IF I’M NOT THE ONE
CHAPTER 9
The black Jeep pulled into the familiar driveway. Hurriedly, JC threw the gearshift into park, jumped out of his SUV, and rushed toward her front door.
Not even knowing why, he had taken great pains in choosing what he wore this morning. One would almost think he was the one in search of a job, not his newfound female friend. His choice of khaki slacks, black ribbed shirt along with black boots was very complimentary to his thin, tall build.
Pressing the little white button on the doorframe, JC listened as he could hear the door chimes through the wooden barrier standing between him and his friend. A smile brightened his face as he thought about her. He remembered how awkward he had felt the other night on the phone with her. He had no idea why he had felt that way; he just knew he had felt like a schoolboy asking the most popular girl in school to the prom. It had been very awkward.
He heard the lock on the door click and waited for Cassandra to open the door.
The door opened and a very pretty young woman stood there. It wasn’t Cassandra. This girl appeared to be a younger version of whom JC expected to see. She was a bit taller and about the same build as Cassandra. Her eyes were more of a golden brown, whereas Cassandra’s eyes were a warm, chocolaty brown. This young lady had blonde highlighted hair that just touched her shoulders. He was sure she was Cassandra’s sister.
“Yes?” The girl asked.
“Hi. I um, I’m supposed to, um.” JC couldn’t understand why he felt so tongue-tied.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m JC.” It was the only coherent thing he could make come out of his mouth. He knew he appeared foolish.
“JC!” Her face lit up. “Wow, you really do have eyes like crystal.”
“Excuse me?” He looked at her confused by her statement.
“I’m sorry.” She extended her hand. “I’m Marissa, Cassandra’s sister. Come on in.” Marissa stepped back as she invited JC into the house. “Cassandra told me you were picking her up this morning. She should be out in just a second. Can I get you some coffee or something?”
Marissa’s eyes grew wide and she took a step backward as recognition of who the man standing in front of her was. She raised her hand and pointed her finger at him.
“Oh, my God!” She squealed. “You’re not JC. You’re JC! Oh, my God!”
Marissa was breathless. JC laughed out loud at her excitement. He placed a calming hand on her shoulder.
“I know, but let’s keep it on the down low. If too many people find out, I could be in trouble.” He whispered to her.
“Oh, my God!” Marissa repeated.
Knowing he had to get Marissa to calm down, JC decided to give her something else to focus on.
“Hey, Marissa, how about that cup of coffee? A little cream and sugar would be great.”
“Oh, my God! Coffee! Oh, my God!” She walked toward the kitchen in a daze, mumbling the same phrase over and over to herself.
A low chuckle escaped JC’s throat as he made his way into the living room to wait for Cassandra.
He began to sit down when he heard steps in the hallway.
“Marissa, I thought I heard…” Cassandra stopped short when she saw JC standing in her living room. Her breath caught as she noticed how handsome he looked. His blue eyes were shining in her direction and a genuine smile graced his lips. She was caught completely off guard by his overall appearance.
“Good morning.” There was a low, almost sensual tone to his voice when he spoke to her.
He took in the vision that was Cassandra. She stood before him in a deep, plum colored dress with a beaded scoop neckline. A matching beaded choker adorned her throat, which was framed by her loosely curled long mane of dark brown hair. She wore amethyst earrings and, he noticed, a matching ring on her right hand. Scanning downward, he saw the gold ankle bracelet around her slender left ankle and the black-heeled shoes that gave her legs a graceful look. She looked absolutely perfect to him.
“Hi. I hope you haven’t been waiting long. Marissa was supposed to tell me when you got here.” She spoke softly as he approached her.
“That’s okay. She went to get me a cup of coffee.”
“Oh.”
He stopped in front of her and stared at her, making Cassandra feel uncomfortable.
“What? Is something wrong with what I’m wearing?” She asked as she looked down at herself.
“You look absolutely perfect.” His voice came out husky and soft.
Cassandra smiled a demur smile and hid her eyes behind her lashes as she looked at the floor. He reached up to cup her chin just as Marissa rushed back into the room, holding a cup of coffee.
“Here’s the coffee, JC! Oh, my God! You really are JC from *NSYNC, aren’t you?”
He smiled and nodded his head.
“Oh, my God! Sis, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Marissa!” Cassandra’s voice was stern. “I’m sure if JC wanted to hear a fan babble on and on about who he is, he could stand on any street corner. Please, pull yourself together and treat him like a friend. He likes that a lot more.”
