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“I can’t go any further.” I said halting Josh and turning him to face me. He pulled me forward out of the way of oncoming pedestrians, some of whom were obviously in a huge hurry and bumping into us. Slipping his arms around me, he drew me close to him. His body was warm and soft. I buried my face into his chest and inhaled deeply his scent. I would miss it and wanted to have one last breath of it. He pulled back slightly, tipped my head up and kissed me.
“Can I tell you how much I don’t want to go?” He whispered into my ear. I nodded.
“Sure, tell me. But you don’t have much time so make it short.” He chuckled slightly. I rested my head against him and listened to his heart pounding in his chest. He was silent a moment and I heard him swallow.
“Even with the bad stuff there at the end I’ve had the best 3 weeks of my life and I’m glad I spent it with you.” He said, his voice reverberating through his chest and into my ear. My arms tightened around him.
“Me too.” I said, my throat was tight and the words were literally choked out of me. He began to kiss me then and for what seemed like an eternity we were the only two there in the LA airport. Neither of us conscious of the goings on around us, no sound could be heard save our breathing and his mouth on mine. Finally he pulled away as reality slowly set back in. He glanced at his watch and sighed.
“Shit.” He said softly. “I’ve got to go. And look what I get to leave with.” He pressed his hips against me and I felt the knob that had grown there. I smiled.
“I didn’t want to leave you with nothing to remember me by.” He sighed.
“Great, thanks. And now I really have to go.
“Okay.” I said and backed away from him, wiping at my dampened cheeks. “Hey, be a good boy and don’t be tempted by those good looking chicks in short skirts and halter tops.” I winked. He smiled.
“I have been up until now.” He said with a grin.
“Yeah well now you know what real sex is and you won’t be getting any for a while.” I teased. “At least you’d better not be!” He rolled his eyes and sighed.
“Thanks for the reminder. And no, I won’t be … until you can take some time off and come see me. Then it’s game on!” I laughed and tried to push him towards down the hallway towards the security check point but he gathered me up into his arms for another kiss. “I refuse to say goodbye.” He whispered. “So I will say ‘fino a che non veniamo a contatto di ancora’.” I screwed up my face in confusion and he laughed.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means until we meet again.” I smiled. He began to back away. “Ti amo la mia bella donna!” He called, blew me a kiss, and then turned and quickly headed towards the security area. I watched him as he went through the checkpoint and then afterward until he was fully out of sight before I could will myself to leave.
After driving home sadly, I changed into comfortable clothes, grabbed a glass of wine and sat in front of my computer writing. I think I wrote about 40 pages before heading out just before dusk for a run.
It was a month before I could get time off to see Josh and a lot had transpired in that time. Chris and I became friends again much to Josh’s disapproval. He was still convinced that Chris turned him in and caused our fight. After several conversations with Chris, one of which led to him sobbing hysterically and me holding him until his tears subsided, I was satisfied that it wasn’t him. It was obviously still a tender spot for Josh who nearly begged me not to associate with him. I was now, more then ever resolved to get them back together. Brothers shouldn’t hate each other the way these two did. Lindy, Josh’s mom and I became good friends and worked together along with the radio station on Josh’s charity fundraising events. We got some metal bands together and they donated a concert which raised $65,000. It was nice to know that Lindy had now accepted me despite her two son’s animosity for each other because of me. She chalked it off to testosterone and my fabulous figure. I just laughed.
After two weeks of silence Andy quit suddenly and gave no reason why. It disturbed me deeply because after working closely with him for the last two years he just left without giving me an explanation. The station found me a new associate named Crystal and I was working on building an on-air relationship with her. I had to admit the ratings were a bit higher since they paired me with another woman but the jury was still out as to whether or not I cared for her. Crystal was one of the reasons I couldn’t get away to spend time with Josh, Ben refused to let me go just having signed her on so I had to wait. But now there was no more waiting … I was on a plane to New York where Josh was scheduled to play three sold out evenings in a row and my heart was throbbing with excitement and anticipation.
