Disclaimer: Anything mentioned in this story is complete fiction. The sexuality of anyone in the story is not necessarily true, but just written to entertain. If you are underage or if it is illegal to read pornographic material where you live, please leave now. Also, if you are uncomfortable with gay relationships, you should not read any further. For everyone else, enjoy the show....
Season 2
"Babe, I have to get going," Craig whispered in Justin's ear after kissing his cheek.
"What?" he asked turning over to face the man completely. He squinted up at the dark figure looming over him, his breath catching for a moment in his throat before he saw Craig's faint smile in the darkness. "What time is it?"
"4:30."
"In the morning?"
"Yes beautiful," he said kissing his lips gently. "I have to go into the office remember?"
Justin nodded, pulling Craig's head back down to his lips.
"I'll call you in a few hours," he said softly.
"When will you be home?"
Craig smiled. He loved that word home, especially coming from such a wonderful man.
"As soon as I can babe. I promise. Go back to sleep," he said running his hand over Justin's forehead and cheek. "I love you."
"Love you too," he said settling back onto his side.
Craig paused at the door for a moment, hesitant to leave his lover for some reason. Reality came flooding back as he realized he was extremely unprepared for the meeting he had with investors in a few short hours. He had really been letting the business aspect of his life slip through his fingers lately. He just felt like there weren't enough hours in the day, let alone days in a week. He wanted to spend every moment of his life with Justin. But unfortunately there was no way he would be able to make any kind of a living like that.
Justin kept telling him how great it was that they were spending so much quality time together. How could he walk away from that for even a second? There was just no way. But he knew how hard his family had worked to make and mold the company into something they could pass on generation after generation. He had to pay more attention to the legacy he intended to leave behind. He had so many innovative ideas and thoughts about the future of the corporation that he couldn't let it all dissipate.
As he drove his car onto the long driveway up to the main office building he thought about his brother. Or rather, probably what he hoped his brother would be like. He wasn't even sure if calling him his brother was really appropriate. Technically he was the bastard son of their somewhat deadbeat and emotionally unavailable deceased father. God, that so sounded like some sort of Maury Povich show. He guessed it actually was since a paternity test would most likely come into play before anything became completely official. It was time to make the flight arrangements. He needed to get his life in order and this was the first step. Walking away from the business again wasn't exactly the best thing he could think of but he was sure the fort could be held down for a few days.
"Finally," Brian said as Craig walked up to him in the dimly lit parking lot. "I brought you coffee." He held out a paper Starbucks cup that was steaming in the cold early morning air.
"I don't drink coffee. You know that," Craig said waving it out of the way as he searched his keys for the right one to open the front office door.
"It's five in the goddamn morning. Take the fucking cup."
"Jesus, could you be anymore bitchy?" he asked opening the door and snatching the cup from Brian's hand.
"Sorry but I didn't get much sleep last night."
"And I would have thought that was a good thing."
"Oh please. Arguing all night with some guy is not at the top of my list of foreplay options."
"Since when is Lance just some guy?"
"Since oh," he said looking at his watch, "about 2:47 this morning."
Craig laughed as he hit the up button for the elevator, "You're so specific."
"Believe me I've had a lot of time to analyze."
"I'm assuming I don't have to guess what this little fight was about?"
"Little? No way," he said pressing seven for the top floor of the building as they entered the elevator. "And no don't guess. It was about JC, who else?"
"What this time?" he asked sipping his coffee and wincing at the bitter taste as it hit his tongue.
"All Lance could do once we got back to his place after dinner was talk about him. 'Oh wasn't he acting weird? I wonder what's going on. Maybe I should call him.' It was making me physically ill listening to him go on like that."
"You should have let him just call and get it out of his system," Craig said throwing his messenger bag on one of the plush black leather chairs in front of his desk.
"I told him to and after maybe an hour of going back and forth he finally made the fucking call," he said falling back into the other chair. "Of course the prick didn't answer so then Lance was all, 'I wonder if he's hurt. I'm worried. I left two messages why isn't he calling me back?' Because you're a fucking idiot that's why."
