It's All Coming Back To Me Now
By: Shellie - shelliemg at gmail.com
Chapter 9

"What a girl wants. What a girl needs." Shannon giggled as the words echoed back at her through the long hallway in the venue. She was lost. Had been for nearly a half-hour. She didn’t care though, she was feeling good…happy at last with life…and on her way to find Joey Fatone. She knew.

She heard Chris’ high pitched laughed and picked up her pace. She hadn’t seen the guys in 2 days. She hadn’t seen Joey in 2 days and she was anxious to let him know her mind was definitely made up. She was smiling when she entered the room full of people.

She saw Joey first. He grinned at her and started in her direction and she in his. Then she heard it…

Shannon stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes widened then scrunched in confusion. She was still watching Joey his mouth dropping into a straight line as he watched her reaction. She couldn’t move.

He spoke quietly to her once he reached her. "You okay?" She looked up at him, her eyes questioning and he nodded. "Yes. Come on, lets get you out of here."

He took her by the hand and forced her to turn and leave. Her eyes were magnetically drawn not to her but to him. Sitting there next to Bobbie staring back. Their eyes locked one questioning, the other embarrassed and turning away.

As they stepped into the hall Shannon could feel herself slowly being consumed by the rage that had been building inside of her since she’d heard her voice. What the fuck was she doing here? What-the-fuck-was-she-doing-here!!!

"You look like you are about to explode."

"I am." Her jaw would barely move.

"Well, lets find you a room to do it in before you start screaming your fool head off in the hall." He pulled her behind him around several corners and into a ladies restroom. He let go off her hand and checked all the stalls. "Okay we are clear. Talk to me, Sha. You are turning red."

"I’m fine. God damnit." She began to take deep breaths. Her blood pressure was through the roof and it was beginning to make her head hurt.

"Shannon. Just say what you want to say and get it over with. You’re not going to hurt my feelings I promise."

"Why? That is all I wanna know. Why? Joey he doesn’t even fucking like her! She’s a bitch and she’s…..frigid and ….oh my god!!! I am gonna fucking kill him. What kind of stupid masochistic bastard is he?"

"He’s lonely, Shannon. He wants you but you won’t let him have you. So…he goes back to his security blanket. That’s all it is."

"Can’t he move on? Can’t he just date someone else?? Why her? Oh my god I can’t believe this!" She turned and began to pace the small room mumbling to herself soon forgetting even Joey’s presence in the room as her thoughts consumed her. "What the hell is wrong with that stupid asshole? God damnit, I hate her. I fucking hate her. He’s just doing this to hurt me. All he had to do was some talk to me that fucking shit."

"Nice language."

She jumped realizing she’d just blurted all of that out right in front of Joey. He was sitting on the sink, arms crossed over his chest watching her as she ranted. Her heart hurt. "I’m sorry Joe. I was actually coming to find you." She moved to him, sliding her arms around him and burying her face in the solidness of his chest. He held her to him, running his hands soothingly over her back and against her will, she started to cry…and she couldn’t stop.

It was nearly 45 minutes later before she was able to compose herself. Joey’s shirt was soaked with her tears and she groaned touching it with her hand. "I’m so sorry, Joe. I’ve made a mess of you."

He pushed her hair back off of her face and smiled, "Honey, I’m not worried about my shirt. You can cry on me anytime you need to. Are you okay?"

She nodded unconvincingly.

"I don’t believe you. If you feel this strongly about JC, then why aren’t you with him?"

"I don’t feel strongly about JC. I just don’t understand why he would do this to himself. It’s so shitty."

"Don’t care about him my ass. It’s o-k, Shannon, to love someone ya know. Even him. People change…maybe if you were with him he would be different."

"I don’t want to be with him. I want to be with you." She touched his face lightly. "That is what I was coming to tell you."

He kissed her fingertips as they ran over his lips lightly. "I want to be with you too, Sha, but I think you need to settle this thing with JC. You’re not ready to give him up. Maybe you should just go for it. Get his ass back and see how it goes. My hearts not breaking yet."

