One week later Jamie found herself on a plane to Orlando, sitting next to a sleeping Justin. She smiled at the image he made. His hair was tussled, flying in every direction, his head lay against the window and his long legs were stretched as far as they could. He looked completely uncomfortable, but he still managed to be dead asleep.
Jamie was amazed when Justin had approached her with his idea for her and her father. She was mostly surprised because he had spent the week with her, so she had no idea when he actually put everything together, but somehow he managed.
Somehow, Justin had found a job for her father, an apartment for them to live in, and he had done it in a week, just like he promised. Jamie knew that he had connections, but she just never knew how resourceful he really was.
Turning her attention back to her book she sighed and shifted in her seat. She had been on the same page for about twenty minutes, and she couldn’t seem to concentrate. Her head bounced a few times as someone hit the back of her seat, and she turned sharply to give them a dirty look.
“Luke, sit still!” He grinned devilishly at her and shook her seat a few more times for good measure. “God, why must you torture me? What have I done to deserve this?” She heard Luke giggle and she sighed, closing her book forcefully. Justin stirred behind her and she glanced over at him. “Sorry if I woke you.”
“You didn’t wake me at all…Luke did.” Another chortle could be heard from the seat behind them and Justin shook his head. “Why did you bring him along anyway?” Jamie shrugged.
“I’m a glutton for punishment.” They chuckled lightly and Justin reached over and took Jamie’s hand.
“I’m really glad that you’re here with me. It wouldn’t have been the same with out you.” Jamie smiled and a shiver ran through her body as he brought their joined hands up to his lips and kissed her palm lightly.
Jamie shifted in the seat and leaned back against Justin, sighing at the warmth of his body against hers. This was what she had dreamed for, and she had to pinch herself to make sure she was awake.
Justin sighed and stretched his tired muscles as they stepped onto Orlando turf. He loved Tennessee, because it was his birthplace, but Florida held so many memories, and it had become his home. He turned to see Jamie slowly climb down the stairs, and stumble into the sun light. Luke was close behind and he was mumbling something about ugly flight attendants.
“Well James, welcome back.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Justin was pummeled by some unknown force and he went flying onto the ground with a loud grunt. Jamie stared in shock, but it wasn’t for long because a pair of hands covered her eyes and a voice whispered in her ear.
“Guess who.” Jamie smiled and relaxed as soon as she realized that it was Joey, and the mass struggling on the ground with Justin was Chris. She called Joey on his question, and removed his hands to give him a hug. Lance and JC were slower in making their way over, but they were all there, and they were all happy to see Justin and Jamie together, and smiling.
“How was the flight?” JC asked as they grabbed their luggage and headed toward the vans parked across the parking lot.
“It was long, and Luke didn’t sit still for a second, but other than that it was all right.”
“Well that’s good. You know, James, we’re all glad that you’re here, and we want you to know that. I know last time you were in O-town, it wasn’t as pleasant, but we want you to know that you’re welcome with us anytime, anywhere. A friend of Justin’s is a friend of ours…well, most of the time.”
Jamie giggled and sighed. It did feel strange to be back, but she had let most of last years trip go. She and Justin had had many discussions about what went down, and both were at peace with it now. Besides, it was in the past, and who wants to dwell?
A hand slipped into hers and she smiled to see Justin walking beside her. “Hey, James.” He smiled at her and they made the rest of the trek to the vans in silence.
The ride to WEG was filled with old memories and jokes from Jamie’s last visit. Justin’s face had turned a deep shade of red as the others continued to rag on him about his attitude the last time they were all together. It was healing for Jamie to feel normal, to feel apart of something so wonderful. She sighed and leaned her head against Justin’s shoulder and closed her eyes, enjoying the sound of Chris and Joey’s bickering and Lance’s joyful laughter. JC was asleep on Jamie’s left and every now and then a slight snore could be heard from his direction.
After reaching the compound and taking bags up to different rooms, Justin and Jamie made their way over to the apartment that Justin had found for Jamie and her father. Allen was still in Tennessee finishing up his job and the packing that still needed to be done. He would be driving down with the rental truck in about 2 weeks and then they would start moving in.