Marissa drew a deep breath and looked at JC. “I’m really sorry. It’s just that I’ve never really met a star before, let alone have one come to my house to get my sister.”
“That’s quite all right, Marissa. I understand. I hope you won’t mind if I come by again. I’d like to see more of your sister.”
Cassandra looked at JC in surprise, not expecting to hear him say that.
“Really?” Her eyes grew wide momentarily, but then she worked on calming herself. “I mean, that’s great. You are welcome to come here any time!”
“Hey, thanks Marissa. Who knows, I may even have to bring a friend or two with me one of these times.”
JC laughed when he heard her sudden intake of breath.
“Oh, okay. That sounds really nice. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” she said as she placed a hand over her mouth and left the living room. When they heard her bedroom door click shut, JC and Cassandra both laughed out loud. He loved the sound of her laughter.
“I’m really sorry, JC. I guess I should have warned her.”
“Don’t be, Cassandra. It’s really okay. Are you ready to go?”
“Yes. I’ll grab my purse and we can go.”
The Jeep cruised down the highway almost of its own accord. With his attention focused on the road ahead, JC kept his left hand on the steering wheel and his right one perched on the center armrest. Silently he glanced over at his passenger, noticing how she sat with her eyes fixed straight ahead, but her fingers busily fidgeted in her lap. He smiled to himself as he realized her silence was her way of coping with her nerves.
The ride was brief, and after only thirty minutes, JC was parking his Jeep in front of the mirror-sided building that housed Wright Entertainment Group, the company that managed *NSYNC.
Cassandra caught a glimpse of herself in the siding of the building. She gasped audibly and stood, frozen in place. JC was just approaching her when he heard her breathe.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, concern etched in his eyes.
“JC, look at me! This is all wrong for a job interview. I can’t go in there like this.” Her hands were busy trying to primp with the dress. Then she reached up under the length of her hair, determined to remove the choker from around her neck.
He reached out and took hold of both of her hands. “Don’t!” He said softly as he lowered her hands and held them in his.
Cassandra looked up into his blue eyes, uncertainty showing in hers.
“Honey, you look perfect. Please don’t change anything.” She could hear the sincerity in his voice.
Smiling at him, JC felt her relax a bit. He placed his hand on the small of her back and gently guided her into the building.
As they walked down the long corridor, JC greeted numerous people. He had a smile and pleasant word for everyone who crossed his path. A couple of times he tried to explain to Cassandra who an individual was, but because she was so nervous, none of it was registering in her mind.
Near the end of the hallway, JC stopped and nodded toward the wall next to the door they were in front of. A huge plaque that appeared to be made out of bronze was on the wall. The letters – W.E.G. announced that they had arrived at their destination.
“Are you ready?” JC whispered to her.
For a fleeting moment, Cassandra felt a streak of fear race through her, from her head to her feet. She drew a deep breath and nodded.
As he reached for the doorknob, Cassandra’s hand shot out and grabbed his arm.
“Wait!” She said as quietly as she could.
“What?”
Stepping back a bit, she looked up at him with uncertain eyes.
“Are you sure I look okay?”
He bent down, smiled, looked into her eyes, and kissed the tip of her nose.
“Honey, I told you, you look perfect. Now, come on. This is gonna be a piece of cake.”
Cassandra felt her stomach knot up as JC shook hands with his manager, Johnny Wright. The two men were busily exchanging pleasantries as she sat nervously looking at her hands, watching her fingers intertwine and then come apart. She caught herself wondering what she was doing, in this office, supposedly listening to what the two men were talking about.
Her head shot up when she felt JC place his large hand over her smaller hands as he took the chair beside her. Johnny sat behind his desk. His hands were folded on the blotter and he leaned forward, making eye contact with Cassandra.
“So tell me, Miss Hamilton. What are your qualifications?” Johnny asked.
“Well,” she began.
“Johnny, this girl can handle anything you can throw at her.” JC interrupted.
“Really?” Johnny countered.
“Yep.” JC answered.
“So, Miss Hamilton, how are your computer skills?”
“Hey, she’s a whiz!” JC cut in as Cassandra opened her mouth to answer.
Johnny arched an eyebrow in JC’s direction.
“That’s great. Miss Hamilton, can you handle multi-tasks? You know, can you handle filing, the telephones, and people interruptions all at the same time?”
“Well,” Cassandra began.
“Johnny, you have nothing to worry about. Would I bring you someone who couldn’t handle the position?”
