Lying back on the sun lounger Natalia sighed contentedly. Her plain black bra took the place of a bikini top, and she’d swiped a pair of Justin’s shorts from his closet. With the legs pushed up and the waistband rolled down she was taking in the rays of the sun. “You have no idea how long it’s been since I sat out in the sun. I’m in desperate need of a tan, I look anaemic.”
Justin looked up from where he lay sprawled on the grass and took in her attire. “What do you look like?”
“Shut up, it’s not like I came prepared. I’m making do with what I’ve got.”
“Still, I can see the headlines. ‘Pop hunk’s girlfriend caught running around yard in underwear’.”
“Oh come on, it doesn’t look that bad. If you hadn’t seen me in this before you’d have no clue it wasn’t a bikini.”
“But that’s just the thing, Nat,” he wriggled his eyebrows, “I do know.”
“Oh great, go all macho-man on me now.”
It was the hottest part of the day, not the best time to be out in the sun, but the chance to just sit and do nothing was too good to pass up. Clear blue sky, gentle breeze—it was heaven.
Natalia sat up suddenly. “And what do you mean hunk?”
“Don’t you know it baby,” he grinned.
“Whatever.” She flopped back onto the lounger and relished in the solitude of the garden.
Justin opened one eye and noticed her peaceful expression. A devilish grin spread across his face. He pulled one hand out from behind his head and reached out, his fingers inching slowly towards her feet—
“Justin!”
His hand flew back so suddenly one would have thought he’d touched fire.
She arched an eyebrow accusingly. “You’re so predictable.”
“I didn’t do anything,” he said innocently.
“Whatever,” she mumbled, closing her eyes again.
Justin rolled over onto his stomach, resting his face between his hands. All was quiet for a few seconds then, “Tick, tick, tick…”
Natalia opened her eyes again and looked at the crazy man sprawled out across the grass. “What are you doing?”
“Ticking.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Is this some new in thing I’ve missed?”
“I’m ticking down the time until you meet my parents,” he taunted with an evil grin.
“I hate you.”
“No,” He pulled himself up onto his knees and crawled towards her. “You think I’m gooorgeous. You wanna kiiiiss me. You wanna loooove me. You wanna-”
“I think you’ve been watching too much Sandra.”
“You dissing my girl Sandra? Huh? Huh?” An evil grin appeared and he jumped up and made for her.
“Justin…no…” She let out a yelp as she was thrown over his shoulder. “You dare! Justin I mean it! Justin please-”
He ignored her pleas and ran straight for the pool and launched himself, with her in his arms, from the edge and they landed with a splash in the deep end.
Natalia emerged gasping, battling to move her hair from her eyes. “Oh you going down, boy.”
When she didn’t immediately get out of the car, Justin walked around and opened the door for her. “Come on, I’m hungry.”
Typical male. The thought of consuming any food right then made her stomach turn. Reluctantly she stepped out of the car and smoothed her skirt free of any wrinkles. “You’re sure I look okay?”
Justin looked her up and down. “I think she’ll just appreciate the fact that you’re fully dressed this time. I on the other hand…”
Natalia slammed the car door. “Jerk.”
“Aww Nat.” He was loving this.
“You just wait,” she warned. “Next time you’re really nervous about something don’t come running to me.”
“Didn’t you hear?” He bent in conspiratorially. “I’m a pop superstar, I don’t get nervous.” He lifted a finger to his lips. “But shhh, don’t tell anyone.”
When she scowled it only caused him to throw his head back with laughter. She found herself being dragged towards the large house with the butterflies still fluttering in her stomach. It was silly…but it was his mom…and this was her turf.
She’d learnt pretty quickly that his mother was a huge part of his life; the woman had practically devoted half her own to his dreams. She must have come across countless girls with stars in their eyes, the hangers on that used her son for his fame and connections. She was bound to be protective of Justin…had a right to be. She’d want the best for him. But how did she know what that was…who that was? How did she sort the winners from the losers? Was she going to have to pass some test?
Justin pushed the door open and almost knocked the woman behind it off her feet, immediately drawing her into a hug.
“Hi, sweetie, I thought I heard you coming down the driveway. Paul’s in the family room, playing around with the new entertainment system.”
“It came? Cool.” And he was off, bounding down the hall and disappearing through a doorway, leaving Natalia alone with his mom without a backward glance.
She’d kill him!
Lynn sighed. “I swear I taught him manners; he just fails to use them on occasion.” She wiped her hands on the front of her floral apron and held out her hand. “Let’s do this introduction thing again. I’m Justin’s mom, Lynn. And please call me that, we don’t need none of that Mrs formality. I’d give you a hug but…” she chuckled and gestured to the garment protecting her clothing.
A hug? That was a good sign, right?
Natalia slipped her hand into Lynn’s. “I’m Natalia.”
“Oh honey we all know,” she smiled warmly, touching her arm. “He doesn’t stop talking about you.”
“He doesn’t?”
“My boy is smitten. He’s happier than he’s been for a long time, and that’s all I want for him. Now come talk to me while I finish up dinner.”
She followed Lynn through to the homely kitchen in a daze. That was it? It was that easy? Apparently she’d been accepted, and that felt good.
The two women kept up a constant flow of conversation as Lynn prepared the salad, refusing her guest’s offer of help. Natalia was amazed at just how strong the woman’s accent was at times. It was a stronger form of Justin’s when he was tired, a time when he usually slipped back to his old drawl.
Around thirty minutes later the men walked into the kitchen, their noses having detected the meal almost being ready.
“So you two decided to show your faces, huh?” Lynn looked up as she set the salad bowl in the centre of the table.
