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"No thanks, Justin. I don't think it would look good." Justin ears perked up at the mention of his name until he realized she wasn't talking to him.
"Ok, at least I got a dinner date. How's the store?"
"Great I got a new band in today for recording."
"Really, how were they?"
"They were a pop girl band, very good, too. How's the business?"
"Good." Michelle knew he hadn't wanted to inherit his father's business, he had wanted to work in music, but things happened.
"I have company, I'll call you Sunday."
"Who is it?" Michelle knew the question he was really asking was, is it a guy?
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." She glanced at Justin.
"Ok, see ya soon, Peanut."
"Later, Bailey." She hit the button to end the conversation and ran a hand through her hair again. This whole trip was going to stress her out. Why did they call them vacations?
"Old friend?" Justin tried to get a hint of what he figured to be competition.
"No, he's still a friend, old boyfriend." She pulled another shirt from a hanger.
"Oh." Justin knew he shouldn't be jealous, but he was watching her pack clothes he knew would look great on her and thinking of her having dinner with another man.
"Yeah, you know he looks a lot like you, too. Kinda funny, two Justins, both in love with music and looking a lot alike. Lucky me they are both in my life." She giggled. She pulled down a photo album and flipped it open, before setting it in his lap. "See that's him."
"Wow, he does look a lot like me." He had to admit there was a resemblance, but having another man much like him chasing after Michelle was worrying him.
"Looks like I am ready." She set her luggage by the door and stretched while yawning.
"It's only five in the afternoon, no sleeping yet." He grabbed her hand and led her to the couch. "How bout a movie?"
"Sounds good, I just got Shrek and I haven't had a chance to watch it."
"Where is it?" He opened the cabinet she pointed to and found the movie. She joined him and got the TV ready to play the movie while he pulled the plastic wrap from the case. "Here you go." He handed her the movie and she set it into the player.
"Popcorn?" She walked into the kitchen after pushing play. She was back with popcorn and drinks before the previews had ended.
"Thanks." He took a drink from her and set it on the inn table. He draped an arm around her and pulled her close. She felt a little uncomfortable, but let him do it. Besides Lewie, her best friend, would have. He had played her substitute boyfriend while Jacob was away in the Navy. Taking her to movies, accompanying her to parties, and even her prom. She had actually been lucky Angie had approved, she and Lewie had gone out for years, and broke up months before prom. But Angie was reasonable and knew they were just friends. She had even set her up with her friend Josh as a prom date.
Justin knew he had to make her his girlfriend before she left. He wouldn't be able to handle her coming home talking about another man. He knew she considered him a friend and probably nothing more. He had to show her the romantic side of himself. He ran his fingers softly up and down her arm.
"I'll be right back." She stood to leave.
"Where are you going?"
"Potty." She walked out of the room and into the connecting bathroom. He hoped he hadn't scared her away. When she walked back into the room and sat next to him he was relieved.
"You feel okay?" He put a hand to her forehead, she felt a little warm.
"Yeah, I guess a little under the weather." She returned her attention to the TV.
"You have a thermometer? You feel like you have a fever." He was getting a little worried, she was suddenly becoming warmer and warmer.
"Yeah hang on." She returned with a thermometer in hand and Justin took it from her and laid her down on the couch.
"One hundred point three." He set the thermometer on the coffee table he was kneeling by. "You have any medicine for a fever?"
"Maybe, hang on." She tried to get up but Justin gently laid her back down.
"Where would it be?" He stared down at her as if her head might spin in circles at any minute.
"In my bathroom, in the medicine cabinet." She giggled at him as he jogged up the stairs. Moments later he was handing her a capful of something he had found in the medicine cabinet. She swallowed it in one gulp as she thanked the Lord it hadn't been pills. She always abstained from buying them whenever possible, because they were hard for her to swallow.
"You feel better yet?" He looked at her eyes wide and jumpy.
"I never felt bad." As soon as she spoke the last word she knew by his face that she was in store for some arrogance.
"Well then you were lucky I was here." She giggled at her ability to read him so well.
"Hey how about we go out back and watch the sun set?" She turned off the movie and walked out the door without giving him a chance to protest. Once he had caught up with her he covered her with a blanket he had taken from the back of the couch.
"Cover your feet." He instructed as he joined her on the swing.
"I think I am going to cancel the vacation." She said timidly, thinking he would dissaprove.
"If you don't feel up to it, go ahead." He pulled on a strand of her hair. Pulling on it until it was straight then letting it bounce back up into a curl.
"Yeah, I am going to. No use stressing myself out while I am already sick." She almost slapped a hand over her mouth. She had just admitted the trip would be stressful to Justin.
"Mind if I ask you about Jacob?" He blew off the comment.
"No not at all. He was about five foot five, short and stocky, ya know?" She laid her head on his shoulder as she searched for the words to say. "A really great guy. When we first started going out he'd bring me flowers, and open my doors. He was always complementing me, and taking me out. He was my high school sweetheart, or one of them. Then he decided it would be better for our future if he went into the Navy, and he did. And I was miserable. First he was away at boot camp, then school. But that's not the worst of it. When I moved here I left my friends, and family. I cried myself to sleep every night for the first month. Then I had this fear of going to visit. I was afraid I wouldn't want to leave or it would be harder than before. I think I took it out on Jacob. But finally Angie moved up here and it really helped." She ran over her words. She had been talking so freely she had forgotten to be nice. Justin had made her feel so interesting. He had a way of making her feel like he was hanging on every word she said. "But he helped me through it." She quickly ended.
"Sounds like a great man." He bit his inner lip debating on his next question. "Was it worth it? Leaving your friends?"