Rising to his feet, Johnny Wright came from behind his desk and stopped in front of JC.
“What?” JC asked looking up at his manager.
“JC, don’t take offense to what I am about to say to you.”
“Okay.”
“Get out!” Johnny leaned down and spoke directly into JC’s face.
“What the…”
“Go! I want to talk to this young lady alone. Unless she is deaf and dumb, I’d like to hear her answers.”
“Fine. I’ll just sit here. Go on, Johnny. Ask your questions.”
“Not until you have left.”
JC couldn’t believe that Johnny was throwing him out. He looked at his manager; he hadn’t moved a muscle. Then he looked at Cassandra. She smiled sweetly at JC and nodded in agreement with Johnny.
“This is just great. I can’t believe you two are throwing me out. All I wanted to do was help.” He rose to his feet and headed toward the door.
“We’ll call for you when we’ve finished.”
“Sure, whatever. Don’t even worry about me. I’ll find something to do.”
Dejected, JC walked through the door and slowly closed it behind him.
“Now, Miss Hamilton. Let’s try this again.”
Cassandra smiled. “Okay. What would you like to know, Mr. Wright?”
Johnny Wright proceeded to ask Cassandra question after question. He asked about her past experience. He wanted to know how much computer knowledge she had. He quizzed her at length about numerous aspects of her work history. While she answered everything honestly, she never revealed the fact that her former boyfriend, Thomas, had employed her. It was truly in her best interest not to bring him up.
The interview continued for nearly one hour. Not only did Johnny try to learn all he could about her skills, he was curious about her relationship with his client, namely JC Chasez.
“Mr. Wright. I can assure you that JC is just trying to be a good friend. We met while we were both in the hospital and our friendship just seemed to click. He’s a great guy and I really appreciate him trying to help me out. However, if this doesn’t work out, I will find something somewhere else.”
“One last question, Miss Hamilton.”
Cassandra nodded as she waited for the question to be fired at her.
“Hold on a sec.” Johnny said as he pressed the intercom button that put him in direct contact with his personal assistant. “Melinda, send JC back in.” He turned his attention back to Cassandra.
“Now, for that last question. How soon can you begin?”
Cassandra smiled as JC re-entered the office. “How would next Monday be, Mr. Wright? I have a few loose ends I need to tie up.”
Johnny rose again, as did Cassandra. He extended his hand and she graciously accepted it.
“Welcome aboard, Miss Hamilton.”
“Please, Mr. Wright, call me Cassandra. Thank you.”
“Alright, Cassandra. I’ll see you in a week. When you come in, report directly to Melinda, my personal assistant.”
“I’ll see you then, sir. Thank you so much.” She said as she turned toward JC.
“Gee, thanks for letting me come in when everything is all finished. Are you sure I should be here?” JC’s tone was definitely hurt and full of sarcasm.
Johnny refused to play into JC’s attempts at self-pity. “No problem, JC. Thanks for bringing Cassandra in.”
Agitated, JC thrust his hands into the pockets of his khaki slacks. “Did she get the job, Johnny? Can I at least know that?”
“I’ll let her fill you in. Why don’t you take this young lady out for breakfast?”
JC’s blue eyes were wide with disbelief. He couldn’t understand what was going on. The fact that Cassandra stood silently near the door did not help the situation. Raising his hand to the back of his neck, JC methodically rubbed the knot of tension he found there.
“Come on, JC. Mr. Wright is a busy man. He has lots of things to do.”
“Whatever. Good-bye, Johnny.”
“Have a good one, JC.”
The couple stepped into the reception area of the office. Carefully, JC grabbed her arm, making Cassandra turn to look at him.
“Well?” JC asked.
“Let’s go outside. I’ll fill you in there.”
Drawing a deep, exasperated breath, JC followed Cassandra out of the WEG offices, down the corridor and out to the parking lot. They approached his Jeep and JC unlocked the doors and opened the passenger door for Cassandra to get in. He nearly slammed her door closed as he turned to head toward the driver’s side.
With his seat belt locked in place, JC put the key in the ignition and started the vehicle. When Cassandra didn’t offer any statement about the interview, JC shifted the SUV into reverse and backed out of the parking space. Still, Cassandra remained silent. By now, JC was seething. If he had looked to his right, he would have seen the smile showing wide on Cassandra’s face. He didn’t look at her. He kept his eyes fixed ahead, obviously upset that neither Johnny nor Cassandra told him how the interview had turned out.