"He doesn’t want me. He treats me like anyone else."

"Stop whining and pay attention." Joey ‘s voice was firm and she looked up surprised.

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means that if you watched JC like I have been you’d know he was definitely not seeing you like he saw everyone else. He’s just shitty because of you and me. If you want him then you need to take some of that sass you’ve been teasing me with and start using it on him. If he thought you wanted him…he’d be at your feet in a second. This Bobbie bullshit is just a defense mechanism. We fucked him good in the elevator the other night and he ran to his room to lick his wounds. He did like he always does, he pussed out and called that bitch back around."

"But what about me and you?"

"We are still here. Still friends…we’ll just have to cut out the kissing and stuff. I doubt he’d go for that." He laughed and she giggled slightly.

"I’m so sorry, Joey. I truly didn’t mean for any of this to happen."

"I know you didn’t. You okay now?"

She nodded and he wiped her remaining tear from her cheek. "I think I am going to go back to the hotel."

He kissed her lips gently. "You face is all a mess. Make up all over. Want me to come with you?"

"No. I’m okay. Thank you, Joe. For being such a sweetie."

"I’ll always be your sweetie. Now, I am going to change my shirt." They laughed, that half-hearted laugh of people saying goodbye. But it wasn’t goodbye…it just wasn’t hello.

**

"Hey, we’re having wings and watching the game in Lance’s room. Come on. Bring B."

"Ok." JC smiled hanging up. Finally, he could get the hell out of this room and away from her. There was no way in hell she would come.

"Hey, B, they are having wings and watching the game in Lance’s room. I’m going. You wanna go?"

"Sure."

Shit. Shit, shit, shit. "Well get dressed, we are leaving soon. The game starts in like 5 minutes."

"Ok, let me pull on some jeans."

Lance answered the door 5 minutes later and motioned them in. "The games just starting. Joey went for beer. The wings are over here."

He inventoried the room. Taylor and Justin, Lance, Chris, Dani and Shannon. When Joey returned it would be the whole gang. He wondered if he’d be able to make it through the night without jumping down Joey’s throat. It may be a short party.

Shannon was sitting next to Taylor on the floor. She was wearing a pair of men’s pajama pants and a tank top tied in a small knot above her belly button. Her hair was bouncing above her head in a silky ponytail and she was giggling at something Justin had leaned in to add to the conversation. She turned and smiled.

"Josh!" she waved. She also completely ignored Bobbie’s presence. This was going to be interesting.

"It’s coming on." Justin announced and everyone grabbed a seat here and there. JC sat on the sofa with Bobbie beside him and to his surprise, Shannon asked if she could lean against the couch between his knees and out of shock if nothing else, JC moved his feet out of the way and let her sit down. She snuggled back, her shoulders brushing his legs and continued her conversation with Taylor. Buckets of wings where passed around and JC had decided to get daring and go with the hot ones. He had no idea what he was in for. One bite later he was a little more informed.

"Holy shit!! This are….ahhhhh!" Bobbie handed him her drink. He sipped it and coughed. "God, what the hell is that?" He shoved the drink back at her.

"It’s Diet coke."

Shannon reached back over her head and handed her drink to him. She knew he’d like it. So did he. He sipped her Dr. Pepper and they both smiled, neither looking at the other. He handed her drink back and traded his wings in for some a little less spicy.

"Sorry, honey, I always drink Diet Coke. I was just trying to help."

"It’s okay, honey. Sha saved the day." Below him her arm pressed lightly against his leg.

To his amazement and amusement, both Shannon and Taylor were active in the game. They yelled and screamed and it was hilarious. Bobbie, as usual, just sat to his right and stared, sighing with boredom occasionally. He ignored her.

Joey returned and the beer was dispensed. To his surprise however the took a seat next to Lance. They were just normal. Shannon and Joey and not…Shannon and Joey. What the hell was going on?

