Part 33


“Mom, you can’t be serious!” Justin shouted, running after his mother, who was stalking towards the front door.

“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life, Justin Randall. Not put some clothes on and get to your room. I’ll see your friend out.”

“No!” Justin spat, pulling his boxers up quickly. “FUCK that, Mom! There is NO way I’m letting you kick him out of here!”

Lynn’s eyes nearly popped out of her head, anger flushing her face. “This is not your house, Justin. It is my house, and my rules, and you broke them.”

“Your rules are stupid, Mother,” Justin hissed, stomping his foot angrily. Josh cowered near the couch, tugging his shirt over his head before standing up slowly.

“No, Justin,” he said softly. “She’s right, ok? We didn’t listen to her, and it’s her house, so I should go.”

“NO!” Justin shouted, shaking his head furiously. “No. You’re not going anywhere.”

“Justin Randall Timberlake, I am sick of your attitude! I’m nice enough to let your boyfriend stay here and this is how you repay me? You come off the plane drunk, you practically have your hand down his pants in the middle of the airport, and now you’re having sex with him on my couch? I don’t think so, young man. He’s leaving. If you don’t like it, you can go with him.”

“Fine. I will.”

Lynn’s eyes widened again as Justin turned and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He returned a minute later, luggage in hand, and grabbed Josh by the wrist. “Let’s go, Josh.”

“Justin, don’t you dare walk out that door.”

“Watch me.”

“You’re going to leave your mother over a silly boy?” Lynn asked, incredulous.

“He’s not a silly boy. He’s my boyfriend, and he loves me.”

Lynn scoffed. “Just like Lance did, right? I”ll bet.” When she saw the pained look appear on Justin’s face, she immediately regretted her words. “Justin…” she said softly, reaching out for him.

“No. Get away from me.”

“Justin, I didn’t mean that, I’m sorry, I just—“

She didn’t have the chance to finish. Justin was already out the door.

***

“Justin?”

Josh listened as the raindrops splattered against the roof of the car, watched the windshield wipers sweep across the glass every four seconds.

“Justin, baby, talk to me.”

Justin grip on the steering wheel grew tighter, his knuckles whitening.

“Where are we going?”

Justin sighed heavily, gritting his teeth. “Hotel.”

“Ok. That’s a start. Wanna talk to me now?”

He sighed when Justin didn’t respond and finally decided that this was a lost cause. He leaned his head against the window; Justin would talk when he was ready.

“She’s probably right, you know.”

Josh lifted his head and turned to Justin, who had tears brimming in his eyes.

“About what?”

“You.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Oh come on, Josh. Don’t play dumb with me. You know what I’m talking about.”

Josh swallowed hard and cocked his head. “About me loving you?”

Justin nodded, biting his lower lip hard enough to draw blood.

“Justin, you know I love you!” Josh insisted, reaching up to wipe a lone tear from Justin’s cheek.

“You do now. But I’ll probably do something to screw it up, just like I did with Lance, and then you’ll leave me and…and…” Tears spilled down Justin’s cheek, his body shaking.

“Justin, baby, please don’t cry, please…” Josh begged, scooting closer to Justin, rubbing his thigh softly, kissing his head. “I love you, baby, I do…nothing’s going to change that.”

Justin didn’t respond. His body relaxed slightly under Josh’s touch, but he continued to cry; Josh’s heart broke with each sob from Justin’s mouth.

“Shh, baby,,,” Josh breathed. “It’s gonna be ok, I promise.”

To Josh’s shock, Justin shrugged him away. “Leave me alone Josh. Please, just…just don’t.”

Josh felt tears pushing against his own eyes, and he closed them, sighing as he slid back across the seat. The distance between he and Justin felt like miles, and when they finally pulled into the parking lot of the Holiday Inn, Josh breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’ll go get us a room,” Justin said, hopping out of the car and jogging through the rain to the hotel.
He returned ten minutes later, key cards in hand. “Room 212,” he said, handing Josh a key and avoiding eye contact. “I got two beds. I just think…it’s best, for right now.”

Josh felt like someone had punched him the stomach. The way Justin was talking, it felt like they had broken up.

“Justin, we’re not—“

“No! No, Josh, we’re not…I just…I don’t know. I need some space right now. I’m sorry.”

With that, he grabbed his luggage from the back seat and headed up to the room, leaving a teary-eyed Josh behind.



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