After nearly ten minutes of rolling along in silence, JC pulled his Jeep into the Denny’s restaurant parking lot and grabbed the first available parking space. He threw the shift into park, unbuckled his seat belt and turned to face Cassandra. The smile on her face stopped him cold. He could feel his anger abate as his blue eyes made contact with her brown eyes.
“What? Do you think this is pretty funny?” He tried to sound angry and hurt, but his resolve was melting with every second that he looked at her.
She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “No, JC.” She answered him softly.
“Do you intend to tell me what the hell happened in that office? Maybe you think it’s none of my business.”
“JC, I don’t think anything like that. It’s just …”
“What? Some stupid little game that you and Johnny contrived to keep me in suspense.”
“No. It’s really no big deal.”
“Does that mean you didn’t get the job?”
Unbuckling her seat belt, Cassandra turned in her seat to face him better. His need to know was evident in his blue eyes.
Not understanding her own reason, she reached up and touched his cheek. When he leaned into her hand, she smiled.
“JC,” she began softly. “I got the job.”
He smiled and reached up to take her hand in his. “I knew you would. Let’s have breakfast.”
Taking their seats in the restaurant, the hostess left the menus on the table as she turned to get their beverages. They both perused the menus, trying to decide what they would have. Cassandra realized that she didn’t have much of an appetite due to her nerves from the interview. JC wasn’t very hungry either, because of the anger that had surfaced while he had been kept waiting at the office.
The hostess brought their drinks, coffee for JC and soda for Cassandra. She set them down in front of the two silent diners.
“What are you having?” Cassandra looked over the top of the menu and asked JC in an attempt to decide on something for herself.
“I’m not sure. I’ll probably just get some French toast and sausage. How about you?”
“I don’t know.”
JC set his menu on the table and looked over at her. “Is something wrong?”
She shook her head.
“So, what’s up? Doesn’t anything sound good?”
“Truthfully, I guess I’m just not that hungry.”
“Why do you always seem to tell me that?”
“I do?”
“I do believe I’ve heard that out of you a couple of times. It’s like I told you the other night when all you wanted to do was go back to my place and talk about me, you are a cheap date.” He smiled.
“I’m sorry, JC. I don’t mean to be difficult. I’ve just been terribly nervous all weekend and now that it’s all over, I guess I just haven’t found my appetite. I think I’ll just have a fruit plate.”
“A what? Oh, come on girl! You can do better than that.”
Again she shook her head. “That’s really all I want.”
“How can anyone live on just fruit?”
“I don’t. It’s just all I want today. I don’t even need to get that if it’s a problem.” She looked at him with concern in her dark eyes.
He reached out and touched her hand.
“Honey, it’s not a problem of any kind. I just thought that something with a little substance to it would be better. If you want a fruit plate, then by all means, have a fruit plate.”
She smiled. “Thanks, JC.”
The waitress returned and took their orders. It was an easy order and within only a few moments, she had returned with their food. The two ate quietly. JC dug into the French toast, after he had smothered it with maple syrup. Cassandra merely pushed the fruit around the plate. An occasional piece made it into her mouth, but she never really ate very much at all. JC noticed and frowned at her.
“What’s going on, Cassandra? You haven’t eaten a thing.”
“Nothing. I’m eating.” She said as she forced a piece of cantaloupe past her lips.
“Wow, that must be the fourth piece of cantaloupe you’ve eaten. Are you sure you should eat all of that?” He was smiling, but there was no mistaking the sarcasm in his voice.
Instantly he regretted his remark when he watched her set her fork down on the plate in front of her and run her hands tiredly over her face. There was an immediate sadness about her, and he felt certain that he had created it.
“JC, why have you done all this today?” She asked, not really making eye contact with him.
“What? Do you mean the job interview?”
She nodded.
“Because Justin told me you needed a job and I knew about the one at WEG. I thought you’d be perfect for it.”
“What do you care if I need a job?”
“I just do.”
“But, why? I need to know.”
Now it was JC who set his fork on his plate. He swallowed his bite of food and looked hard at her. “I honestly don’t know why. All I can tell you is, when Justin told me you needed a job, I just knew I had to have you try for this one.”
“JC.”
“Look, Cassandra. It’s like this. I really care a lot about you. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m feeling something. I’ve got to find out what it is. The only way I can do that is to spend time with you. So, if you work for the same people I work for, I’ll get to see you all that much more. I want to know what there is between us. Does that make any sense to you?”
