She hated not knowing what to
expect. She hated surprises. She had one thing in her favor though – she
knew, no matter what, that she wanted JC in her life – and she was ready to
tell Craig that it was over. She just
hoped that she wouldn’t lose her nerve.
The blinds moved behind her and Laurie figured it
was just the light breeze moving them around, until she felt a pair of warm
arms wrap around her waist and a sleepy head touch her shoulder.
“What are you doing up so early?” JC yawned and
tightened his hold on her.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she replied absently. “I’m nervous about going home.”
“I’m sure everything will be fine.” He kissed the
skin behind her ear. “I wish I could go
home with you.”
Laurie lowered her head. “I don’t know that I’m going to tell him about us. He’s a good man and I don’t want to hurt
him. I mean… he has to realize himself
that this marriage isn’t going anywhere.”
“I think you should do what you feel is right,” he
told her quietly. “I can totally
understand your wanting to spare Craig’s feelings.”
“Really?” She turned around to look at him.
“Absolutely.” He kissed her nose. “Because I know that after all is said and
done, you’re going to be in my arms.
Come back to bed with me, I’m going to be lonely without you all
weekend.”
“Ok,” she agreed.
“But I don’t know if I’m going to be able to fall back to sleep.”
JC looked at her with an evil grin. “Who said anything about sleep?”
**********
(Later – At Breakfast)
Justin was peacefully noshing on his cereal when
Joey entered the room. Without a word,
Joey walked up to the table, spun a chair around and straddled it backwards,
staring intently at his younger friend.
“What?” Justin finally asked after a few minutes.
“Have you decided?” Joey said.
Justin suddenly looked uncomfortable. “About what?”
Joey glared at him.
“I did… and I talked to Kristina about a week
ago. She completely understands how I
feel and she’s happy with the two of us just being friends.”
Joey grinned.
“Good.”
“Morning guys,” Lance yawned as he entered the
room. He poured himself a cup of coffee
and sat down at the table. Justin and
Joey exchanged glances.
“It’s almost eleven o’clock,” Justin told him. “Since when do you sleep so late?”
“Since I was on the phone with Hannah most of the
night.” Lance replied with a slight blush coloring his cheeks.
“Aww… isn’t that sweet.” Joey teased and began to
sing. “Lance is falling… falling…”
“Shuddup,” he growled. “I think I am falling for her, that’s the problem. How do I tell her?” Lance sighed.
“Just walk up to her and say ‘Who’s Your Daddy’,”
Joey snickered and Justin choked on his cereal. Then he said, in all seriousness, “While respecting her as a
woman of course.”
That was too much for Justin. He was laughing so hard that he fell off his
chair with a thump and hit his head on the table on the way down.
“Oww,” he complained and sat up, rubbing his head.
“Shit… you all right J?” Lance crouched beside him
and examined the spot where Justin had hit his head.
“I think so,” he said slowly. “I’ll probably just have a bump there.”
“I’m sorry Justin, I didn’t think it was that funny.” Joey apologized.
“I’m telling Hannah what you told Lance,” Justin
promised and ran from the room when Joey made a move toward him.
**********
“When are you coming back?” JC asked while stroking
Laurie’s soft hair.
“Hopefully on Tuesday. I need to check with Michelle or Chris to see if I’m needed at
the office or if it’s something I can do from here. Michelle told me yesterday that Chris wants her to stay with him
at least until the end of the month.”
“I’m sure I could do a little convincing on my
part.” JC smiled and kissed her forehead.
“I’ve gotten so used to having you around that if you didn’t come back,
I would have to bunk with Lance just to get some attention.”
“You’re bad.” Laurie laughed and gave him a playful
shove.
“But you love me anyway.” He sighed and wrapped his
arms around her. “I don’t want you to
go.”
“I don’t particularly want to go either. This will be the second hardest thing I’ve
ever done in my life.”
“What was the first?”
“Saying goodbye to you in Europe.”
JC held her more tightly. “I love you.”
They were silent for several minutes and just
reveled in each other’s company.
“Do you have all your stuff?” He finally
asked. When she nodded he said, “Ok…
there’s a car downstairs to take us to the airport.”
“Us?”
“I’m going with you. Tiny is already downstairs waiting for us.” He explained.
“You’re coming to LA with me?” Laurie was confused.
“No,” JC laughed and kissed her nose. “Just to the
airport… though I would love to come home with you.”
“I don’t think Craig would appreciate that very
much,” Laurie chuckled. “So I guess
we’re ready to go?”
“Yeah, in a few minutes. I can’t kiss you goodbye in the airport, so I’m going to do it
here.”
“Oh darn.” Laurie grinned.
JC slowly lowered his head to hers and brushed
their lips together gently. Laurie
wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.
“I love you,” she whispered.