“Did you do ALL of this Josh?”
“Yes.”
Her expression dropped to a frown, but was quickly replaced with a smile before he had the chance to notice. “Thank you.”
“Anything for you.” With his hand on the small of her back, he led Leslie to her seat and pulled out her chair for her,
Near The End Of Dinner
As Leslie was picking up her half-full glass of wine, her eyes connected with JC’s. She began to sip her drink, but ended up guzzling it down as his gaze never faltered from her. JC got up as Leslie set her empty glass down, and walked away from the table. He returned as “On Bended Knee” y Boyz II Men began to play in the background.
“May I have this dance?” He held his hand out to her.
“Um… Sure.” She placed her hand in his, looking into his eyes.
They danced, JC bringing her as close as possible. As the song was coming to a close, JC pulled away slightly.
“I’ll Make Love To You” took over the speakers as his gaze continued to roam her face.
“I love you, Leslie.” He admitted softly.
She searched his eyes for a moment, and then she hastily pulled away from him. “Don’t say that, JC.”
“Why not?” He walked towards her.
“Because you don’t mean it. You’re only saying it because of Riley. And that’s okay that you want to try for her but-“
“Why would you think that? How could you think that?”
“Well, isn’t it the truth?”
“Of course it’s not. Would I have married you if I didn’t love you?”
“You were drunk!”
“I cannot believe we are arguing over the fact that I love you!”
“Well, it’s not exactly like you’ve given me proof.”
“Proof. Is that ring on your finger not proof enough? What about the fact that I was there with you through your entire pregnancy?”
“It was your child too.”
“What about everything I’ve done since we’ve been married, and since Riley was born? Or tonight? Would I be doing this if I didn’t really love you with all my heart, soul, and being? Leslie?”
She was silent.
“I love you more then I love my own life! So how, tell me how you can look me in the eyes and deny my love for you and that it’s real?”
“You really mean it?” She spoke her words with more vulnerability then he had ever heard her before.
“Yeah. Why? Don’t you love me?” He choked out.
“No. No, that’s not it. Not at all, because I do.”
“Say it.” His voice was almost pleading as he stepped extremely close to her. He reached his hand up to her face, his thumb running over her cheek bone.
She looked up gazing deep into his eyes, seeing straight into his soul. “I love you Josh. I really do.”
“Say it again.”
“I love you.”
“No. The part where you said my name.”
“Josh.”
“I like it when you call me that. I love the way you say it.”
“Josh.”
“I love you, too, Leslie. Even more then when you say my name.” He leaned in, kissing her cautiously, then gradually deepening it as she responded.
It was the first time they’d kissed since the night in Vegas. She connected with the arm of the couch and fell back onto the cushions, their kiss never breaking.
Meanwhile
“Lance! You don’t seem to understand that this is not just something I can forgive and forget!”
“Nicole, please! I turn over in the middle of the night, my arms physically aching to hold you, and I can’t, because you’re not there.”
“I’ve been aching all over the past year… Now it’s your turn. I won’t ever be back.”
“Nicole, wait.” But Lance was met with only the sound of a click, then silence, followed by a dial tone.
3 Days Later
Justin was getting the mail. He found an unlabeled videotape. When he got inside he popped it into the VCR. The face that came onto the screen shocked him
22 Minutes Later
“Nicole.” Justin burst into her room. “You have to see this.”
“What is it?” She asked.
“Just watch.” Justin replied, putting the tape into her VCR.
Suddenly, his face appeared on the screen.
“Hey guys. First, this is directed to the guys. I won’t be gone long, so don’t come looking for me. You won’t find me. I made sure of that. And go on with the shows and stuff without me. Just tell them I’m sick or something. Now, the main reason I’m doing this. Nicole, Baby, I know you don’t believe that I love you, but I do, and I miss you. That’s why I’m leaving. I’m going to go get myself straightened out so I can be the old me again. That’s what you want, isn’t it? I hope it is, because I want you back more then anything in the world. When I come back, you’ll see that I’ve changed. I love you Nicole.” The screen went blank again.
Justin glanced over at Nicole. She sat there, staring unemotionally at the screen; a blank expression had taken over her face. He stood up, took the tape out of the VCR, and walked out of her room, shutting the door behind him. Nicole didn’t even so much as blink, which worried Justin.
RING RING
“Hello?” Nicole answered the phone.
“Hey, Nik, would you mind watching Riley for us again tonight?”
“Sure, why not? How many times have I watched her in the past three days?”
“Three nights. I’m sorry. Never mind. We’ll ask someone else.”
“No. No, I’ll do it. I just meant that you guys have been out a lot in the past few days.”
“I know Nicole, but he said he loves me.”
“You finally believe him?”
“Yeah. So that’s why we’ve been spending so much time together.”
“Doin what?”
“Well, the first night Riley stayed with you he set up this romantic candle lit dinner. Then-“
“I guess I asked the wrong question, because that went right over your head.”
“What do you- Oh. OH!”
“Just bring her over whenever.”
“Ok.”
“And tell JC that Justin has to talk to him when you two get here.”
“Alright. Bye.”
“Buh-bye.”
1 Hour and 15 Minutes Later
“He what?” JC yelled waking Riley. “Dammit! I can’t believe Lance-“
“Josh!” Leslie yelled.
“What?” He snapped at her.
“Do not use that tone of voice toward me.” She said a bit angered. Riley began to scream.
JC sighed. “Sorry.”
“I know you’re upset Josh, but I’m sure he has a good reason for leaving. Everything will work out just fine. I promise.” She soothed while rubbing his back.
