Chapter 20
About two hours after the guys got to the bar, Lance looked over to see Joey on the dance floor. It was apparent to Lance that he’d had more than one drink .
A pretty brunette had joined him and they moved together in unison. To someone who didn’t know Joey, it might look like he was having a great time, but Lance could see the boredom in his face. Still, as the girl ran her hands over Joey’s body, he looked into her eyes, smiling as he moved against her seductively. He was giving her his “dancer face” as he liked to call it. Lance would have laughed aloud were he not in such a foul mood.
After several minutes, Joey excused himself and headed over to the bar. “I’ll see you in a minute,” he whispered softly in his companion’s ear.
Lance followed close behind Joey. He’d wanted to talk to him about Melissa, and now he had just enough alcohol to say exactly what was on his mind. “Hey man,” Joey said, looking at him from under hooded eyes. “Wanna beer?” Lance nodded and Joey ordered for them.
Lance led Joey over to a booth in the corner where they sat for a few brief moments before Joey said “She’s pretty hot, huh?” as he pointed to the brunette who now danced with her girlfriends, never taking her eyes off of Joey. She swayed suggestively against a pretty blonde as she ran her hands over her body.
“Yeah, man, she’s alright, I guess” Lance said, rolling his eyes.
“Ok,” Joey said seeing his friend’s reaction. “What the hell was that?” When Lance simply shrugged Joey continued. “No, what the hell is up your ass? You’ve been shitty to me all night, and I think I have the right to know why.”
“You wanna know?” Lance asked. As Joey nodded he went on. “Why the hell haven’t you called Melissa?”
“I…I did Lance. When she called me back, she made it clear she didn’t really want to talk to me,” Joey said, his eyes turning angry.
“Joey, that’s not…”
“Kinda like on the bus. I was sittin there, tryin to tell her that I wanted her in my life, and she blew me off. So screw that. Apparently, she didn’t feel the same as I did, so screw it.”
“Joey, what the fuck are you talking about? She just doesn’t want to pressure you. She didn’t want to bare her soul just for you to shoot her down.”
“Whatever, man. I can take it. She wasn’t into me.”
“Oh my God,” Lance shouted. “I can’t fuckin believe I’m hearing this shit.”
“Lance, dude, calm down. You’re fuckin drunk.”
“Damn right I’m drunk. And you’re fuckin stupid. She loves you, Joey. She’s told me that. And even if she hadn’t, it’s as clear as day. It’s always been right there in front of your face, fuckin obvious. And you’re too fuckin stubborn to see it. You know what though, man? She’s awesome. And you don’t even fuckin deserve her. Cuz here it is, a month later. And you say you feel something for her, but you’re thinking about takin some fuckin groupie back to the hotel just because she gave you a fuckin hard on? You’d rather take the easy way out than to put a little effort into something that could be your once in a lifetime chance at something amazing. You’d rather pass up a chance with a beautiful, amazing woman, because you can’t stand for your fucking pride to take a hit. So yeah, screw it, Joey. Do whatever the fuck you want to, man. But don’t expect me just to stand around and watch.” With this, Lance got up, storming away from the table.
Joey was left sitting there, taken back completely. He didn’t know what shocked him more; the fact that Lance had completely gone off on him, or the thought that Melissa might return his affection. “She loves me?” he questioned aloud.
But hadn’t she told him that all she expected was a fling? She’d said they were both adults, and that they should just leave things as they were. Lance’s words rang loudly in his ears though. She loves you, Joey. She’s told me that. Joey’s smile widened as he thought of Melissa. So many times, he’d looked into her eyes and thought he saw love there. In her actions, he thought he felt more than just a random one night stand. He’d thought so many times that maybe she could love him.
Suddenly he realized he had to see Melissa. He knew that Lance was telling him the truth. He and Melissa had shared a closeness almost as soon as they’d met and Joey knew that Lance had talked to her at least twice a week since they’d left Amarillo. He smiled as he slid out of the booth, getting ready to make his way out of the building. Quietly, he crept out of the building and into the waiting limousine.
The week ahead held a full four days when they didn’t have to be anywhere. Joey had intended to leave for home in the morning. He was looking forward to the break and to seeing his daughter again. He still fully intended to see Briahna, but he had to make a stop in Amarillo first. Picking up his cell phone, he called Johnny to let him know what was going on. He and Dre would take the first available flight to Amarillo, even if he had to make fifteen connecting flights. He didn’t care. He had to be with her. Johnny laughed at him, saying he was crazy, but that he understood.
Joey went back to his room to shower before getting ready to go. He’d been able to find a 5am flight to Houston. It didn’t make much sense, he thought to go past Amarillo and then fly back, but it was the only way to get there at this hour. Once in Houston, he’d have to wait for an hour and then he’d be on his way to Melissa. Usually, he’d worry about a public flight, but since it was the middle of the night he didn’t think he’d have too much to worry about. None of that really seemed to matter anyway. In about seven hours, he’d be with Melissa. He’d be able to hold her in his arms again, and kiss her lips.
As he stood in the shower, the warm water washed over his body and his mind went back to the first day he met Melissa. He recalled the way she had looked up on that stage and how she had touched him. He’d wanted her from that very moment, and it only grew. He wondered when the desire had matured into love and he couldn’t remember. There was no clear moment when he could say he had fallen in love. It seemed like he’d always loved her. Maybe this was what the poets and hopeless romantics called love at first sight.
He smiled as he rinsed the soap from his body and then stepped out of the shower, drying himself. He thought about his upcoming reunion. What would he say to her when he saw her again? His instinct was to say nothing at all, but to grab Melissa and kiss her with all of the need he’d held for her for these past weeks. He wanted to make love to her all day long, and hold her all night. Grinning, he recalled what it felt like to hold her body and how her lips felt under his. He summoned the memory of how her body responded to him and felt a familiar stirring in his loins. It was a memory that had never been far beneath the surface, but acknowledging the recollection made him ache.
Suddenly, even one hour was too long to wait. He wanted to be there now, holding and kissing her. He felt so anxious he was almost nervous. He imagined at least fifty different scenarios, each of them ending with her in his arms.
He knew too though, that he should prepare himself should she not be willing to attempt a future together. Even if she did love him, there were so many complications that stood in their way. A month was a long time to mull over these things, too. Maybe in that time, she’d come to the conclusion that it really wasn’t love, just a serious mutual attraction.
Joey shook his head, forcing the thoughts away. He knew that in the last month, there wasn’t a single day he hadn’t thought of Melissa. He realized every single one of those days that he still loved her, and he always would. He could only hope she felt the same.
As Joey grabbed a small bag, he called Dre to meet him, and then headed out. Within an hour, they were sitting on a small plane, getting ready to take off. As excited as Joey was, he was also tired. They’d gotten up early that morning to do a morning radio show, and they hadn’t stopped since then. As the captain’s voice came on over the intercom, Joey felt his eyes growing heavy. “I’m just gonna rest for a minute,” he told Dre who was looking tired as well. “You oughtta get a little shuteye too, man. You look like hell.” Laughing at his frowning companion, he settled into the large seat. By the time they were in the air, Joey was asleep, dreaming of holding the woman he loved tight in his arms again
