One door closes, another opens...
*Something Like You* - A fan fiction story by Tammy "Tammtamm" Frederick © starting July 24, 2001, please email feedback to thetamm@yahoo.com or stories@iwuvjoey.com or come and write about it at Feedback Forum. Sequel to THIS I PROMISE YOU. (inspired by the song Something Like You, written by Justin Timberlake/Robin Wiley; off NSYNC's new album, Celebrity, in stores now!)
FuMan Skeeto’s Communications department had spread the word about the press conference. It was set for mid-afternoon. The statement would be read by a representative from FuMan Skeeto on behalf of Chris, Danielle, Joey, and Tara. They would all be there in case they were needed during the press conference although the press was told that questions would be at a minimal if they were lucky.
Justin, JC and Lance went to the press conference to show their support for the group mates and friends.
The press conference was quick and, for the most part, painless.
A reporter did ask if the four of them were planning another double wedding. Joey replied a simple “No comment” for the four of them.
After the conference, Danielle tried to talk to Chris, but he bolted for his office. With the guys in tow. Tara followed Danielle to her office.
“Dani, he’s just not ready to face you.” Tara explained once she closed the door behind them. She closed the blinds to give them even more privacy.
“Well, it’s not easy for me either. I thought he was happy with me. I thought he loved me.” Dani put her head in his arms and cried.
“Dani, I’m so sorry about all of this. I really am.” Tara went over to Danielle.
“Was it me? Did he feel like I was pushing him to get married? Because I wasn’t. Why doesn’t he love me anymore? Why?” Dani asked. Tara wanted to cry as well.
“Dani, he does love you, but knows in his heart that he’s not the one for you. He told me that.” Tara explained.
Yeah, he told me that too. It just doesn’t make any sense. If he knew that he wasn’t the one for me, then why ask me?” Danielle asked.
“That’s something he needs to tell you. Not me.” Tara replied.
“Will you promise me something?” Danielle asked.
“Depends on what it is.” Tara replied.
“I know you’re going out on tour with the guys in May, could you just watch over him?” Make sure he eats right and gets enough sleep.” Danielle instructed.
“You know I will.” Tara replied, “Why don’t you take the rest of today off and get away from this place for a few hours?” Tara suggested.
“Can’t. Have a teleconference at four. Thanks for calming me down, Tara. Thanks for being our friend.” Dani gave Tara a hug.
“Always. Now… remember that he loves you and just wants you to be happy. It may take some time, but you’ll find that happiness.” Tara gave Danielle’s hand a squeeze before leaving her office and going to Chris’s.
When Chris looked up from his computer, he saw the expression on Tara’s face. “Is she all right?” he asked.
“Funny. She asked the same about you. She wanted to talk to you and you ignored her, Chris. She’s your best friend from the start. Don’t just shut her out of your life like this.” Tara told him.
“It’s the only way to get her to get over me faster.” Chris went back to finishing off the email he had written to Danielle.
“Love doesn’t work that way, Chris. You can’t just turn the handle and poof! You’re no longer in love. You both love each other. You need to find a way to work through this together in order to maintain both your business relationship and your friendship.” Tara hated having to spew out advice like that to Chris, but she didn’t want to see the friendship that Chris and Danielle shared just wither away and die. She didn’t want Chris to cut Danielle completely out of his private life.
“Are you done?” Chris asked her as he sent the email and then turned off his computer.
“For now.” Tara stated.
“Good. Could you drop me off at Johnny’s? I came over with Joey, but sent him back there with the others.” Chris explained.
Over the next few days the guys spent nearly eighteen hours in the studio getting the songs down and deciding which ones to put on the album. With it near completion, Lance and Joey went to Canada to film a movie, JC and Justin continued with production work on the album, and Chris worked on FuMan Skeeto business. All of them continued to make appearances at award shows and tributes when schedules allowed.
Chris had eventually come around and talked to Danielle and they both agreed that he was right to make the decision he did. Danielle promised Chris she’d move on and made him promise not to give up on the possibility of ever getting married to someone, even if it wasn’t her.
Tara spent most of March in Europe and returned home to a welcomed solo surprise party given by Joey.
Tara had Randy leave her luggage in the hall as she sorted the day’s mail. She then checked phone messages before going into the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. The flight home from Europe was long and tiring. She just wanted to take a nice nap before Joey got home. He had told her that he would be in the middle of a meeting with the guys about touring and such and that he didn’t expect to be home until after six when she called him on his cell phone from the airport.
She found a mixed bouquet of roses and carnations on the island counter with a wrapped box and a card. She opened the card after sniffing the flowers.
