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Josh sped down the highway on his way to the studio and made a few phone calls. He felt great this morning despite more TV coverage of Jan and Jude. He was almost to the point where it didn’t bother him any more. His thoughts constantly returned to Karen and their phone relationship. He smiled as he reminisced of the night before. She had been so cute, so girlish though he knew she was 10 years his senior. She had an alluring voice and when she spoke it was soothing, intelligent, and provocative. He had been lying in bed, his clothing in a heap on the floor when she started that growling thing. His body responded to it immediately. When he begged her to do it again she just giggled like a young girl. He loved that about her. She was so humble. She was Jan’s opposite. Whatever Jan wasn’t, Karen was. Jan was a model, a flawless woman but Karen, Karen didn’t need the outer beauty that Jan possessed because she was the keeper of inner beauty. If his parents taught him anything in life it was that the beauty that’s on the inside was much more important than the beauty that was on the outside. He parked the car, locked it and went into the building. He was greeted by several people who had been waiting for him. They all went into a large conference room and sat. His assistant handed him a stack of papers and the group, headed by David Foster and Brian Avnet began to go over them.
“You have two charity events coming up, Josh. One in Canada and the other in New York. We have to begin working on that. I’d like to start planning personal appearances for the upcoming record you’re currently working on.” Brian said and flipped the first page of the report over.
“How committed am I to these events, especially the Canadian one?” Josh asked lightly, not looking for confrontation but knowing he was going to get one anyway.
“Josh, you said you’d do this months ago.” David Foster said. “Don’t tell me you’re going to try to get out of another commitment.” Josh shook his head quickly.
“No, no. I was just wondering.” He grumbled to himself. These charities that David involved himself in and then dragged Josh into drove him nuts. And now he would have to start traveling. He wondered if Karen might be able to go with him …
“Good because once I tell people you are going to be there you can’t back out on me.” David’s booming voice brought him back to the present. Josh jumped slightly and crumpled the paper he held in his hand. His assistant touched him lightly on the arm.
“You okay, Josh?” She whispered. He smiled and nodded.
“How’s the CD coming along?” Brian asked and received multiple answers. “Josh?”
“Great. I think I only have like 6 more and then I’m done recording.”
“Good, let’s move it along then. The sooner we can get it out on the shelves the sooner you can start touring again.” He felt a bolt of electricity shoot through his chest. Touring for Josh was a double edged sword. He loved to sing live but the stress of traveling could get to him. Life on the road in a tour bus was very similar to what he thought jail would be like. He sighed and outwardly he smiled but inwardly he cringed.
“Are we done?” Josh asked, anxiously. He knew they weren’t but he thought maybe if he seemed anxious to get going …
“No, next is this January issue.” Josh snapped his head up and glared at Brian. “I’m sorry, Josh. It has to be addressed.” He felt his cheeks tinge red and looked down. “She’s embarrassed herself in Australia by messing around with that actor, Jude Law.”
“Have you spoken to her?” David asked Josh. He shook his head.
“The last time I talked to her she denied everything.” David sighed and Brian shook his head in disbelief.
“Well maybe it’s not as hot and heavy as we all think it is. Perhaps the relationship could be salvaged.” Josh shook his head adamantly.
“No. Don’t even get involved in it. It’s my business and I’ve decided I’m not salvaging anything. What’s done is done. I’ve been talking to someone new anyway.” He mumbled the last part.
“Who is she? Is she a celebrity?” David asked. Josh stared down at his papers and shook his head.
“You don’t know her and she’s not a celebrity.”
“It’s not one of your fans is it?” Brian asked quickly and sternly. Josh sighed and shook his head.
“No, of course not. Why do you ask dumb things like that? That makes me mad.” Brian looked at Josh quizzically.
“That wasn’t dumb Josh, you know the rules.” Josh frowned right back at him.
“Then if you know I know the rules why even ask?” David coughed.
“That’s enough Josh. I know it seems like we’re like parents but …”
“Worse then parents.” Josh muttered.
“What is your problem today?” Brian snapped.
“My problem? How about the fact that my girlfriend is in another country sleeping with an actor and you’re worried about who I’m talking to. It’s humiliating to say the least!” He pushed the papers from in front of him and rubbed his forehead. David looked at Brian and sighed.