I sat waiting at the baggage claim and checked my watch again. Josh said he would be here any minute and that I shouldn’t wait outside in the cold. My pulse was racing and my head ached from the flight. Suddenly he burst through the airport door and ran into my arms. He picked me up and swung me around.
“Oh my God!” I squealed and giggled. He planted little kisses all over my neck, my chin and finally my mouth. His arms were so tight around me that I couldn’t breathe. “Josh, oh my God, Josh …” I panted. He set me down and released me.
“I’m sorry, sweetie.” He said and grabbed my suitcase that sat waiting behind me. “I can’t even tell you how much I’ve missed you.” I slid my arm around his waist and he rested his on my shoulder as we made our way outside and into a waiting limo. Once the driver had pulled away and we were safely on the road he pushed me backwards on the seat and crawled on top of me. Pulling my head up to his he kissed me with warmth. “I missed you, baby.” He said between kisses. I slid my hands up underneath the back of his winter jacket and onto his bare back. He felt so good. It seemed like years since I’d touched him. Gross as it sounds I didn’t even change my sheets for two weeks not wanting to lose the smell of him in bed next to me!
“I missed you too.” I breathed as his kissed his way down my chin to my neck. “You feel so good.” He growled.
“Just wait … it gets better.” I sighed happily. He brought me to a stately hotel in downtown New York City and carried my suitcase for me up to the room. He’d arrived there earlier and his suitcase sat perched on a table, unopened. He set mine next to it on the floor before shrugging off his coat and tossing it anywhere. I’d barely got mine off before we were at each other, mouths kissing, tongues licking, clothes flying everywhere. We lay in bed just holding each other and I nuzzled his chest and inhaled his scent. It felt right, it felt like I was home again and I felt the weight of the world lift from me right then and there.
“I can’t believe you did that!” Josh snapped as he paced the room, one hand raking through his hair, his jaw clenched tight. I sat on the bed and watched him not believing the reaction I was getting.
“It has to be done. Better sooner then later!” I countered. He stopped moving and glared at me.
“It doesn’t have to be now! I have a show tonight and I don’t need to be angry. Lori, I wish you had asked me first.” He leaned his forearm against the wall and planted his other hand on his hip. I glanced at my watch. He would be there soon.
“Josh …” I said softly as I got up from the bed and approached him. I slid my hand down the side of his face gently. “He’s your brother. He loves you. You two working out this fight will be good for not only you but your mom and dad too. Do you know how hard this is on them?” He sighed and looked up the ceiling.
“Yeah, I know but he’s a lying, conniving, back-stabbing son-of-a-bitch.” I sighed and pulled him into my arms.
“How do you know he was the one who called me? Besides, it was a female who called.” I said.
“Well I don’t have solid proof but who else would it have been? There weren’t too many people who knew that we’d never actually gotten a divorce.”
“Perhaps it was who they said it was, a friend of your wife.” He pointed a finger at me.
“Ex-wife!” I nodded.
“I know, ex-wife.” I sighed. “He didn’t do it." I said, resolute. “Just trust me. He loves and wants you two to work it out.” He sighed again, and then again. “Hmm?” I asked as I toyed with a wayward curl that flopped against his forehead. He shrugged.
“Whatever. The damage is done, he’s going to be here soon so it looks like I don’t have a choice.” I pushed up onto my toes and kissed him lightly.
“I’ll be here if anything goes wrong. Don’t worry.” Just then there was a knock on the door. I left Josh and went to open it. Chris stood there, a frightened look on his face. I pulled him inside and took his hand in mine for comfort.
“Is he okay?” He asked behind his hand. I nodded and glanced at Josh then back at Chris.
“Sorta. Take it slow. I’ll be here if anything goes wrong.” He squeezed my hand and then I pulled him slowly into the room. Josh was sitting by the desk in front of the window looking out.
“Sweetie, Chris is here.” I said as I approached Josh. He nodded. I put my hands on either side of his shoulders and bent my head to his ear. “Just go slow honey, it’ll be okay.” He reached back and squeezed my hand then stood up. He turned slowly and I could tell from the look on his face that it almost hurt to look at the brother he thought betrayed him.