Hey baby, I’m so glad you’re home. Being unable to see you and hold you in my arms for nearly a month has been torture. Now that you’re home, I can rest easy again. I hope your trip was a success and I can’t wait to have you in my arms again. I love you – Joey Doe
Tara smiled as happy tears fell down her cheek. She went to put the card down when she noticed some writing on the back.
Well, just don’t stand there! Open the box already!
Both notes were in Joey’s handwriting. Tara put the card down and opened the box. On top was an index card that read Wear me. So what if I won’t be on very long! causing Tara to burst out in laughter. She reached into the box to find a bathing suit.
“I thought you could use a few minutes in the Jacuzzi after that plane ride.” Joey said from doorway to the Jacuzzi.
“Joey!” Tara cried as she ran to him. Joey wrapped his arms around her as she jumped into his arms.
“Didja miss me?” he teased as she smothered him in kisses.
“I don’t ever want to be away from you that long ever again.” She replied.
“Then thank goodness you’re coming on the tour with me.” Joey replied, “now, let’s see how you look in that bathing suit?” Joey lifted his eyebrow for her.
“I have a better idea.” Tara suggested as she backed him up against the wall.
“Oh, I’m liking it… whatever it is!” Joey said. He picked her up and carried her up to the bedroom.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.” Tara replied after she had woken Joey from his nap. He looked at the clock.
“Honey, it’s almost midnight.” He replied.
“It’s okay, Aida probably made a salad or something and left it in the fridge. Go back to sleep. I’ll be right back.” Tara explained as she got up.
Joey grabbed her arm and pulled her back down on the bed.
“I’m not ready to let you out of my sight just yet.” He said and kissed her. The moment was interrupted by the sound of her stomach growling, which caused them both to laugh.
“Joey, it’s all right. Go back to sleep. I’m still on Europe time. I’m just going to get a light snack and then I’ll be back up.” Tara explained.
“You sure? Nothing’s wrong?” Joey asked, concerned about her as usual.
“I’m sure.” Tara said and gave him a kiss before leaving the room.
“Get back in your room now!” Tara heard Randy say to her in a whisper.
“What’s going on?” Tara asked.
“I heard something outside. Get in there and stay in there until I come and tell you everything’s all right.” Randy instructed. Tara did as she was told.
“That was quick honey.” Joey said.
“Randy told me to get back in here. He’s investigating a noise outside.” Tara replied. Joey shot up into a sitting position.
“You’re kidding.” Joey replied.
“I wish I was.” Tara told him and sat down next to him on the bed.
“Well, I guess we should try to go back to sleep.” Joey suggested.
“You sleep… I’ll wait for Randy to come back.” Tara pushed Joey back on the bed. Randy returned a few minutes later.
“What was it Randy?” she asked when she opened the door.
“Chris was looking for Busta.” Randy replied.
“Busta got loose?” Tara asked.
“Yes. Chris left the gate between the yards open.” He explained. Tara tried not to laugh.
“Thanks, Randy. Good night.” She said as she heard Joey groan from the bed.
“I’m gonna kidnap that dog someday and see how long it takes Chris to realize the dog’s been doggie napped and then I’m gonna ransom that dog! I swear.” Joey chuckled.
“Okay, that like made no sense honey. But think about it. How would you like it if Marxycat was in someone else’s yard?” She stated.
“One less mouth to feed.” Joey replied without thinking. Tara grabbed a huge pillow from the foot of the bed and threw it at him.
“Oomph! Hey!” Joey laughed.
“Go back to sleep. I need some food.” Tara said and went to the kitchen.
When Tara hadn’t returned an hour later, Joey went looking for her. He found her asleep in the den. It looked like she was going through some mail.
“Europe time my ass.” Joey chuckled and carried her to bed.
When Joey called to check on her at lunchtime the next day, Aida told him she was still sleeping. He sent Shawn over to wake her up.
“What are you sleeping the day away for? We’ve got shopping to do and plans to make! Let’s go!” Shawn shouted from the doorway.
“Go away.” Tara replied and pulled the covers over her head.
“What’s wrong?” Shawn asked.
“Tired.” Tara replied.
“C’mon, I brought you your favorite Vanilla Maple tea with French Vanilla creamer.” Shawn walked towards the bed. Tara got a whiff of the tea and bolted for the bathroom.
“Um, okay, so no shopping today… at least in person. I’ll go have Aida make you some toast and regular tea. How’s that sound?” Shawn suggested.
“Sounds great.” Tara replied.
“You okay? No fever or anything?” Shawn asked.
“Airplane food.” Tara explained.