“Josh, we’re sorry.” He said softly, gently like a parent would to a child. “I know it’s rough.” Josh glared up at him.
“Do you?” David tightened his lips.
“Yeah, you know I do. Now I know it’s been rough on you and I’m sorry if you took it the wrong way but we have to salvage what we can and move on. You know you’re the victim and people will side with you on this one.” Josh covered his face with his hands.
“I don’t want to be a victim. I don’t want anyone’s sympathy. I want this over with.”
“Well play it cool if you can. No Grobanites.” Josh sighed.
“Enough with the Grobanites. I’ve already told you I haven’t. Don’t push it.” David headed for the door.
“The meeting’s over. Josh is being a shit. Don’t back out on me Josh or you’ll regret it.” He stated, walked out and slammed the door behind him blowing the curtains on the windows sideways. The remaining people in the room sat staring at the door incredulous. Finally Brian clapped his hands together.
“Well, okay then boys and girls. Does anyone else have anything to add?” He looked from face to face. Josh began to rip little tiny pieces of paper from the agenda and toss them up in the air.
“Josh!” Brian said loudly and Josh jumped. He looked at Brian and frowned.
“What?” He snapped.
“Stop irritating David. He’s your biggest fan you know.” Josh sighed and pulled his feet down from the chair across from him under the table.
“I know. Tell him I’m sorry.” He said, got up and left the room. He left the studio and headed towards his parent’s house. He was in search of a picture, one he could safely send to Karen. One that she couldn’t and wouldn’t recognize as Josh Groban the singer but Jay, the man she talks on the phone to. He hated lying to her. Of all the vices he had, lying wasn’t one of them. He despised liars and that was one of the reasons he was learning to loathe January. The woman he thought he would marry. He stuck a CD in the slot and turned the music up loud. The first strains of Wanna Be A Marytr by Full Devil Jacket came blasting out of the speakers. He needed something loud and distracting. He squealed into the driveway and screeched to a halt. Entering the house he found his mother in the living room on the phone. He came up beside her and kissed her cheek then went into the family room and pulled out a few picture albums. When Lindy finished her phone call she joined her son.
“Can I help you find something Joshua?” She asked sliding up behind him and peeking over his shoulder.
“Yeah, Mom. I’m looking for pictures of Brandon.” She frowned and pursed her lips.
“Well whatever for?” She went over to the shelf where the picture albums were and pulled one down.
“I was telling someone about him and how much he looked like me and I want to show them. Have anything fairly recent?” Brandon was Josh’s cousin. He was a year older then Josh, had a good job as a Los Angeles Veterinarian, and the wealthy son of Lindy’s sister. Lindy pushed an album towards Josh.
“Here’s the picture from when he graduated Veterinary school.” Josh glanced down at it. It was almost eerie how alike they were. They could have been brothers. Josh glanced at his mother and then shuddered. He didn’t even want to think about that.
“How about one where he’s NOT in a white coat, Mom?” He asked. She pulled the album back and flipped through a few more pages. She found one of Josh and Brandon playing football in the yard.
“How about this one?” She asked. He looked at it and smiled.
“Yeah, gimme that one.” He pulled the picture out of the sleeve and set it aside. “Do you have more?” He asked.
“I think the pictures from his 21st birthday party are in here somewhere …” She flipped through that album and when she didn’t find what she wanted moved on to another one. “Here they are!” She exclaimed excitedly and turned the album towards Josh so he could see. He grinned, took the album and slammed it shut. He took the one picture he’d put aside and stuck it between the pages. He bent down and kissed his mom on the top of her head.
“Thanks Mom. I’m gonna be in my room for a little bit, I have to scan these pictures.” He yelled heading off down the hall and then sprinting up the stairs to his old bedroom where he had a big computer set up with a printer/scanner/fax machine. He turned on the light and smiled. He loved his old room, it brought back so many warm, loving memories of his family. They had always been a close bunch, the Grobans, and success hadn’t changed them much. Josh turned on his computer and busied himself picking out the pictures he wanted to scan while it booted up. He lay out the pictures neatly and then when the computer and scanner were ready he scanned them and burned them onto a disc. While his computer shut down, he put the disc in a plastic box, put all the pictures back into the album where they belonged then returned them to the family room where he’d gotten them. He found Lindy in the kitchen. As soon as he walked in the tangy, tomatoey smell of spaghetti hit him in the belly. It was then he realized he hadn’t eaten since breakfast.