"So then you confronted him," Craig said pulling up a file on his computer.
"Yeah I did and he denied everything."
"Well duh. You really thought he would spill his guts?"
"I really hoped that he would. I guess he's either in major denial or he's just keeping me around because I'm a fantastic fuck."
"I'll take your word for it," Craig said holding the phone against his shoulder as he checked his messages.
"It's not like I wanted a real relationship anyway, so it's cool," he said crossing his legs and then his arms across his chest.
"You can't just write him off like that."
"Why the fuck not?" he asked leaning forward. "Craig he's fucking in love with another guy."
"True," he said scribbling on a message pad. He hung up the phone and leaned forward with his hands folded on the desk. "Honestly I think the whole relationship was doomed from the beginning and I told you that in so many words when you started getting involved with him."
"You never told me he was in love with JC."
"Because I never knew for sure. But I did tell you that there was something strange going on with him. No one is just that quirky on their own."
Brian laughed, "That's for sure. Let's get to work babe. I want to get out of here."
"You have absolutely no where else to be."
"I could always be shopping. I think I'll get something pierced today."
"Good luck with that."
JC sunk down to the edge of the bed, dropping the jeans and clasping his hand around the vial. He had never known someone with a drug problem before. It's not like they were prudes or anything. When Nsync was at its most popular the guys would go out practically every night. It was common practice to drop X or even acid while partying at the hottest clubs in L.A. He could remember more then once snorting coke off some girls hand in bathrooms at clubs in New York. But they never let that interfere with their business or everyday lives. All of that stuff was left behind at the club. As far as he knew no one ever did drugs on their own time or actually had any on them.
For Wade to literally have coke on him he had to have bought it, which means he must be addicted. No there's just no way. Sure, Wade had been acting strange for the past few weeks. And he wasn't concentrating at work. Actually he hadn't done any work for a while. But, it's not like the guys needed him at this point. They weren't going to be touring for the new album for at least another year; that is if they ever made the damn thing. It wasn't like JC didn't like having him around the house. It was great when he was actually there. But he knew all of Wade's late night partying with "friends" wasn't actually an excuse to go out and choreograph for Janet Jackson.
A thought finally hit him, just because he has it on him doesn't mean that he's addicted. Where else would he keep it if he didn't snort it all? There was a strong chance that Wade was still only a recreational drug user; a fucking idiot for bringing that stuff into JC's house, but not an addict.
"What are you doing beautiful?" Wade asked kneeling on the bed behind JC and wrapping his arms around the man's shoulders.
"I was just, just cleaning up."
"You're shaking," he said furrowing his brow in that adorable way JC used to love. It screamed, 'take me sexy I'm yours.' Now all he wanted to do was punch him in his lying face.
JC stood, dodging the kiss Wade was about to place on his cheek.
"What?" Wade asked sitting cross legged on the bed in his boxer briefs.
JC took a deep breath trying to get ready for the answer to the question he was about to pose.
"What is this?" he asked opening his hand and extending it towards Wade.
Wade looked at the small vial in his hand blankly. "Where did you find that?" he finally said.
"In your jeans."
"So now you're going through my stuff?" he asked snatching the vial away from JC as he stood from his seat on the bed. "Just because I crash at your place sometimes doesn't give you the right to go through my shit."
"But it gives you the right to bring drugs into my house?" JC asked shocked at the reaction he was getting. He expected a quiet admittance of wrong doing, an apology, and then maybe a little make up sex. This wasn't even close.
"Oh please, I was at a party and I just forgot about it."
"Is it yours?" JC's eyes pleaded with him. At this point he was almost wishing he would lie and just say it was a friend's.
"Yes it's mine. I'm a fucking adult. If I want to relax and party a little bit when I go out there's nothing you or anyone else can do about it," he said pulling on his jeans.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm fucking out of here. I can't even believe you."
"Me? I'm not the one snorting that shit up my nose."