They watched until the end of the 2^nd half when the game was getting tense. The two teams were tied. Everyone was on edge, yelling and Shannon was on pins and needles. During a commercial break she stood pacing the small area and she turned in JC’s direction suddenly. "Damnit, I can’t remember the teams." She spoke directly to him, "Remember that time we were watching that game and the one team won in like the very last second? Where he like chunked it all the way from the other end?"

JC nodded excitedly, "Yeah! Oh my god, that kicked ass!"

"I can’t remember who the teams were……it was Chicago and……" she motioned frantically with her hands.

"…and Boston! The Celtics!" he pointed out and she jumped grabbing his hand and shaking it back and forth.

"Yes! That was the most stressful thing I have ever watched on tv," they laughed.

Realization hit them both at once as they glanced around finding everyone in the room watching them. She dropped his hand and laughed it off. Taylor started talking and Joey yelled at the tv to distract everyone but one person….one person wasn’t lost.

Shannon took her seat back at JC’s feet and rested her hand on his bare toes lightly.

"When did the two of you watch basketball together?" Bobbie asked her gaze curious.

JC chuckled, "Who me and Sha? Oh I’ve known her forever. We met years ago."

"I’ve never met her."

JC sat in silence not quite sure what to say. Joey came to the rescue. "Yes, you have. We all met at a club once. Justin and I went and found Taylor and Shannon then you and JC came. How surprising that you don’t remember, B."

She giggled at the remark and JC relaxed. Not totally comfortable with the memory but glad that he was off the hook. But if Shannon didn’t stop touching his toes he was gonna flip. He nudged her with his leg and watched her shoulders shake until Taylor shot her a curious look. Shannon promptly removed her hand but in less than 5 minutes they had nonchalantly returned.

When he finally crawled into bed not having to worry about entertaining Bobbie was welcome for a change. He was free to think about Shannon and her curious behavior. JC was torn in half. Half of him wanting her to just stop, why the hell did she fucking wait until after Bobbie got here to decide she was gonna be all friendly. And why the hell was she doing it anyway? He knew exactly where she and Joey were headed when he’d seen them all over each other in the elevator. They had even ran straight for Joey’s room when they’d gotten off. Now they acted like nothing had ever happened.

Then there was the other half of JC. The half that was please to his very toes still tingling from her touch that she was coming around. Bobbie or no, he was eating up this sudden attention spurt from Shannon and he wanted sooo bad for it not to stop. He could almost feel it, the heartbreak sure to come when she breezed past him like he was invisible. In search of Joey….her lover….her man.

JC turned to face Bobbie and sighed. What the hell were you thinking? But she was here now and he’d asked…no, he’d begged her to come back. You are stuck now, you dumbass.

**

"You look cute."

"You think? I’m borrowing your shirt, it that ok?"

"Of course. So, you gonna tell me what is up or do I have to beg?"

Shannon smiled and Taylor and shrugged innocently. "What do you mean?"

"I mean this game you are playing with JC."

Shannon turned to the mirror to check her braid. "I’m not playing a game."

"Oh? Sure looked like you were flirting your ass off last night."

Shannon grinned, "I was. Was I obvious? I was trying to be a little but not too much."

"I think you accomplished your goal. So now that Bobbie’s back you are all about JC? What the hell happened to Joey?"

Shannon sighed. "I like Joey. I really do and I was all about heading in his direction and then she showed up. Taylor…I couldn’t stand it. I can’t stand him with her."

"So what?"

"So…I am gonna take him away. I’ve never fought for him before. I always just sat back and let her have him, taking what I could get when I could get it. Well, fuck that! I am gonna get my man."

Taylor’s head dropped back as she laughed. "Well, little Miss Attitude, as long as you don’t let things get out of hand, I’m all for it. I got your back, you just better watch that heart of yours. It can only stand to be crushed so many times."

Shannon hugged Taylor. "I know. And I am going about this entirely different this time. I love you so much for taking care of me for so long, T. I can never repay you."

"I just want you to be happy. And anyway I can help…you just let me know."

Shannon winked as she headed for the door. "So far I have it under control but when I need you…I’ll come running."