“Oh man, does that smell good!” He said making his way to the stove and lifting the lid off the stewing pot. The steam rolled out from under the lid and he sucked in the scent through his nostrils. Instantly he salivated. Lindy watched him, smiling.
“You’re hungry, aren’t you?” She asked. He smiled at her and nodded. “Do you want to stay for supper?” He shook his head.
“I do but I have to get home and get these pictures sent.” He grinned a cheesy, toothy grin at his mother. “Would you like to make your starving son a care package?” She smiled back at him.
“Yeah, I suppose.” She said and went about the kitchen putting noodles in a bowl and spooning some gravy over it. She cut a few pieces of Italian bread and put them in a bag for him. When she was finished she handed over a neatly wrapped dinner to go. He kissed her on the cheek again.
“Thanks Mom, you’re the best.” He said and bolted out the door.
Josh made it home in record time. After parking the car in the garage, he headed up to the condo and turned on the laptop while unwrapping the spaghetti. It was still steaming and didn’t need warming up so he stood by the counter in the kitchen and shoveled it down. By the time he was finished eating, his computer was up and ready to go. He slid the CD into the slot and then opened his email program. He typed up a letter to Karen and attached two of the pictures. One of them being the one of him and Brandon. Just then the phone rang. Every nerve in his body lit up and he leaped up off the couch and headed for the dining room table where he’d left his cell phone. He picked it up hurriedly and out of breath.
“Jay?” It was Karen. “Are you okay? You sound like you just ran up several flights of stairs to answer the phone.” He was still clutching at his chest. He’d suffered several heart attacks that day and wasn’t sure he’d live through another one.
“Yeah.” He let out a deep breath. “I’m okay, the phone scared me that’s all.” Karen laughed.
“Man, you need to get out more!” She teased. He laughed softly.
“You’re telling me!” He said and headed back to the couch where he was in the process of sending pictures of himself to her.
“So how was your day?” She asked lightly. He frowned and was tempted to tell her how shitty it was but thought better of it. Not just yet, Groban, not just yet, he told himself.
“It was okay. Could have been better.”
“How’s your boss?” Karen asked. Josh raised one eyebrow, confused.
“Which one? David? Brian?”
“No, the singer!” She said. His eyes opened wide as realization dawned on him. Shit, he mouthed silently.
“Oh him!” He said and then laughed. “He’s ticked off, he’s got a commitment in Canada next week that he doesn’t want to attend but has no choice.”
“Canada? Does that mean you have to go too?”
“Yes.” He said through gritted teeth. “I’m not happy.” She sighed.
“So no one in the band is happy to go to Canada and make music?” She said and then laughed. “Nice band.” He sighed and rubbed his forehead. He couldn’t continue this ruse much longer.
“Yeah, I know. I don’t mind but …” He trailed off.
“It’s not like you’ll miss me. You talk on your cell phone anyway. You planning on bringing it with you Einstein?” He snickered.
“What do you think?” She laughed.
“I think yes.”
“That’s why I like you, Karen, you’re so smart and quick on the uptake.”
“I know it!” She laughed. Josh leaned back against the couch and put his feet up on the cocktail table, one foot on either side of the computer.
“So, lady, where’s the pic you promised me?” He asked. He heard her gasp on the other end.
“I am working on it.” She said defensively.
“Well I hope you work on it faster because I have several of me I was going to send to you but I’m not going to until you ante up.” She sighed heavily.
“Jay! You are a mean young man.” He grinned.
“Oh you haven’t seen me mean yet. You should see what I can do with a feather duster and some rope.”
“Jay, you are a tease.” She said in a whisper. He was a tease? When she used her voice like that, soft and alluring she was even more of a tease!
“Oh no, it’s not me, it’s you!”