Jamie’s pulse quickened as she noticed the scale of the houses that they were passing. This was one of the more prestigious sections of Orlando, and she knew that there was no possible way she and her father could afford this.
“Please tell me that this is a short cut, and that this isn’t where the apartment is located.” Justin chuckled when he noticed her wide eyes and the way her knuckles gripped at the door handle.
“James, breathe. You’ll have to trust me on this one, OK?” She shot him a contemptuous look and then returned her gaze to the car window.
A few moments later they pulled up to a moderate house that settled on the outskirts of a development. It was a beautiful ranch style house with a sort of Mexican getaway feel. Jamie looked around to see if there were any apartment buildings around, but saw none. She then turned to Justin and cocked an eyebrow at the sly grin perched on his lips.
“Timberlake, what have you got up your sleeve?” He winked at her before stepping out of the car and walking around to her side. He helped her out and then led her up to the front door.
He took his sweet time reaching in his pocket and pulling out a small white envelope and handing it to Jamie.
“Before you go all commando on me and kick my ass, hear me out.” Jamie crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot defiantly. Justin chuckled slightly but continued. “The job I got your father is for a part of the WEG Corporation, and with that deal came a lease on a house. You shouldn’t have any payments for anything as long as your father works under WEG. It’s kind of like a bonus, or a welcome to the team gift.” Jamie laughed a bit before commenting.
“And this gift reeks of Justin Timberlake.” She looked up at him and smiled, realizing for the millionth time just how wonderful he really was. “Who did you bribe? How much did you pay? Justin, this can’t just be part of the deal, I mean, an apartment maybe, but not a whole damn house!”
“Trust me James, it wasn’t my idea. I wish it was, because it was a damn good one if I do say so myself, but it was really apart of the job contract. Of course he has to keep up with everything, you know. Send the bills into WEG so they can be paid on time, all that jazz.”
She eyed him carefully and he awaited a response. “Well then, let’s get inside and see what we’ve got.” He smiled as he watched her unlock the door and step inside. He stared for a few minutes before she turned and spoke to him, pulling him out of his daze.
“Are you just going to stand there looking at my ass, or are we going to look around?” A grin slid across his face and Jamie was sorry she asked.
“Personally, I’d-”
“Save it Romeo, let’s go.”
A week later, Jamie was staying at WEG while the house was being touched up, and as she waited for her father to come down from Memphis. The guys had all started recording and putting things for the second leg of the tour together, so that meant that schedules were filled. Wedding rehearsals would start next week, and everyone was getting excited about that. Over all, the atmosphere in Orlando was tingling with excitement and anxiousness of things yet to come.
Jamie tucked the cordless phone between her shoulder and her ear and held up another shirt. “…and then I came home and took a shower. Not very exciting, if you ask me.”
“It sounds heavenly.” She heard Justin yawn and she knew that he was run down from their full schedule. “I had the day from Hell in the studio, and then they decided to spring a sudden dance practice on us. I think my legs are going to fall off.” He groaned as he carefully placed himself into the recliner in his living room. A bag of ice covered his right knee and heating pack was underneath his sore back.
“Poor baby.” Jamie giggled and Justin couldn’t help but smile at her childish laughter.
“Yea, well I know what would make it better. I was thinking that maybe you could come over and we could order dinner and dessert and then I could seduce you in the hot tub.” Jamie’s eyes rose quickly at his statement and she cleared her throat.
“My, my, that does sound inviting. But I’ll have to pass.” She could almost see Justin’s disappointment through the phone.
“Why? Got a hot date?” he joked.
“Actually, Luke’s taking me out to dinner. He’s leaving tomorrow so we decided tonight would be a good time to get together.” She grew worried as the silence stretched on longer and longer. “Justin?”
“Sorry I asked.” His tone was short and Jamie knew she had messed up, but she wasn’t going to listen to his boyish jealousy.
“Don’t even start with me, J. We are just friends, and you know that. Luke’s leaving for a completely different state in 24 hours and I would like to say good bye. This has nothing to do with you, so get over it.”