"And I will be here. If you see Justin tell him I am in the shower and I will be down in a half hour or so."

"Will do."

She found Justin, Lance and Joey in the hotel restaurant. Justin groaned as she slid into the booth beside him. "Oh god I am gonna explode." He slumped against her and she rubbed his face sweetly.

"Awww, did Juju have to much to eat again?"

"Uh huh. I had 3 bowls of Oreo O’s and I can’t move."

She smiled at Lance and Joey across the table. "Hey you guys. What’s up today?"

"Same old shit. You look cute today." Lance smiled and she reached out to touch his fingers across the table.

"Thank you sexy, you always look cute." He chuckled and she turned to Joey. "And what about you, Super boy?"

"It’s Super Man."

"Uh huh. Sure, whatever you say."

"Hey!" he protested as Lance continued to laugh and Justin tried but groaned again.

"Justin, Tay is in the shower. She will be down soon."

"Okay. I’d go join her…but I can’t move."

JC walked in accompanied by security and as he headed in their direction the bodyguard moved to sit with the others. JC looked nervous as he glanced in her direction.

"Well hello sexy. Come join us." She began to scoot Justin over until he protested loudly.

Smiling, he grabbed a chair instead and turned it around backwards at the end of the table. "What’s up?"

"We are just hanging out. Listening to Justin whine. You know, the usual." Joey smiled.

"Bite me." Justin grumbled and Shannon laughed.

"You are kinda being a baby." She turned to JC. "So, where’s your lady?" Her voice was so sweet but the iciness was obvious as she and JC stared at each other.

"She’s asleep. I didn’t bother to wake her."

"Damn shame. We could have shopped or gotten our nails done. Ya know, like bonding or some shit." She leaned to whisper in his ear. "Maybe I can give her a few pointers on how to please her man." She leaned back and stared into his wide eyes as a blush crept up his neck.

"Well…If anyone could, it’d be you." he answered softly.

"Hey, hey, whispering is rude. I wanna hear this conversation!" Lance bitched as he slammed his hand on the table.

Sha turned sassily to Lance, "I don’t know that your legally of age."

"Ohhh, you are just all about the attitude today aren’t you Miss Thang." Lance sassed back.

"Yes, I am! And don’t you forget it." They all laughed.

Over the next 20 minutes, one by one they left until it was just JC and Shannon at the table. Once Justin had crawled free and waved bye he looked over at her and tilted his head.

"What? What are you thinking?" She smiled, almost nervous about being alone with him. It had been so long.

"I was just wondering what had gotten into you. You’re all happy and …cute. I’ve missed it. Where’d it come from?"

She shrugged. "I’ve just done a lot of thinking. Decided some things needed to change. So…now I am changing them."

"Hmmm, I was beginning to wonder if maybe Joey had brought all this on."

Sha smiled, "Joey and I…we are just friends."

"You looked it the other night. Really, just friends."

She laughed, still wanted to play with him for just a little while longer. "We are. Really good ones."

"There you are!"

Shannon cringed as her voice filtered over from the door. The B was back.

**

JC’s cell rang and he jumped grabbing the annoying thing off the nightstand and answering quickly to keep from waking Bobbie beside him.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it’s Sha. You sleeping?"

He squinted at the clock. "It’s like 3:20a.m. you should be too!" He slid from the bed and quietly crossed the room. "What are you doing?"

She giggled. "We are going swimming in the hotel pool. Wanna go?"

"Now?!"

"Shhh, don’t wait Bobbie. She’s not invited. Just you. Come on…."

He grinned, "You are crazy, who all is going?"

"Me, Taylor, Justin, Joey and some chick he picked up at a club."

This shocked the hell out of JC. Joey was bringing a girl? That would leave Shannon…to him. "Let me change. I will have to sneak out. Where are you?"

"In Joey’s room. Hurry."

He hung up and began to rummage through his bags for his shorts. He changed and grabbed a towel before sneaking out of the room and down the hall.

