12:
Joey stared at the door, trying to think of just what he was going to say. This had been a spur of the moment idea, an impulse, and he wasnt sure now if it was really such a good idea. He was about to restart the car and drive away when the door opened. She stepped hesitantly onto the porch. She looked like shed been crying. She never cried . . . at least not that he knew about. Without thinking he was out of the car and moving toward her. He took her in his arms and led her back inside. She had to be calm for what he had to tell her. So did he, for that matter, and right now he was anything but. In fact, he was scared.
"Kel? Are you okay?"
"Go . . . just go . . . you shouldnt be here," she sobbed.
"I know that, but I have to talk to you. Calm down, okay?" He handed her a tissue and gently tilted her chin up. "Whats wrong? You <i>never</i> cry."
"Yes I do," she said softly. "All the time."
He froze, finally understanding why he had never seen her shed a tear. He had used her, taken advantage of her feelings for him, and never once had he felt guilty. She loved him too much to make him suffer in any way. He looked at her, really looked at her, for the first time in years, and what he saw made him realize just how much of a mess he had gotten himself into. He held her at arms length and studied her critically. Her eyes widened in fear that he would discover her secret.
"Kelly?" he said shakily, swallowing past the lump in his throat. The look on her face told him all he needed to know. "Oh dear God, what have I done?" he muttered, burying his face in his hands.
Lance refused the doormans offer to call him a cab. It was only midafternoon. He could drive. After all, it wasnt like hed been drinking for hours. He shut his door, started the engine, and pulled away from the curb. The lunch had been fine, though hed had much better martinis before. He balanced his sunglasses on his nose and slowed for the red light. <i>Please sir, allow me to summon a taxi. See, if I was drunk I wouldnt have done that</i> he thought. The light changed and he hit the gas, making the tires squeal. He glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the look on the doormans face. Priceless. He looked back out the windshield and saw nothing but the bright yellow metal of a stopped school bus. The last thing he heard was the sickening sound of metal twisting, glass breaking, and children screaming in fear.
Chris grabbed the phone before the second ring. The babies had just gone to sleep and he knew better than to let any noise disturb them within the first fifteen minutes. He answered softly and went into the kitchen, portable baby monitor in his back pocket.
"Yeah . . . LA? Why so soon? . . . secret . . . your house . . . all right, yes, Ill be there."
He hung up as Heather entered the room, retrieving a glass from the cabinet and filling it with ice water. "Who was that?" she asked curiously.
"Oh, nothing important. Business call. I have to schedule a meeting," he said.
"Oh, OK, just wondered," she said, smiling and sipping her water. Chris was surprised she didnt seem suspicious. He was sure guilt was written all over his face.
Justin nearly cried in relief when Sugar returned. That relief however was short-lived when he saw the look on her face. "We need to talk, Justin. Theres something I have to tell you." He knew it must be bad from her tone of voice. He braced himself, but nothing could have prepared him for her words.
"Justin, the other night . . . I had a lot to drink. Too much, really. I dont remember exactly what I did . . . but . . . I cant believe Im telling you this, I know youre going to hate me . . . I think I slept with JC." She froze at his response. She had expected anger . . . she had expected to be thrown out . . . she never expected the reaction her confession actually got.
JC stared lovingly at the bag for a moment before emptying the contents onto the table. He had missed this. It had been nearly a week. Even longer since hed been able to do it without lying and hiding. He knew no one else would understand, but he <i>needed</i> to escape sometimes. His mind stayed busy. All the time, he was thinking about something. He was one of those people who took in everything, but his mind couldnt process it all at once. Too often, the thoughts buzzing around in his brain kept him awake at night. He had to get away. One escape was sex. This was the other.
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