“I’m still going to kill him!”
“Josh!”
“What?”
“He’s one of your best friends! Don’t even speak like that.” Leslie said looking at him.
“Since when did you become my mother?”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“I can’t believe you Joshua Scott!”
“Well believe it tootz!”
“What is wrong with you today?”
“Nothing! I’m perfectly fine! I think it’s you that has the problem!”
“Get out!” Leslie screamed.
Justin and Nicole watched in amazement, as the newfound lovers seemed to be on the verge of breaking up… Again.
“Excuse me?”
“Get out.”
“This isn’t even your house and your throwing me out?”
“JC, man,” Justin started. “I think it’s best you go home.”
“Now you’re kicking me out, too?!”
“JC, I just think-“
“Fine! Fine.” JC left slamming the door behind him.
“I’m sorry you guys.” Leslie apologized. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him today.”
“That’s okay.” Justin said with understanding. He took Riley from Leslie’s arms. “Here’s what we’re going to do.” He began. “Both you and Nicole could use a break. That’s where I come in. I’ll watch Riley while you two go out to dinner and a movie, or whatever you want. Okay?”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Leslie, please, just let me do this. I want to. I was just going to hang around the house anyway.”
“No buts.”
Leslie sighed. “What do ya think?” She asked Nicole.
“Well, I could use a break.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“It’s settled then.”
“But to tell you the truth I feel like staying in. Maybe ordering some food and getting a few movies or something.” Leslie threw her idea out into the open.
“Me too.” Nicole agreed.
“Um…” Justin began. “I-“
“You want to join us?” Leslie and Nicole asked simultaneously.
“You guys sure you wouldn’t mind?”
The girls nodded.
“Cool.”
“Okay, so me and Nicole will stay here and take care of the food and you can go get the movies. Is that cool with you?”
“Yup.” Justin answered, picking up his car keys. “You want me to take Riley, too? You know, since riding in the car puts her to sleep.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Not in the slightest.”
“Yeah, that’ll work. Her car seat is in my car. The keys are on the kitchen counter just go ahead and take it out and put it in your car.”
“K.”
“Is mushroom and pepperoni pizza okay?”
“Yeah.”
JC & Leslie’s Penthouse
JC was sitting at the grand piano just playing any song that came out. Unconsciously, the notes of “A Song For Mama” by Boyz II Men flowed from the piano. The second JC realized what he was playing he began banging on any key that was in his reach. A moment later he let his head fall to the pure ivory keys. JC began to sob uncontrollably.
5 Hours & 2 Movies Later
“I need to be getting home.” Leslie told Nicole and Justin.
“You want to crash here tonight?” Justin offered.
“Thanks, but I have a photo shoot in the morning. It’ll be my first time modeling lingerie since Riley was born.”
“Cool. Good luck.”
“Thanks. Hey Nicole, come with me to the bedroom to get Riley, will ya?”
“Sure.”
“Are you going to be okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Cause of… Well, you know… Lance.”
“Yeah, I’m fine…” She lied just a little. “I’m glad that he’s getting help. It’s just that… Well, I don’t want him doing it for me. I want him to do for himself. Otherwise, what’s the point? Because I’m not even sure if I want to be with him again once he gets back. And if he’s doing it for me, and I decide not to take him back, what’s he going to do? Find someone else and hit them? You know what I’m saying?”
“Yeah.”
“I hope this does help him though. If not for us, then for whomever he ends up with in the future… I’m sorry, you need to get home, don’t you?”
“First, I wanted to apologize for JC’s behavior.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. I have no idea why he acted the way he did. For some reason he’s been extremely irritable all day. I don’t know why, either, that’s what’s really bothering me. I’ve asked him repeatedly what’s wrong, but he keeps blowing me off, saying it’s nothing. I mean obviously it’s something.”
“I wish I knew what to tell you.”
“It’s okay. If I don’t know, then how would you know? Well, I really should be leaving. I’ll see you later. Alright, girlie?”
“Yeah. Bye, Leslie. Bye, Riley sweetie.”
“Night, Nicole.”
At The Chasez Penthouse
Leslie entered her and JC’s bedroom after putting Riley into her crib. She laid down next to her husband and ran her hand soothingly through his hair. The tearstains that streaked his face tugged at her heartstrings.
“I wish you wouldn’t close up like this, Josh.” She whispered to his sleeping figure, and then gently kissed his forehead before nodding off herself.
A Few Hours Later
The sound of Riley’s crying woke Leslie from her slumber. Turning over, she looked to see if JC was awake. He, however, managed to sleep through the noise.
“Always was a heavy sleeper.” She mumbled, while stumbling toward the door.
JC opened his eyes as soon as Leslie disappeared from the room. He heard the baby stop crying a few minutes later and waited for her to return to their room. When she didn’t, he decided to find out why.
As JC walked past the window, he noticed his wife standing out on the terrace. The combination of the moonlight and the lights of the city seemed to surround her with a sort of glow. That, and the way the wind gently yet forcefully whipped her hair around her face, made her appear almost… angelic.
Her movements back towards the house broke him out of his reverie. Quickly he scrambled back into bed. His eyes shut just as the door began to open.
“Still asleep.” She whispered, silently laughing to herself as she looked at JC. “I don’t know how he does it.”
Leslie climbed carefully into bed, trying not to wake her “sleeping” husband. Cold from the outside air, she snuggled closer to his warmth and slipped into a deep slumber.
JC opened his eyes again and looked down at his wife, whose head was now resting against his bare chest. Sighing deeply, he turned his head away from her and soon fell back to sleep as well.