He soon discovered the origin behind the sudden urge to swim at 3a.m.. Alcohol. They were all toasted, giggling like fools.

"Joshy!" Shannon chimed as he entered. "He’s here! Let’s go swim." She was cute as she could be with her hair in pigtails and a pair of nike warm ups. She grabbed her towel and headed straight for JC. "Hi!"

He smiled down at her, "Hey cutie. What are you doing?"

"We were playing drinking games. I was losing so we had to stop. Ready to swim?"

He nodded and she took him by the hand. "We are leaving!" she chimed and the others soon followed. The gang – all following "the leader" who was JC since he was the only sober one – worked their way down to the ground level and out to the pool. The gate was locked but wasn’t really a barrier since it was only waist high. The girl with Joey was actually really cute JC noticed as he lifter her over the gate after Shannon and Taylor. Joey had introduced her simply as "Nina" and JC liked her immediately – of course the fact that she was with Joey and not Shannon was a big plus in her direction.

JC watched the goofy bunch as they dropped their towels and flips flops in various locations and knew that this would be more of a babysitting adventure for him that anything else. But that was fine, he decided as he watched Shannon pull her navy top over her head. She was wearing a red string bikini and she looked fabulous. He waited, watching for the pants to come next when he realized it wasn’t going to happen quite so soon. She’d reached up to loose her hair from its bindings and ran into a bit of trouble. One side came down just fine, he silky hair cascading over her should. The other side…didn’t.

"Shit." She mumbled and he headed in her direction unable to resist the opportunity that had presented itself.

"Need some help?"

She looked up at him and frowned. "It’s in a knot. I can’t get the holder out and there is a big wad of hair tangled around it," she pouted and he reached up pushing her hair away.

"Let me see." JC shivered as her hands dropped and his fingers were free to slip into the satiny strands of her hair for the first time in ages. It was hard even to concentrate on his task as images …memories of that hair brushing along his body tormented his brain relentlessly. Gently he pulled the band from her hair, and not being able to resist he found her scalp massaging the sore area gently. "There. Better?"

She was facing him, her body so close he could almost feel it. Her breath released ruffling the hair on his chest slightly before she nodded. She was looking at him. Not his face but his body and JC watched her lick her pink lips and felt himself grow hard. His words hit and she nodded. "Yes, thank you." She looked up at him and he had to physically stop his groan. He’d seen that look before….many times. She smiled, that sexy smile that made him ache. That smile that said clearly…I want you.

She moved away from him, shoving her warm-ups down her legs, the bottom of her swimsuit barely any bigger than the top. She climbed up on the diving and JC turned away, walking down to get in the opposite end of the pool. The water was cold, thank god, and was extremely helpful in ridding him of the painful erection he’s gotten from her being so near. She was going to kill him. Two more weeks and this tour was over. He wasn’t sure he’d survive.

They played til nearly sun up, Sha never far from his side. Tiny touches, brushes of her body against his…by the time he crawled back into bed at 5:30 he was in pain. He nudged Bobbie slightly, his hands brushing her skin beneath the covers.

She groaned moving away. "You hands are freezing. Where have you been?"

"Swimming. Help me warm my hands up, baby." He moved up behind her pressing his arousal into her bottom. His lips found her neck. "Hmmm? You gonna help me?"

She sighed and rolled towards him. "I can if you want me too."

She sounded irritated and JC’s blood began to boil as he shoved away from her. "God damnit, what the fuck is wrong with you?" He flung the covers away and stood. "I swear, I have never seen anyone like you in my life. What the hell am I supposed to do? I like sex. I can’t cheat on you but I can’t fuck you either? How do you think this is going to work, Bobbie? No sex for the rest of my life? You’ve got another god damned thing coming. Excuse me, I need to jack off." He stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door.

**

"Come on JC, what’s your problem today?"

Shannon and Taylor entered the stadium just as Johnny’s voice echoed through the large empty room.

"Sorry. I didn’t get much sleep last night." Justin and Joey smiled.