"Well isn't that the most fucking hypocritical thing I've ever heard in my life," he said laughing as he pulled his t-shirt over his head. "Or did you forget in your old age that you told me what you guys used to do? Compared to that this," he said waving the vial in JC's face, "is fucking nothing."
"I'm not old I'm only six years older then you."
Wade stared at him blankly.
"That's beside the point," JC said. "You're right I have done stuff like this before. So why won't you listen to me when I say that it isn't good for you?"
"I'm not fucking stupid!" he screamed. "I'm not some fucking platinum blond bimbo fuck doll you like to keep laying around at your beckoned call."
"Whoa," JC said putting his hands up in a defensive manner. "Where the fuck did that come from?"
"Never mind," he said searching the floor. "Where are my fucking shoes?"
"You're not going anywhere like this."
"When are you going to get it through your fucking head? I'm not yours to command."
"I'm not commanding you. I'm trying to help you," he said crossing his arms over his bare chest. "You know what? Fine! Get the fuck out of my house then."
"Can't you see that I'm trying?" he asked dropping to his hands and knees to look underneath the bed.
"Why do you have to be this way?"
"Why can't you just fucking leave me alone? Okay never mind," he said standing and walking towards the door, "leaving without shoes makes for a more dramatic exit anyway."
"WAKE UP!" Tucker screamed as he and Bobby jumped on Justin's bed.
"I can't wake up," Justin said throwing the pillow over his head. "I'm dead."
"No you're not silly head," Bobby said giggling like crazy.
"You're right," Justin said tossing the pillow aside. "I'm a monster and I'm gonna get you both." He grabbed the two small boys in his arms and began tickling them as he growled in between laughter.
"So mature," Stacy said leaning against the doorway.
Justin glanced at her, "What are you wearing?"
"What?" she asked looking down at her tank top, short jean skirt, and UGGS.
"And when did you get your belly button pierced?"
"Do you like it?" she asked running her fingers over the jewel in her stomach.
"Please go change," he said trying to crawl out of bed while the boys jumped on his back.
"Why? I never get to where stuff like this when I'm at home."
"Then why should I let you wear it here?"
"Because you're my handsome big brother?"
"I do love the flattery but it's way to cold outside today and we're going to the zoo," he said tossing Tucker in the air.
"The zoo!" he screamed as Justin caught him and placed him on the floor.
"Me next! Me next!" Bobby screamed jumping up and down on the bed.
"Do I have to go?"
"Yes," he said tossing Bobby in the air. "Craig had to work today so you get to help me with the boys."
"Okay, but I get to wear what I want and you have to drive me to the mall afterwards so I can meet up with my friends."
"Yes on the mall no on the clothes."
"Fine!" she said stomping out of the room. "I'll go throw on a freaking burqa."
"Is she always like this?" Justin asked the two boys standing in front of him.
They nodded and smiled.
"Let's go get you two cookie monsters dressed," he said scooping them up in his arms.
"Cookie Monster!" they screamed in unison, throwing their arms in the air and giggling.
"Thanks Mr. Scheer. Sorry, Larry," Craig said hanging up the phone.
"So?" Brian asked impatiently as he hoped up on the desk.
"Well his name is Jeremy."
"Your brother's a junior?"
"I guess so. Should I be upset about that?"
"You don't really look like a Jeremy so I don't think so."
"He's sixteen lives in Waco, Texas with his aunt and uncle."
"Where's his mom?"
"Dead."
"Eerie."
"Any way," he said rolling his eyes, "from what Mr. Scheer said-"
"You mean Larry?" Brian asked cutting him off.
"Shut up, this is serious."
"Okay, okay. What did Mr. Scheer say?"
"Jeremy was sending him like ten thousand a month."
"No way. How did your mom not miss ten grand?"
"Oh please, she spent fifty on the rug we wiped our feet on in the foyer."
"Okay, so this kid isn't doing too bad then."
"Not from what I've heard."
"Are you going to keep sending him money?"
"I don't have a choice. It's in the will, ten thousand a month in definitely."
"So now what?"
"I have to go see him. Tell him about Jeremy."
"But he is Jeremy. That's why I never liked the whole junior thing. It was way too confusing."
