�I just need your signature here�here�and�here.�
Lance Bass was seated at a small conference table across from one of his lawyers, Cameron Stanford. With amusement, Lance took the offered pen and quickly signed where Cameron had indicated.
�You�ve made a good investment, Lance,� Cameron commented as he carefully shuffled through the thick stack of documents, making sure everything was in order.
�Is it all mine now?� Lance anxiously placed both hands on the table top in anticipation of being handed the documents.
�Hold on�putting my ducks in a row,� the lawyer murmured.
Lance heaved a sigh and sat heavily back against his chair. The excitement was killing him and Cameron was not helping matters. Lance continued to stare at the older man sitting across from him, hoping that it would speed up the process. Cameron seemed to feel the hole being bored into his forehead by Lance�s intense stare and looked up to meet his gaze. With raised eyebrows, Cameron looked over his bifocals and gave the young man a look.
�Patience is a virtue my boy.�
�Sorry,� Lance replied sheepishly before standing up and making his way over to the large windows lining the far wall of the fifteenth story office. He let his thoughts drift briefly as he looked down at the traffic far below. Several minutes later, his thought were interrupted when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Briefly startled, Lance jumped and spun around to face his lawyer.
�Sorry�didn�t mean to scare you,� Cameron apologized with a slow grin. He knew what the young man had to have been thinking about and couldn�t blame for the excitement he had to be feeling.
�That�s okay, Mr. Stanford. Are you finished? Is it all mine?� Lance asked anxiously, his words almost melding into one.
Cameron reached out and place a hand on Lance�s shoulder.
�Mr. James Lance Bass�you are now the proud owner of one seven hundred acre ranch in the middle of Montana and all of the properties there in.�
�Woo hoo!� Lance rejoiced as he excitedly shook Cameron�s hand before accepting the thick brown envelope containing his papers of ownership.
�Wait till the guys hear about this!�
Nearly an hour later, Lance was driving quickly to Justin�s home, knowing that the rest of the group would be there. He pulled up to the closed gate of the Harliss� home and pushed several button on the security pad. The gates slowly swung open and he sped through the entrance then up the long tree-lined drive to the large house. Minutes later, he was quickly gathering his friends together into the kitchen.
�Well�this is it, guys. My newest investment,� Lance said as he laid the brown envelope on the kitchen counter they were standing around.
�What is it?� Chris asked, watching as Lance pulled out the thick stack of papers.
�Is it another client for Freelance?� Joey asked as he stood behind Lance to look over his shoulder at the top page of documents.
�Nope,� Lance said with a small grin, which was growing wider by the moment.
�Look at him�looks like a dead possum on the side of the road,� Justin quietly commented, using a phrase that he had heard his grandfather use often.
�Man�I wish you wouldn�t say that, Just. That�s just too gross,� JC moaned, shaking his head as he continued to watch Lance as he put the papers on the countertop.
�It�s called a deed of ownership,� Lance said with a certain amount of pride in his voice as he placed his hands over the documents.
�What?� Chris said, batting Lance�s hands away before pulling the stack of papers in front of him to read the first page.
�What did you buy?� Justin looked at Lance and saw that he wasn�t going to say anything since Joey was busy asking his own questions. So, he turned to Chris was handing over the documents to JC.
�What did he buy?�
�A ranch in Montana,� Chris said, staring at Lance in disbelief.
�Wow�why didn�t you tell us you were thinking about doing that?� Joey sounded a bit hurt, but Lance was too exited to pay too much attention.
�Are you sure you want to do this?� JC asked as he continued to leaf through the first few pages, his eyes wide as he scanned over them.
�Yes�it�s something I�ve always wanted to do and it�s a done deal.�
�You know we�re behind you all the way, man,� Chris said, draping an arm over the younger man�s shoulders.
�Thanks, Chris,� Lance said, slightly blushing.
�Have you seen it yet?� Justin asked, knowing his question sounded silly, knowing Lance. Of course he had seen it�but when?
�Yeah, Justin. Remember about two months ago when we had that week off?� Lance said, looking at the others, gauging the expressions on his friends� faces.
�Sure�wait�is that where you went?� JC asked, his expression and voice full of surprise.
�Yep,� Lance replied with a smile on his face.
During that particular week, the group had headed out to see their families during a short break. They had not known at the time that his parents had already made plans for that week and would not be able to see him so he had made plans of his own without telling the rest of the group. When everyone had eventually found out, they had felt guilty about Lance being alone, but he had seemed perfectly happy with the arrangement�almost too happy, and now they knew why.
�When do you plan on going back?� Joey asked, raising his eyebrows at the amused expression on his friend�s face. At the same time Lance had to laugh at the look on Chris�s face�it was saying��please take us with you�please.