“You know what? You’re right; it has nothing to do with me, so we don’t even need to be having this conversation right now.” Jamie cursed as her ears were met with the drone of the dial tone. She slammed the receiver down and grabbed the shirt off her bed, putting it on roughly. She didn’t know what had gotten into Justin, but lately he was being a selfish prick and it was starting to get on her nerves. She knew that he was under a lot of stress, but the world wouldn’t stop turning if she didn’t see him for one night. She pushed those thoughts aside and finished getting ready. Luke would be at the restaurant soon and she needed to meet him there. But the thought of Justin still pulled at Jamie’s conscience.
Justin rubbed his temples furiously and let out a primal grunt. He was being selfish, but was it too much to ask that after a long day he could relax and spend time with his girlfriend? It’s not that he didn’t trust her, he was just insanely jealous of the relationship and bond that Luke and Jamie shared, and it was pissing him off.
He picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number, hoping the person was still home.
“Hi, Katie. Yeah it’s Justin. I was wondering if you wanted to come over tonight, you know. Maybe we could go for a dip in the hot tub or something.” A slight echo of guilt rang in his ears but he pushed it away. “I know it’s been a long time, that’s why I wanted to see you. OK, I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
Jamie’s fork scraped across her plate as she played with her food, “Oh for God’s sake James, get out of here and go see the boy.” She looked up and Luke and sighed wistfully.
“He’s mad at me. We had a fight about you before you picked me up.” Luke resisted the urge to roll his eyes for about 10 seconds before he gave in.
“Heaven forbid you two fight. It’s not like you haven’t done it before.” Jamie sighed again and Luke was about ready to slap her.
“I know that, but it just made me mad that he expects me to be there 24/7 when he calls, and I can’t have any guy friends. I mean, it’s YOU we’re talking about here.”
“Gee thanks, I feel honored.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do know, but does he? I mean, we haven’t exactly told anyone about me, now have we?” Jamie glanced up and him and had to smile.
“Come on Luke, I mean, it’s not like you hide it or anything.” He shook his head and sighed.
“James, you’ve known me for a long time now, and you know all that comes with me. Now, I’m coming for a guy’s point of view here, so bare with me. What Justin sees is that his beautiful girlfriend is going out with a best friend that she’s completely comfortable with. It’s completely natural for him to be jealous because he’s worried, what man wouldn’t be? And he has no idea why things between us would never work, because he doesn’t want to see that, all he wants to see is you not going out with him.”
Jamie pondered Luke’s words and she realized for the millionth time that he actually made sense sometimes.
“As much as it pains me to say this, Luke, you’re right.” He smiled and rubbed his fist against the lapel of his coat.
“I know, I know. You can say it James, I’m the master.” She rolled her eyes and signaled the waitress.
“Yes, can I get a piece of that death by chocolate cake?” She thanked the girl and then turned back to Luke. “I’m going to take your advice and go see him, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all James…and make sure you actually eat some of that cake.” She laughed as his eyebrows rose suggestively and he ran his tongue across his lips.
“I can only imagine what your dirty mind is thinking.” Luke smiled devilishly at this.
“You don’t have to imagine it James, you can LIVE it. And with a body like Justin’s, I wouldn’t blame you one bit.”
Justin sat back in the hot tub and smiled across at the brunette that was wit him. Her bathing suit left very little to the imagination and the way she was looking at him gave him goose bumps. She stirred the water with her fingers before flicking a little onto Justin.
“Oops, it looks like I got you wet.” She slid over to him and slowly raised her arm out of the water, reaching toward Justin. She ran a wet finger down his chest, tracing a pattern in the droplets of water she left.
Justin swallowed hard and pushed away the image of Jamie that popped into his head for the millionth time. He smiled at Katie before leaning in to kiss her deep red lips. Just as their mouths were about to touch, the doorbell rang and Justin jumped back quickly.
“Sorry.” He mumbled, a deep blush filling his cheeks. “I need to get the door.” Katie quickly grabbed his arm as he started to stand up.