"I'll let him know you don't approve of his name," he said picking up the phone.
"You're not calling him are you?"
"No, Claudia."
"I wish I had a hot travel agent."
"Did you forget you're gay?"
"Hot is hot."
"Where do you want to go anyway?"
"Nowhere, it would just be nice."
"Hi, this is Craig," he said into the phone. "I'm fine, thanks. I need two tickets to Waco," he paused. "Yes Texas. It's personal stuff not business. Yeah a hotel room, car, the works. Thanks. I should be in the office until about two."
"Do you think he's hot?" Brian asked settling back into one of the chairs across from Craig.
"Who?" he asked writing a few things down on a note pad.
"Jeremy."
"He's my brother you perv."
"Not for you, for me. I am in the market now, you know."
"He's sixteen perv."
"What's up with the repeat insult?"
"When you find something that works, you stick with it."
Lance laid on the long plush couch, one arm slung over his face and his cell phone in quick reach on the coffee table.
"So he broke up with you?" JC asked standing over him.
"I don't know. He just left."
"What was this about anyway?" he asked sitting on the edge of the hard oak table in front of Lance.
"I don't want to talk about it right now."
"Okay then," he said standing. "Let's go do something."
"No. I came over here isn't that enough?"
"Calm on," he said pushing Lance's leg. "Get up we're going to the movies."
"No."
"Yes."
"There's nothing good playing."
"We need to get our minds off of our love problems."
"How about a drink?"
"It's 10 a.m. and you don't drink."
"I could start," he said leaning his head back and closing his eyes.
"Let's go golf."
"I don't golf, that's Justin."
"Fine," he said sitting next to Lance. "Then you pick something."
"Wallowing in self pity?" he asked opening one eye.
"Try again."
"How about breakfast?"
"Okay," JC said excited that he was finally getting a reasonable response. "Where?"
"I don't know. I'm not hungry."
"You're really starting to get on my nerves."
"Then I'll just go back home which is where I wanted to stay in the first place," he said finally sitting up and looking at the man.
"God," JC said sighing. "Let's just go get coffee."
"I really don't want to deal with people right now."
"What if I could promise no people?"
"Yeah right," he said sitting up again. "How?"
"Okay well I can't. But it will be fine," JC said standing and walking towards the garage door. "Are you coming?"
"Fine, but I refuse to have fun."
JC laughed as he ushered his friend to the car. He guessed he really must be okay with breaking up with Wade. He definitely wasn't taking their fight as bad as Lance had with Brian. Wade must have really been, in his subconscious, just someone to pass the time with.
Obviously Wade's situation with drugs, whatever it might be, wasn't JC's problem anymore. But some part of him still couldn't help but think of the young man and where he might be. A few phone calls probably could have cleared that up but JC had way too much pride to run after a guy like that. He wasn't even sure if he trusted Wade anymore, let alone actually wanted to continue to date him. But were they even really dating? They had never been out in public together except for group dinners and the occasional club or bar crawl. On most nights when Wade actually bothered to show up at a reasonable time, they just stayed in and fucked. It wasn't a bad time but JC wasn't sure you could actually classify that as a real relationship. So what was he really going to be missing anyway? The sex? He could find a great fuck practically on any corner in town. Okay not really. But for someone as good looking and wealthy as he was it wasn't all that hard. Maybe he would miss the way Wade made him feel. It was like he was content when he was with the younger man. Being content doesn't sound like much, but in JC's line of business that is something you definitely never take for granted.
As JC backed out of the driveway he glanced in his rearview mirror and immediately slammed on his brakes.
"What?" Lance asked turning to look behind them.
Wade was standing there inches away from the rear bumper of the car.
JC cursed his good reflexes as Lance and he exited the car. Of all the times to come crawling back this was one of the most inconvenient. Sure, JC had told Lance about the fight in general. But there was no way he was going to mention the drugs that he had found in Wade's jeans. That would just cause way more drama then even he was prepared for.
"Are you okay?" JC asked referring more to the drugs that were possibly coursing through the man's veins then the near car accident.
