Chapter 4

I dreaded calling Lance the next day. I mean, what was I supposed to say? I didn�t think that saying, �Hey, you know that guy you like and that I said was perfect for you? Well, he doesn�t like you at all and actually wants to get in my pants,� would work at all. Somehow I got through the painful situation.

�You know what? Forget him Lance.� I urged him, as he quietly sniffed into the phone. �Why don�t you come with me to Josh�s concert tomorrow? There�ll be all kinds of gorgeous, intellectual men there.�

Lance just sniffed again and after a couple of more minutes I got him to agree. I got off the phone, mentally exhausted as Josh came through the door followed by Chris and Joey. He sat down on the couch and I followed him and splayed across the couch, laying my head in his lap.

�Comfort me.� I demanded.

Josh chuckled. �You brat,� he admonished as he began running his hands through my curls. �Talked to Lance, huh?� he asked as he grabbed a slice of pizza.

�Yeah. I convinced him to come to the concert tomorrow. Where�s the movie?�

�It�s right here.� Josh put the first Godfather movie in the DVD player and sat back down

Chris shook his head in mock disbelief. �I can�t believe that you couldn�t figure out that AJ wanted you. I mean, Kevin and I have been speculating on that for months.�

I scowled at Chris. �Shut up. It was so not obvious. I mean, he treated me the same way he treats everyone. He�s a flirt.�

Chris laughed at me. �Okay. If that�s what you want to believe. Yes, he is a flirt, but he paid a lot of extra attention to you. It was kinda obvious, J.�

I looked up at Josh. �I�m supposed to be getting comforted, and Chris is upsetting me, Josh. Make him stop.�

Josh rolled his eyes. �Like I said before. Brat.�

I stuck my tongue out at him playfully and answered, �And you love spoiling me. Now shut up so I can watch the movie.�

- - -

The next day I dragged Lance to Josh�s concert. Josh had two solos and I wanted to whistle and clap loudly for him and maybe even scream his name, but I remembered the lecture Josh had given me about proper Philharmonic concert etiquette when I was eighteen, so I just clapped politely with a wide smile on my face.

Afterwards there was a small party and we met up with Chris and Joey. There were a lot of rich good-looking men around and I tried to get Lance interested in one.

�Well, what about him?� I asked, pointing at an older gentleman talking to one of the violinists.

Lance frowned. �I don�t know. I think he�s a little old for me.�

�He�s not old. He�s distinguished. There�s a difference.�

�Well, then he�s too distinguished for me.�

I rolled my eyes. Lance was making this impossible. I was about to point out another guy when Brian Littrell came up to us. �Lance! I didn�t expect you to be here.�

Lance beamed. �Yeah, well, I�m here with a friend. You know Justin, right?�

Brian nodded and held out his hand. �Hi, Justin. You�re friends with the pianist, right?� I nodded and shook his hand cursorily, and then got back to man hunting with Lance, hoping that Brian�s presence wouldn�t discourage any potential suitors. I saw someone that I thought would be good for Lance but when I turned around he had gone off with Brian. I rolled my eyes again. They were probably off somewhere talking about the conversation rate of the yen. I grabbed another glass of champagne from a waiter walking by and was looking around for Josh when a voice by me ear stopped me.

�So, your friends left you, huh?� I turned around to see a gorgeous blond, his hair flopping into his eyes. He pushed his hair back revealing bright blue eyes that were fixed on me. I shivered. I had forgotten completely about fixing Lance up, now I was focused on catching this fine specimen for myself. He smiled. �Who are you here with?�

�A couple of friends. My roommate is the principal pianist.� I told him, looking up through my eyelashes.

�Oh, you�re roommates with Josh?�

I nodded, surprised. �You know Josh?�

�Yes, I�m a patron of the Philharmonic. He�s a very beautiful man, but you are even more so. Your girlfriend is a very lucky woman.�

I smiled at that. �Well, I�ve never had a girlfriend. And at this point, I don�t have a boyfriend either.�

His smile widened and he moved even closer. �Well, lucky me.� He stuck out his hand. �Nick Carter.�

I shook the offered hand. �Justin Timberlake.�

�It�s a pleasure to meet you, Justin Timberlake.�

I opened my mouth to say something else, but Josh came up next to me. �Hey, Justin, you ready to go now? Brian is taking Lance home, and Chris and Joey left a minute ago.� He turned around and frowned at Nick.

�Well, hello Josh. You have a very engaging roommate.� Nick told him. If possible, Josh scowled even more.

�Yes, I�m sure you two were having a fascinating conversation, but we�re leaving now.� He looked at me pointedly, as to compel me to not argue with him. I sighed.

�Yeah, I�m ready. Go to the car and I�ll meet you there. Want to say goodbye to Nick.� Then it was my time to look pointedly at him. Josh conceded defeat and walked off. I looked at Nick and smiled apologetically. �I�m sorry about that. We grew up together and I�ve always been like a little brother to him, so sometimes he acts like an overprotective guard dog.�

Nick nodded. �Well, if I had someone as precious as you in my care, I�d be overprotective, too.� I couldn�t help blushing. He pulled out a business card and pen and scribbled on the back. �Here�s my card. On the back is my cell number.� He handed it to me, his fingers brushing against mine. �I really want to get to know you better, Justin.�

�I�d like to get to know you better also.� I agreed. We stared at each other for a minute and then I broke the stare. �I�ve got to go. Josh doesn�t have much patience.� We said goodbye and I could feel his eye on me as I walked away.

Chapter 5>>> [COMING SOON!!]
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