“Don’t go; whoever it is will go away. Stay with me Justin…I’m the only thing you need to get right now.” She started to go for the ties to her bathing suit and Justin shifted uncomfortably. The door bell rang again and this time he moved away so she couldn’t grab him.
“It could be an emergency. I’ll…I’ll be right back.”
He grabbed a towel and wrapped it tightly around his waist. The door bell sounded again and he hurried to get there before the person got mad. Opening the door his jaw dropped to see Jamie standing there.
“Hey, Justin. I’m so sorry about earlier. I brought some dessert over, if your offer still stands.” She noticed for the first time that he was wearing a towel and that water was dripping from his chest. She felt even worse because she figured he had been all alone doing what he said they should do together.
“Justin sweetie, who is it?” A very feminine voice called from the back and Jamie’s head snapped toward the sound. Her eyes darted between the back of the house and Justin’s guilty face.
“Tell me that Chris has a cold and he’s highly intoxicated, that’s why he called you sweetie.” Justin’s eyes shifted for everything but Jamie’s face as he searched for an explanation. “TELL ME!” She shouted and Justin jumped.
“Ah…James, what are you doing here?” He laughed nervously and Jamie’s anger raised about ten notches.
“I came to apologize for spending time with my best friend tonight instead of you. But it looks as though you haven’t been very lonely.” Just then Katie came from out back. She was drying herself off with one of Justin’s towels, and Justin looked ready to crawl in a hole and die.
“Hi, I’m Katie. I’m one of Justin’s friends.” Jamie looked her up and down and did nothing to hide her disgust.
“I can see that. If you’ll excuse us, I need to talk to Justin…ALONE.” Katie glanced between the two and noticed the heavy tension.
“Um…I need to leave now anyway…it was good seeing you again Justin. Nice to meet you…ah…” She reached for Jamie’s name but James just stood there and stared the girl down. “Never mind…Uh…bye.”
Jamie turned back to Justin, awaiting an explanation. When he stood there silent she laughed bitterly and started to talk.
“You know what Justin, I can’t believe you. I can understand you being upset about me going to dinner with Luke, but I never imagined you’d stoop this LOW.” At the mention of Luke, his head snapped up and he was getting just as angry.
“Well, I figured if you can go out with a friend, then I can have one over.”
“God, Justin! The situation with me and Luke is completely different from the one with you and Katie. Nothing could ever, EVER happen between Luke and I, I don’t know how many times I can tell you that.”
“How do you know that James? I mean, you’re both attractive people, and you’ve said yourself that you’re comfortable with him, I think you and Luke would work better than we do.” Jamie was stung by his comment; it hurt her to know that Justin didn’t think they were working.
“Justin…Luke…is…GAY!”
The silence that followed her statement was so long and complete that it felt as if the world had stopped turning. Justin stood in the doorway, mouth open and eyes wide.
“What? I…James…You…Oh God!” His hands went up to his face and he massaged his temples roughly. “I’m SUCH an asshole.” Jamie stood there, waiting for him to say something of relevance. He looked up at her quickly and knew he should apologize, but he felt he needed to clear up the situation first.
“James, I want you to know that nothing happened here tonight. I never touched Katie, never.” Jamie’s eyes started to fill with water when she didn’t hear the words she wanted to.
“But something was going to happen, wasn’t it? You didn’t call her over for a friendly chat, did you Justin?” He stuttered and searched for the right words but nothing came to mind, so he decided to be completely honest.
“I was mad at you James. I was jealous that you were going out with Luke and that I was going to be here alone. I don’t know what I was expecting when I called Katie over, but it wasn’t for light conversation, no.” Jamie roughly wiped the tears from her cheeks and she shoved the Styrofoam container that held the chocolate cake at Justin.
“Here, I brought some dessert…maybe Katie would like to be seduced in your hot tub again.” She turned and hurried down the walk way back to her car. Justin wanted to call out to her, but he knew that he needed to let her go so she could calm down. Both of them were very upset and this needed to be resolved when they were calm and under control of their emotions. He sighed heavily and closed his door, walking back into the living room.
“God, what have I done?”