"Yeah I'm fine," he said smiling. "Sorry I didn't know you were going anywhere."
"That's cool. What do you need?"
Lance glanced at JC when he heard the cold sting of his tone. He acted like he and Wade were nothing more then acquaintances. Their relationship was definitely no secret so he wondered why JC couldn't talk freely around him.
"I, um..." Wade started, looking down at his brown suede sneakers.
"I have to go to the bathroom so I'm gonna," Lance said motioning to the house. With that he walked away from what he assumed was in the top three of the most awkward situations he had ever been in.
"Well?" JC asked once Lance was out of ear shoot.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry. For the way I acted and for...you know."
"No I don't know," JC said crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back on the trunk of his car.
"Please don't make me say it," he said running his hand over his face.
"I think you need to. That shit isn't something to mess around with."
"I know."
"Then why?"
"I was just having a hard tine being out here and I got wrapped up with the wrong people," he said shoving his hands into his jean pockets.
"So what are you going to do?"
"I was hoping you would forgive me."
"Not about that."
"Then what?"
"Are you still going to hang out with those same people?"
"No, I'm not," he said glancing down at the ground again. "Are we cool?"
"Yeah, but if I find out you're doing that stuff again."
"I know," he said taking a step closer to JC. "I really am sorry and I promise I won't do it again."
"Well I forgive you," JC said grabbing the man's t-shirt and pulling him close. He pressed his lips firmly against Wade's, holding both sides of the man's face. When he broke the kiss he opened his eyes to see the man smiling at him.
"I kind of thought that would never happen again," Wade said wrapping his arms around the man's waist.
"You know better then that," he said kissing him again. JC wasn't sure if he had just gotten wrapped up in the emotion of knowing he had actually gotten through to Wade or if he really did have strong feelings for him. Either way, he loved the way their mouths fit together and he figured being with him for a while longer couldn't hurt anything. After all, it was just a casual fling.
Justin shifted under the weight of the boy clinging to the left side of his neck.
"Bobby, they're just butterflies," he said rubbing his hand in circles around the whimpering boy's back.
"Is he okay?" Stacy asked grabbing Tucker by the hand as they exited the butterfly house.
"Yeah, he'll be fine. Won't you buddy?" Justin asked running his thumb across the wet cheeks of the sniffling boy.
Bobby nodded as Justin placed him back down on the ground.
"What do you say we go get a soda?"
Bobby nodded again, his pink nose running slightly.
"I want tigers!" Tucker yelled jumping up and down.
"We'll go in a little while," Stacy said laughing at his pained expression. "It won't kill you to come with us to get something to drink squirt."
Tucker crossed his arms over his chest and pouted, "Fine but I want ice cream too. Chocolate."
Justin shook his head, "These kids are tougher to handle then I remember."
"Terrible twos," Stacy said walking next to him.
"They're three."
"What's your point?"
Justin's cell phone began to ring before he could think of a witty come back. "It's Craig," he said as they walked up to the snack bar. "I need to take this. Will you watch them?"
"Sure."
"Hello?" he said into the phone.
"Hey gorgeous," Craig said instantly smiling when he heard Justin's voice. Maybe absence really does make the heart grow fonder.
"Hang on one sec."
"Okay."
"Here," Justin said handing her a twenty out of his wallet. "Buy them whatever they want; within reason."
"K," Stacy said ushering the boys off to stand in line.
"Hey babe," Justin said into the phone.
"Hi. You sound busy."
"Not really. Just a normal day at the zoo. You know, tears, tantrums, the usual."
Craig laughed, "I so wish I hadn't missed that."
"Are you still at work?"
"Yeah, I'm about to leave right now actually."
"Good."
"Why's that?"
"Because I miss you like crazy."
"I miss you too. What do you have planned after the zoo?"
"I promised Stacy I'd drop her off at the mall. I thought we'd hang out there for a little while and do some shopping."
"You're going to take Tucker and Bobby shopping with you?" he asked laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"Unless you're planning on a trip to the Disney store I'd say you're going to have two very unhappy little boys on your hands."