"Neither did I, man, and I’m here." Joey grinned and Shannon and Taylor laughed. Obviously Nina had entertained Joey for quite sometime after they got back to his room.

"Yeah, well a few hours scrunched into the sofa this morning didn’t help me any at all."

The guys snickered again as he rolled his head to the right and to the left.

"Well, take a few minutes to get yourself together and be back here in say….10 minutes."

They all parted ways, JC opting to sit on the edge of the stage and pout. Taylor headed for Justin and Shannon for JC. "What’s you problem, Mr. Chasez?" She stood, hands on waist, hip cocked to the side.

"I’m tired, my girlfriend is a bitch and I haven’t had sex in months…hell, I haven’t had good sex since the day you walked out on me."

Shannon smiled. "Well I haven’t had any if that makes you feel any better."

His head jerked up. "but…." He stopped before he embarrassed himself.

"What about me and Joey?" she filled in his blank and looked away.

"I’m sorry, it’s none of my business."

"Well, I won’t lie, we hung out, got a little fresh, but we didn’t have sex." He bit his cheek to stop his smile. "So, how’s your neck?"

"It’s sore. Bobbie and I had it out last night…er, well this morning and I slept for a few hours on the couch. I’m paying for it now.""

"Come down here and let me see what I can do." She headed towards the first row of seats and he hopped down to follow. She instructed him to "Sit" and she began to massage his neck and shoulders.

"God that feels so good. You always did know how to touch me, didn’t you, Sha?"

Her hands paused a moment before continuing. "You trained me well."

He turned in his chair looking up at her his eyes serious. "I wasn’t trying to train you or change you…I…I don’t know what I was doing. Your touch…it was natural though. I craved it from the day we met. You were just so young…"

"Turn around Josh. Let me fix you. We can talk some other time." He turned and she continued with her massage until Bobbie approached. Shannon hesitated for a moment but didn’t stop. Fuck her, she wasn’t stepping aside until he made her.

"Need me to do that?" she asked looking at JC. He didn’t even open his eyes, "No. I think she has it taken care of, thanks."

"But I want to help you JC." Sha felt a bit out of place but still wasn’t about to back down. She worked on his neck and his head dropped forward.

"Bobbie, you are the reason why I am like this as it is. God, that feels good. Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll see you after the show, B."

Shannon could feel the heat of her glare as she stood there. She concentrated on his muscles and ignored the pouting girl. Her fingers slid up the back of his neck and into his hair caressing his scalp. He moaned and Bobbie didn’t move a muscle. Finally when Sha could stand it no longer she looked over at the furious girl. "What?"

"I really think you need to get your hands off him."

"Well, shit Bobbie, somebody’s gotta touch him. And since you’re not interested 99% of the time, you are just shit out of luck now."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"Bobbie! Just go away right now." JC’s voice echoed through the stadium and she stepped back. Everyone’s eyes in the place fell upon her and she turned, humiliated and walked from the room.

"You didn’t have to yell at her, J." Shannon scolded quietly as she let him stand.

"I know. And I will apologize later but she just wouldn’t take a hint. Thanks for the massage, I feel so much better now. I’ll see you later, okay?"

She smiled, "I’m not going anywhere."

**

It was so quiet. Wonderfully quiet. Everyone had gone out and she had decided to stay. She had just finished her bath and was all about curling up on the couch and watching a movie.

As soon as she picked up the remote someone knocked. Wasn’t that always the way? She sighed and stood walking to the door and peeping out. He was looking at the floor, shuffling nervously from side to side and she smiled. He’d come to her…and she knew exactly what he wanted. Too bad he wasn’t going to get it.

She pulled open the door. "Josh."

"Uh…hi. How are ya?"

"Good. Come in." He stepped past her and she closed the door motioning for him to sit down. "So, what’s up?"

"Nothing, I just hadn’t seen much of you in a day or two and I was just checking on you. You didn’t want to go clubbing with the others?"

"Nah. I was tired and I just wanted to relax and watch a movie or something. What have you been up to?"

"Trying to get along with Bobbie. I invited her here and then I have been a total asshole to her the whole time."