“Chris.” He said, somewhat stern. Chris stared at his shoes. “I suppose we should get this over with.” Chris nodded. I moved off into another part of the room and let them have time. “Did you have something to do with Lori finding out I wasn’t divorced?” Josh just came right out with it. I watched him as he stood up and planted his hands on his hips, waiting patiently for Chris to answer. I prayed Chris would, Josh didn’t look like he was feeling overtly patient and I didn’t want another rumble in the room.
“No.” Chris said.
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“Because you’re jealous of the friendship that Lori and I have.” Josh scratched his chin and then glared at Chris. “Because you have no one else to blame it on but yourself and it’s easier to take it out on me then blame yourself?” I sucked in air through my teeth and winced. Josh wasn’t going to take that lightly, I thought. Josh looked down and then back up at Chris.
“What you have for Lori isn’t a desire for friendship Chris.” Josh said. “You told me you wanted to date her.” I blushed slightly and turned away.
“Yeah, and that brings me to another thing, Josh, you knew I wanted to date her and yet you went ahead and did it. You stole her right out from under me. And you don’t expect me to be mad about that?” It was Chris’ turn to be angry. I turned back and watched them.
“I didn’t steal her from you Chris, we had already been dating when you came out and told me that. She was already mine.” I felt an odd sensation sitting there listening to them talk about me as if I weren’t in the room. You’re familiar with the old “fly on the wall” saying …
“Yeah, well thanks for telling me.” Chris said sarcastically. Josh smiled, victorious.
“Sure thing little bro.” Chris was balling up his fists and I decided it was time for me to step in.
“Hey, guys …” I said moving between them and placing a hand on both of their chests. “How about we cool it off and stop talking about who has whom. It’s getting a little heated.”
“He’s rubbing my nose in it now, Lori.” Chris said eyeing Josh. Josh cleared his throat and tried to look serious but he had a smirk on his face. I pushed him backwards and chastised him.
“Knock it off Josh. You’re supposed to be working things out with him not egging him on.” He looked into my eyes and then sighed.
“I know. I’m sorry.” He glanced over at Chris and then back down at me. I waited while he composed himself again, took a deep breath and then nodded at me.
“Keep it above the belt.” I whispered and went back to my seat in the other end of the room. Josh was silent. His lips pressed tightly together to form a line, his brows furrowed and then he spoke.
“Chris, I’m sorry that things didn’t work out between you and Lori but I think you took it out on me and quite frankly that hurt. I don’t think there’s ever anything I’ve done to deliberately hurt you.” Chris gritted his teeth and clenched his jaw.
“Well there have been things but I won’t go into them now. And I don’t consider consoling Lori in her time of need doing something to deliberately hurt you Josh.” Josh looked up at the ceiling then nodded.
“Okay based on the theory that you didn’t have something to do with Lori finding out that I wasn’t divorced then yes you didn’t do anything wrong and in that theory then I will have to apologize and hope you can accept my apology.” Chris sighed.
“You still can’t get past the fact that I didn’t have anything to do with it.” Josh shook his head and raised one eyebrow.
“No. I do think that and though I can’t prove it I’m still convinced.”
“Then all this talking is for nothing. There’s no reason for me to be here. I’m sorry Lori, I know you tried.” Chris turned and headed for the door. I looked desperately at Josh who sighed and went after him.
“Chris!” He barked and stopped him at the door. He turned his brother to face him. “I’m sorry. I’m just looking for excuses. You’re right, if I had finished what I’d started none of this would have come about.” Chris searched his face for any sign of deception but found honesty. He found himself relaxing a little, letting down his guard. “I do love you little brother.” Josh said and enveloped Chris in a hug. I smiled. It was good to see them close again. I stood and joined then in the hallway and the three of us hugged. I glanced at my watch.
“Look at that, and in time for a meal. Let’s go have something to eat.” I said. The boys agreed and so after a phone call to the elder Grobans the 5 of us met in the restaurant for a peaceful meal.