Her eyes scanned his face. His admission was nearly beyond her competency. She was very attracted to the man sitting across from her, but she hadn’t realized that he might have felt the same. Now he had admitted it, and she was at a loss for words. When meeting his gaze became too much for her, she looked down at the strawberries on her plate and tried to change her focus.
“I know you can’t possibly feel the same way I do. You’ve been through a lot. I just would like a chance to show you what someone who cares about you can do for you. We are already friends; why don’t we see if something more can come out of it?”
She felt overwhelmed. Shaking her head, no response formed on her mouth. She couldn’t believe he felt the same way she did. She had vaguely heard his reference to Thomas, and that brought back many unpleasant memories in it.
JC was nearly in shock. She had moved her head negatively. She was turning him down. Damn, he thought. He had been so sure there was something between them. She doesn’t feel it. He couldn’t believe he could have been so wrong.
“Hey, Cassandra. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so presumptuous. I just thought …”
Instantly, she looked up to realize he had misread her actions.
“No, JC. Wait! That’s not what I meant. I am interested in you. I just can’t believe you feel the same way.”
He looked at her and smiled. He jumped up from his place at the table and walked over to her side. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he pulled her to her feet and placed a soft, gentle kiss on her mouth. She raised her arms up and locked her hands behind his head. She welcomed his kiss and expressed herself in her own way. She ran her hands over the back of his head and allowed her fingers to tangle in the hair at the nape of his neck. He loved the feel of her hands touching him. The realization that they were not alone, that they were in a public place, hit him hard.
Drawing a deep breath he raised his head and looked into her eyes.
“You know what? I think we had better take this somewhere else before I make the headlines of the National Enquirer.”
Cassandra laughed softly and pulled her hands back to her.
“Let’s finish breakfast. Maybe then we can find somewhere to go and work through some of this. Okay?”
Her smile and nod were all he needed to move him back to his chair. While he finished his food, Cassandra only managed a few more bites. Between her nerves and the feelings running rampant through her, food was the last thing on her mind.
They stood to leave and JC reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet and left more than enough cash on the table to cover the cost of breakfast and a generous tip for the waitress. He was in a hurry to get out of the restaurant so that he could spend more time with Cassandra. She walked a few steps in front of him as he attempted to return his wallet to the trouser pocket.
Just as they were about out of the dining area, two people caught JC’s attention. He paused momentarily to try to get a better view of the people sitting off in the back corner booth. He knew them. He was certain there was a familiarity about those two heads in the back. Squinting his eyes to better focus, he instantly recognized the man that was facing him. It was his band mate, Joey Fatone. JC chuckled to himself that he didn’t even realize that Joey liked Denny’s, let alone go out for a late breakfast.
His curiosity got the better of him. Joey was sitting with a dark haired woman. There was something eerily familiar about her. JC couldn’t place it, but he felt certain that he knew her. He began to take two or three steps in their direction, merely in an attempt to say hello, when she turned her dark head to look for the waitress. JC’s eyes grew wide. It couldn’t be her. He was incredulous at what he was seeing. It was Suzie, his Suzie.
As the reality of whom Joey was with hit him, he watched her turn her attention back to Joey, reach out her hand to take his, and then she leaned forward and planted a quick kiss on his mouth.
“What the…” JC started to say as he felt a hand touch his shoulder.
Cassandra looked at the back of his head curiously. “JC? Is everything alright?”
He stopped and turned to face her. There was hurt in his blue eyes. Cassandra didn’t know what had happened, but it was painfully obvious that JC was upset about something.
“Let’s get out of here, Cassandra.” He said vehemently, taking her by the elbow and escorting her to the front doors and out to his Jeep.
Once he had helped Cassandra climb into his SUV, JC stood at the back of it and tried to compose himself. He was in shock over what had just happened. Suzie was supposed to be his girlfriend. Yet, he had seen her with Joey. They were not just eating breakfast either. They were holding hands and kissing. For all intensive purposes, they were involved.
As he ran his hands through his hair, JC shook his head. What was he complaining about? Hadn’t he just kissed Cassandra in the very same restaurant? Hadn’t he kissed her before? Hadn’t he put all reasonable thoughts of Suzie out of his mind when he was with Cassandra? JC hadn’t even told Cassandra he was involved with anyone. For all she knew, he was a free agent when in reality he had a commitment to Suzie.
“Screw that!” He said out loud.