“Nope. Don’t argue with me or I’ll be forced to spank you when I meet you. And you most likely won’t like it! You forget, I’m a mommy.” He closed his eyes and felt a heat that spread through his body like wildfire. The more he talked to her the more he wanted her.
“You’re telling me you’re going to spank me and I’m a tease? I think not.” He said with a guttural laugh. “You really need to send me some pictures of yourself. Get on that computer of yours right now while we’re talking and find one. I know you can. Go on!” He ordered and pointed in the air at nothing. She sighed again.
“Man, you’re bossy today. Who pissed in your cornflakes?” He laughed.
“You don’t even want to know. I told you I had a crappy day, all that talk about going to Canada and all …” He rambled on and on mindlessly and minutes later he received an email from Karen. “Ohhhhh…. What’s this?” He taunted as he opened it and found there was an attachment.
“Just look at it and get it over with.” She said dryly. He clicked on the little paper clip that signaled an attachment and waited anxiously for her picture to show up. When it finally did he stared at it and smiled. She was elegant. She was charming. She was beautiful. He felt a crawling feeling that began in his belly and tingled it’s way down to his thighs. “Well?” He heard her ask. “Did I kill you because you’re awfully quiet!”
“No, Karen, you’re gorgeous!” He breathed. She clicked her tongue and sighed.
“Oh please!” She said sarcastically.
“No, I mean it.” He said defensively. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. “You’re radiant.” She laughed.
“Of all the things I’ve been called Jay, radiant is not one of them! Bitch fits me better. What do you think?” He had covered his mouth with his hand and was rubbing his thumb along his lower lip.
“No, I think the picture is great. Send me more.”
“Uhhh, no. I think you owe me something.” She said quickly. He frowned. “Jay?” She said.
“Oh yeah, I do, don’t I?” He teased then cradled the phone between his ear and his shoulder while he finished the email he’d started earlier and after attaching two pictures of Brandon, one being the one of him and Brandon, pressed send. “And there you go. Now, if anyone’s going to get sick from pictures it’s going to be you.” He said leaning back against the couch to wait for her response. He didn’t hear anything for a few minutes. Then Karen spoke.
“Which one is you?” She asked.
“I’m the one with the football. The other douchebag is my boss.”
“What’s his name again?” She asked. He smiled.
“Josh.”
“Right! Hey, you’re really cute!” He rolled his eyes.
“Ya think so?” He asked. She growled at him.
“Rowr.” He felt the little hairs on his arms stand straight up.
“Do that again.” He said, grinning. She growled at him again. He felt an awakening between his legs. “Again.” He said softly. She did. He sighed.
“Oh baby.” He moaned. She giggled. “You make me hot.” He whispered.
“Are we going to start this again tonight?” She taunted. He reached down and adjusted himself from where his jeans were pinching him.
“You want to? Because after all that growling I’m definitely in the mood.” He lay his hand on his thigh and rubbed it lightly back and forth.
“Not on the phone, Jay. At least not now.” She pleaded.
“It’s okay, Karen. I understand but we’re going to have to meet sooner or later.” He said with a disappointed sigh.
“I know.” She whispered. “And I want to. Now more then ever.” He slid his hand up his thigh to the mass in his pants.
“We’re going to meet. Right after I get back from Canada.”
“Are you going to come here?” He looked around at the emptiness of his condo and the privacy it allowed.
“No.” He said in a throaty voice. “I’m going to fly you out here.” He was sure she could use a little mini-vacation anyway.
“I’m not sure that’s going to work with the kids and all …” She moaned.
“It will. The ‘ex’ has them on the weekends now and then doesn’t he?”
“Now and then.” She said.
“Good. Then it’s decided.” They talked a bit longer then Karen begged ‘Jay’ to let her get some sleep. He was generous and gave in. After hanging up with her Josh undressed and slipped into the shower. He rubbed the bar of soap between his hands until they were good and bubbly. He began to scrub himself. He thought about Karen. He now had a pretty face to go with that sexy voice. And sexy it was. He heard her growl and then growl again. He shivered as his slippery hands worked over his hard body. It had been almost a month since he’d had sex and by the time his hands moved down from his arms to his chest then over his belly he was stiff and ready. He took himself into his hand and relieved his frustration before crawling off into bed and going to sleep.