"I actually was going to take them there and the toy store. I couldn't find anything I thought they'd really like in the attic."
"But they brought so much stuff with them."
"I know but-"
"But you want to spoil them."
"You know me too well."
"Okay, well I'll see you when you get home from you're little shopping spree."
"You don't want to come? I can stop by the house and pick you up."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah why not?"
"The whole you being a closeted celebrity thing?"
"I doubt we're actually going to have sex in the middle of the food court."
"You never know."
"And plus," Justin said ignoring his comment. He didn't think it was a good idea to pitch a tent in the middle of a zoo. "I've been thinking about that. And I don't think it should run our lives."
"What does that mean?"
"It means we live our lives and I don't care what people think about it."
"You're very enlightened."
"You don't feel the same way do you?"
"I just don't think this is a conversation we should be having over the phone."
"You're mad aren't you?"
"No not at all. But I think you need to really think about this. I mean, even if we're not making out in the middle of Time Square there is still a good chance people may some day put two and two together if we keep being spotted with each other."
"I have thought about it baby, a lot actually. And I keep coming to the same conclusion. I love you and I don't care who knows it."
"I love you too."
"So what do you say? Come shopping with us?"
"I will. I'll even let you buy me a little something pretty."
"What did you have in mind?"
"Diamonds of course."
"We'll talk about that later. I'll see you in an hour or so?"
"Cool. Bye babe."
"I love you."
"Love you too."
Justin flipped his phone closed just as his charges were making their way back to him. He smiled at the two little chocolate covered faces that were looking up at him.
"After you guys finish your ice cream we're going to get out of here okay?"
"Finally," Stacy said searching her purse for her cell phone.
"But I want tigers!" Tucker wined licking his ice cream cone again without missing a beat.
"Let's go see the tigers now. Then we can leave," he said motioning to the posting of a red arrow pointing towards the tiger cage or habitat as they liked to call it.
"Can we stop by the house before the mall?" Stacy asked simultaneously text messaging one of her friends.
"Yeah we're picking up Craig anyway."
"Oh my God. Really?" she asked looking at him wide eyed.
"What's the big deal?"
"He's only the hottest model turned trillionaire ever. My friends are going to shit."
"First of all eww second of all don't say things like that around your brothers. Any of them."
"But do you know what this means?" she asked grabbing his arm.
"I have no idea."
"Craig is just so hot. And if I'm seen with him at the mall where all those stupid girls who said I was lying about knowing him hang out they'll see me."
"I'm assuming that's a good thing."
"Duh!" she said slapping his arm. "I'm going to be a legend."
"I'm glad my boyfriend's success is helping you move up the high school social ladder and all but we're going to keep this a low key shopping trip."
"How low key? You're freaking Justin Timberlake. Oh wait are you going to wear your secret baseball cap disguise," she asked reaching for his hat as he dodged out of the way. "No one can see through that."
"What do you want me to do throw on a wig and a fake mustache or something?"
"It couldn't hurt," she said laughing.
"Shut up," he said pushing her towards the guard rail.
After he was finally able to pull his brothers away from the tigers they were on their way back to his house, Stacy with the phone permanently attached to her ear.
Justin snatched the phone away from her as she was in mid dial. "Did you not here anything I just told you?"
"You were serious?"
"You're practically calling everyone you've ever known and telling them to meet you at the mall. Are you crazy?"
"It's not like he's going to get mobbed or anything."
"Sure he's not. Because fifteen year old girls are completely rational."
"He must be used to it anyway."
"No he's not Stace."
"Are you ashamed of him or something?"
"Where the hell did that come from?" he asked more angrily then he intended to.
"Oooooh," Tucker and Bobby said in unison from their car seats in the backseat.
"Sorry guys," Justin said glancing in the rearview mirror. "And no I'm not ashamed of him. I love him. He's just not the sort of guy that likes being mauled by a hundred screaming girls."
"It's not a hundred it's a few of my closest and not so closest friends."