He walked around to the driver’s side of the vehicle and opened the door. He looked over at Cassandra as he climbed in and smiled. In his mind he knew that Suzie had just given him the perfect out. He could now break off easily with her so that he could spend time with Cassandra and not suffer guilt feelings from it. That thought alone made him feel a hundred pounds lighter.
“Where to, my lady?” He asked not even realizing that Cassandra was staring helplessly at him.
“JC, what just happened in there?”
“Probably the most wonderful thing I could ever imagine.” He smiled, not believing that he felt so free. He didn’t hurt. He wasn’t angry. He actually felt happy to know that he was rid of her and all her demands. No longer would he have to cater to her every whim. No longer would he have to be at her beck and call. She had just made him a free man without even realizing it. He would call her today, confront her, and break it off. It would be so simple.
“What?” Cassandra prodded.
“I had breakfast with a beautiful lady. Thank you for joining me.”
He threw the Jeep into gear and pulled out of the parking lot. He had no idea where he was headed, he just knew he was going to go somewhere and have fun with someone new, namely Cassandra. JC practically felt like it was the first day of the rest of his life.
Cassandra laughed out loud when she noticed where JC had taken her. Reading the sign as they pulled into the parking area, she grinned as she looked down at herself.
“Um, JC?” She started.
“What, honey?”
“We may have a slight problem.”
“How so?” He looked at her questioning her comment.
JC stopped the car in a parking space and threw the gearshift into park. He turned to look at her. “Now, what’s on your mind?”
Smiling demurely at him, she looked down at herself. “JC, I am not dressed for go-cart riding! This dress will not fair well in one of those contraptions.”
“Oh, man! I am so sorry. I hadn’t even realized that you were still dressed from the interview. No problem, honey! I’ll take you home, you can change, and then we’ll make a real day of it! How does that sound?”
“Actually, it sounds great. I’d like that very much.”
As the Jeep pulled into her driveway, Cassandra searched through her purse looking for her house keys. Once she had retrieved them, she zipped her purse and turned to open the door to his Jeep. He was already there, holding the door open for her. He escorted her to the front porch and grabbed her wrist as she placed the key into the lock. Her eyes looked up and locked with his.
Without uttering a word, JC lowered his head and took her mouth in a warm, inviting kiss. Finally considering himself a free man, he held nothing back. His lips moved sensually over hers and his tongue gently persuaded her to open her mouth and allow him access into the dark, warm recess. Her eyes had fluttered closed and his hand came up to cup the side of her face.
She loved the sensations he was creating deep within her. Her hands had come to rest on his hips and he carefully pulled himself closer to her, causing her to back up against the door. The hand that had held her face managed to move to the back of her neck and became tangled in the mass of dark hair that laid in wait there. When her hands circled around his waist so that she could feel him closer to her, he moaned into her mouth. Slowly he pulled back, breaking the kiss and staring at her swollen lips. He smiled, knowing he had caused that.
“Cassandra,” his voice was raspy as he tried to calm his breathing.
Her lashes rose slowly and she smiled at him. “Hmmm?”
“I think I had better get going so you can change.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “I’ll be back in an hour. The rest of the day is ours.”
“I’ll be ready, JC.” She stood on her tiptoes and softly kissed his chin.
His hand caressed her cheek one time as he turned toward his car. A wide smile played on his face as he reached the driver’s door. She wiggled her fingers at him in an attempt to wave good-bye and he climbed into his car as she stepped inside the house.
He realized that for the first time in two years, he felt so free. He honestly felt like there was nothing weighing down on him. He would be able to do the things he wanted with whoever he wanted to do them with. As the car traveled down the highway, he told himself exactly what he had to do. He would call Joey and verify that there was something going on. When that was done, he would call Suzie, tell her he knew the whole truth and set her free to be with Joey. At that moment, Joey Fatone was JC’s best friend, and he didn’t have a clue why. JC would be sure to explain everything to Joey when the time was right.
He stepped into his house and headed right for the living room and the telephone next to the couch. Dropping down on the couch, he picked up the phone and he dialed the seven digits that would put him in contact with Joey.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Joe! It’s me, JC.”
“What’s going on, man?”
“I’ve got a very important question for you.” JC began. “I need you to answer it completely honestly.”
“Okay. Have I ever lied to you?”
“That’s beside the point. This question matters very much.”
“So, shoot! What’s on your mind?”
“Are you and Suzie seeing each other?”
There was silence on the other end of the phone. Neither man said anything for quite a while.
“Joey, are you there?”
“Uh, yeah.”