"I couldn’t believe it when I saw her again."

He nodded. "I know. I could see it on your face. I just….I just don’t understand what’s going on. You went from one extreme to the other and I’m not quite sure what to think, Shannon. You know I wanted you."

"At one time yes, but you stopped. You stopped everything. I thought you were done…we were done. That’s when Joey really came into play. Then…then you brought her here and I couldn’t believe it. Why? I just don’t understand why, Josh."

"I wanted a distraction. Seeing you with Joey everyday was making me crazy. That night…after the elevator….I almost lost it. I called Bobbie then. I told her I loved her and missed her and I wanted to see her. She caught a plane the next afternoon."

"Did you mean it? What you said to her?"

"I meant every word I said, I was just saying them all to the wrong person."

"Well, she’s here now."

"I can’t just send her away yet."

"That’s your decision, I suppose."

"What do you want me to do?"

"You have to figure that out on your own, Josh. I can’t make your decisions about who you want to be with for you. But I will tell you this….I will never be second again. I will be the first and only choice, or I wont be an option at all. With anyone."

He nodded. "I understand."

**

"Three days, ladies. Three days and we will be home! I am soooooo happy." Justin hooked one arm through Taylor’s and one through Shannon’s. They walked smiling down a New York sidewalk. JC and Bobbie were behind them and security surrounded them like a wall. "I love shopping in New York. They have some really cool shit. Oh! Let’s go in here."

He steered the entire crew towards a fancy little boutique and they went inside. Shannon could feel JC’s eyes on her as they shopped. Justin was in a generous mood and she had to watch what she said or else she’d find everything in her hands snatched and piled at the register.

She was looking at a rack of sweaters when she saw it. Pale gold and furry. It was almost exactly like the one he’d sent her and it was so beautiful. Her fingers were drawn to it, the petted it, lifting it from the rack. She found a cream skirt nearby and headed for the dressing rooms in the back. She tried on the outfit and stepped back. It was perfect. God she loved the sweater. She stepped out to show Taylor who flipped out.

"Oh my god! It’s amazing!" Taylor raved but Shannon’s eyes searched out Josh.

He was staring, mouth slightly open at her from across the room. He devoured her slowly, his lips curving into an appreciative smile as he nodded. He knew. He liked. She turned to go back inside to change. As she hung the sweater back on its hanger she checked the price. Ouch!! Damn. There was no way in hell.

Sadly she returned it to its rack and joined Taylor in the shoes. "What happened to the sweater?"

"I put it back."

"What? Why?"

Shannon whispered, "Because it costs $378."

"Holy shit! What is it? Real gold thread?"

Shannon shrugged and they continued to shop.

**

"So, what are we going to do when the tour is over? Am I coming with you to Orlando or not?" Bobbie’s voice was soft as she spoke.

"Well, I don’t know what I am ready for yet, so at first, I think you should probably go home. I want to rest for a few days, think some things through and then I’ll call you and we can talk. Is that okay?"

"Not really what I wanted to hear, JC. But if its what you want…who am I to say no?"

He touched her hair. "I’m not turning you away. I just need some time, honey."

She nodded. "I think I wanna go lay down. You want to join me?"

"I’m not really tired, B. I may come in there later."

She leaned to brush his neck with her lips. "Well, we don’t necessarily have to sleep." Her hand touched his inner thigh and he pulled back looking at her like she’d just grown an extra head.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Well, I know that I have been really selfish. Neglecting your needs and I’m sorry. I want to remedy that. I want to make you feel good. Don’t you want that?"

JC stared her in the face amazed. Bobbie was scared to death, he could see it shimmering behind the fake look of lust in her eyes. The only time she’d ever acted like she wanted to sleep with him was when they’d first gotten together. She’s played like a good girl then. Never since. Never in all the fighting or breaking up or anything had she ever used sex to try and gain some ground. She was scared to death and she was playing her final card. Her hand slid higher to caress him intimately. He never even responded.

Defeated, she turned and left the room.

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