"You know what, you talk to him about it," Justin said pulling the car up the long gravel driveway.
"Fine I will," she said hopping out as soon as he stopped the SUV.
He rolled his eyes as she scampered up the front steps to the house.
"Come on guys," he said unbuckling car seats and seat belts. "You have got to see this one."
"Honey we're home!" Stacy sung as she practically skipped into the living room.
"Hey," Craig said all smiles as he walked in from the kitchen. "I was just getting dinner started."
"I thought we were going to the mall," she said the cheerfulness and color draining from her face.
"We are. I was just marinating the steaks."
"Speaking of the mall," she said stopping short as Justin walked into the room.
"What was on your mind beautiful?" Craig asked wiping his hands on a dish towel as he winked at Justin.
"Well," she said twisting a lock of her long blonde hair around her finger.
"Go ahead," Justin said kneeling in front of the boys to help take jackets off.
"I have these friends right?" she said more then asked, taking Craig's hand in hers.
"Yeah," he replied when she didn't say anything else.
"Anyway you know how I love you right? And they do to. Not in the same way cause they don't really know you but they've all seen your pictures and everything. And since I was meeting them at the mall anyway I was wondering if you could just say hi to them."
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" he asked laughing.
"That's not the whole story," Justin said standing. "She invited like a hundred people to come gawk at you as we shopped."
"It is not a hundred," she said over her shoulder.
"I'll tell you what," he said placing his hands on her shoulders to get her attention. "I'm going to pass on the mall but you pick five of your closest friends and I'll take you girls to a photo shoot tomorrow morning."
"No way," she said with eyes wide.
"Way."
"Oh my god! Thank you, thank you," she said kissing his cheek repeatedly.
"Okay I think that's enough," Justin said crossing his arms over his chest.
"Jealous of my young hot blonde?" Craig asked wrapping his arms around Stacy and kissing her cheek.
Justin laughed, "You can have her."
"Whatever dork," she said running toward the stairs, "Craig is my new favorite brother now."
"Oh that hurts," he said holding his heart. "Take the kids with you."
"Come on guys," she said motioning for the boys to follow her up the stairs. "I'll let you dial."
"I'll make you feel better," Craig said pulling him close and kissing his lips firmly. "God I missed you."
"I missed you too," Justin said smiling. "Never go to work again."
"Wouldn't that be nice?" he asked holding the man closer.
"How was your meeting?"
"Wonderful. We are officially launching our new line at Saks."
"No way. That's awesome. Why didn't you tell me that's what it was about?"
"I didn't want to jinx it. One thing Jeremy taught me that I still hold true, as crazy as it may sound."
"You're anything but crazy," he said kissing his lips and running his hands over his strong back.
"I almost forgot," Craig said pulling away from the kiss. "I made all the reservations to go see my brother. Man that still sounds weird."
"When do we leave?"
"Two days. Is that okay?"
"Perfect. Well the guys wanted to start recording."
"When are you going to tell them?" Craig asked frowning as he smoothed the buttons on Justin's collared shirt, feeling the rock hard chest beneath the thin cotton.
"Soon."
"Soon as in tomorrow?"
"That's real soon," he said sighing. He backed away to sit on the couch. "I guess I did put it off for a while."
"A long while babe," Craig said sitting next to him.
"I know," he said placing their intertwined fingers on his lap. "I will. Tomorrow. I have to."
"It'll be fine. Their not just your co-workers, they're your friends."
He nodded. "I just don't even know how to say it. I mean I made such a big deal about still being into the band when they confronted me before. Now look."
"You have a right to change your mind. But you have an obligation to let them know what's going on."
"You're saying all the things I've gone over in my head a thousand times."
"I'm sorry."
"No I obviously need to hear it out loud," he said kissing Craig's hand. "I promise I'll tell them tomorrow. Maybe over lunch? What exactly is the best food to break up a ten-year-old, Grammy Award winning band?"
"I want to say Chinese."
Hope you guys enjoyed the new chapter. The next one should be up in about a week. Any comments or criticisms can be emailed to swimfan_777@yahoo.com.