“Smells good, Mom.” As he crossed the kitchen Justin met Natalia’s eyes and grinned. She had a feeling he’d purposefully left the two women to have a talk and wasn’t too sure how she felt about that. In hindsight everything had turned out okay, but she was still going to kick his butt for it later.
He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Nat this is my dad Paul…well, technically he’s my stepdad…but he’s my dad still. I’m speshul so I get more than one,” he grinned.
“Oh Lord. How do you voluntary put up with that, Natalia?” Lynn asked. “I’m his mother, I have to.”
“Hey now!” Justin huffed.
Paul grinned. “It’s good to meet you, I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“So I keep hearing.” She turned her head and Justin shrugged.
After dinner they all ventured outside for a while, sitting out on the deck and enjoying the perfect summer evening.
When Lynn mentioned a gift Justin’s uncle had sent they headed back inside and up to his old room so he could check it out.
“Your mom lets you have girls in your bedroom?” she teased as he lead the way to the room at the end of the hall.
As soon as she stepped inside she burst out laughing.
“What?”
“It’s…it’s such a guys room.” The basketball and supermodel posters, the collection of sports memorabilia, and she would bet a million dollars there was a miniature basketball hoop on the back of the door.
She turned and shut the door much to Justin’s confusion, and then proceeded to laugh even harder. The room was just how she’d imagined it.
“Would you care to explain?”
“You’re my brother.”
He looked aghast. “I sure as hell hope not. I know I’m from the south, but…”
“No, it’s just your room…it’s identical.”
As Justin inspected the gift from his uncle (some new golf club that was sure to improve his shot apparently) Natalia went on a walkabout around his room. She took time to study the photographs on the shelves—lots of candid shots of the guys, family and some friends she didn’t recognise.
Justin suddenly appeared behind her. “One down, one to go.”
She turned her head. “What are you talking about?”
“Next stop Memphis to meet the second set of parents…and the rest of the family,” he grinned.
“You want to give me a chance to recover from this one first?”
“And you’ve still got to meet Trace. I think he’s convinced I’ve got an invisible friend or something.”
“Maybe when you’ve finished your tour.” With mention of the tour they both fell silent.
“Are you staying at mine tonight?”
She shook her head. “I’ve got work tomorrow and…well you’ve got to fly to your next stop.”
“Yeah…duty calls,” he said without much enthusiasm. This saying goodbye thing was getting harder and harder for both of them.
A few minutes later they made their way back downstairs where Natalia said goodnight to Justin’s parents, and Justin promised to stop by before he left the next day.
On the drive back to her house Natalia curled up in her seat, turning slightly to watch Justin as he drove. Feeling eyes on him he turned and smiled slightly when he caught her eye. He reached out and entwined his fingers with hers and rested their clasped hands on his thigh.
When they pulled to a stop outside her house they sat in silence for a few minutes. She noticed her neighbour’s curtains twitch and a couple of teens eyed the car as they passed, no doubt wondering what a car like that was doing in their neighbourhood.
“I hate goodbyes,” Justin sighed. “I feel like I spend half my life saying goodbye to the people I love.”
She dipped her head, not knowing what to say. It was a fact of life for Justin. Her own time on the road had been completely different—all her friends and family had always been with her.
“Listen to me complaining when so many others would love to be in my shoes. But it’s like this infuriating cycle where I can never win! To not perform would make me miserable. To perform I have to tour. To tour I have to leave my family and friends. Leaving my family and friends makes me miserable. But I feel like a total jackass when I complain, because really I have no right to.” He sighed deeply and closed his eyes as he tilted his head back on the headrest.
Natalia released her seatbelt and pulled up onto her knees, leaning closer so she could press her lips to his temple. She ran a fingertip down his cheek and his eyes slowly fluttered open. “Don’t beat yourself up about it, Justin. Your family understand, I understand. We all just want you to be happy. Now I’m gonna go before I start crying,” she laughed weakly. “Look after yourself, okay?”
“I’ll call you.” He wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug and when it became too much for her she quickly pressed a kiss to his lips before diving out of the car. She didn’t look back as she heard the engine start and when she finally closed the door behind her her eyes were stinging with unshed tears.
Justin returned to the tour while Natalia continued on with her mundane schedule of work and sleep. Between her intense rehearsals Stephanie assisted in keeping her spirits up, more often than not just flaking out at each other’s home’s after a tiring day.
Natalia grimaced as she watched Stephanie strip away her socks and sink her feet in the bowl of water. “That’s one thing I don’t miss—mangled feet.”
“Tell me about it; but you get used it.” She sighed contentedly, sitting back and resting her head against the back of the couch. “How was your day?”
“Slow. There hasn’t been much work this week. My boss has been mysteriously absent so at least that’s something.” She’d only seen Bryan briefly on Monday afternoon—two days before. Not that she was complaining; he was just usually breathing down her neck.
“Why don’t you see if you can get some time off. Go see Justin,” Stephanie suggested.
“I wish,” she sighed. “I’ve used almost all of my holiday days up already.” Between taking her mom to doctors appointments and the few days off to redecorate the living room, the days had dwindled to almost nothing.
“Bummer. I’m procrastinating in packing for the tour, myself. One of these days I’ll get a part in a show that stays in a single place. This travelling thing gets old.”
“But you were born into it.”
Stephanie arched an eyebrow. “So were you.”
“Yeah, well.” And that put an end to that line of reasoning.
“What’s up with you and JC?” Natalia questioned.
Stephanie grinned. “I’m not sure…but there’s definitely something…physical if nothing else.”
Natalia looked worried. “I’m not sure I want to know.”
“We haven’t done anything, I’m just saying… I think I’m going to enjoy getting to know him, he’s really interesting. It should be a fun ride.”
Chapter 31
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