“Oh… I understand that one!” Shawn replied. She went to turn around when Tara noticed the tattoo on Shawn’s ankle.
“What is that on your ankle?” Tara asked.
“What?” Shawn asked and looked down at her ankle, “Oh, that… it’s fake. It’ll come off in a few days. JC and I got matching ones.” Shawn laughed.
“Oh, cool.” Tara replied a she stood up. Shawn helped her back to bed before going down to the kitchen. She then called Joey’s cell phone.
“Hello?” Joey answered. He was waiting for Shawn’s call.
“Was Tara feeling all right last night?” Shawn asked him.
“Yeah, why?”
“She’s sick today. Blames it on airplane food.” Shawn told him.
“She okay?” Joey asked, wondering if he should bag rehearsal and go home.
“Aida’s going to make her some toast and tea and I’m going to let her sleep. I’ll stick around and work on the website or something.” Shawn decided.
“Is she running temperature?” Joey asked.
“No. Don’t worry. She’s probably just got jet lag mixed with bad airplane food.” Shawn replied.
“Thanks Shawn. I’ll come home for dinner.” Joey said before hanging up the phone.
Shawn and Aida kept an eye on Tara and managed to get her to eat some dry toast and drink a good amount of tea. Tara even ventured downstairs around three-thirty to see what Shawn was up to and such. <HR>”Shawn? You’re still here?” Joey asked a little after seven that night.
“Jeez… what time is it?” Shawn asked as she looked at her watch. “Oh, wow! Yeah, I got lost in re-designing Tara’s site.”
“Where is she?” Joey asked.
“After she left me, she said she was going to go lay out on the deck for a while. That was around five.” Shawn replied. She shut down the computer and began packing up her things.
“Thanks for staying with her today.” Joey replied.
“No problem. She’s doing a lot better now. I’ll see you at nine back at Johnny’s for the web design meeting.” Shawn saw herself out as Joey made his way out to the deck.
“Hey beautiful!” Joey’s face lit up as soon as he saw Tara.
“Hey! What are you doing home?” Shouldn’t you be at rehearsal?” Tara put down the reports she was reviewing to talk with him.
“Yeah, but it’s dinner break. Wanted to make sure I didn’t dream last night.” Joey gave his wife a kiss.
“Didn’t dream. Me home.” Tara replied and kissed him back.
“You okay? Shawn said you weren’t feeling well earlier.” Joey asked.
“I’m okay now. I thing it was just the airplane food mixed with nerves and jetlag. I’ve managed to keep some toast and lots of tea down so I think I’m safe now.” She laughed. “I think Aida made a tuna casserole. Want some of that?” Tara suggested.
“Sure, come on in the kitchen with me.” Joey replied and offered his hand to help her up.
They spent the next hour having dinner and catching up on what each other head been up to for the past few weeks.
Joey sent Tara to bed as she still looked very tired and then went back to rehearsals.
After Joey left the next morning for rehearsals again, Tara ran to the bathroom and got ill immediately.
She didn’t feel ill, so she didn’t understand why she threw up everything. She shrugged it off, took a shower and joined the real world. She had a meeting with Danielle at eleven and then one last meeting over the phone with Trish before Trish and the company moved down to Orlando the following week.
Joey and the guys were in the midst of learning choreography for their new tour. They had a little over four weeks before the tour was to start. They were pumped and ready for action. They’d be moving to Atlanta, Georgia for the last two weeks before the tour to practice on the stage in a stadium atmosphere.
“Tara? Your tea water is boiling.” Randy said when he entered the kitchen.
“Thanks Randy. I was just reviewing my schedule in my head.” Tara replied. She had zoned out to a meeting she had with one of the buyers when she was in Paris the previous week.
“Tara… we’ve got some news for you regarding Kim.” Tiny said as he came in from the deck.
“Please tell me she hasn’t escaped again.” Tara sighed heavily. The last thing that Joey needed lurking over this tour was Kim being on the loose again.
“No… her mom passed away last night in a car accident. Kevin just called. He found out because a friend of his works for the department up there.” Tiny explained.
“Oh my! What about Kim’s son? She was the boy’s legal guardian.” Tara asked. She felt some compassion for Kim because of the loss of her mother.
“Don’t worry about the boy. I just thought you should know.” Tiny explained.
“Please don’t tell Joey. He’s got enough on his mind.” Tara told both men. “Speaking of which, shouldn’t you be there now Tiny?” Tara sort of said in a sarcastic tone.
“My, we’re in a mood today, aren’t we?” Tiny zinged back at Tara.
“I’m sorry… I’ve just got a lot on my mind. But, please, you should be over there with him. And if you tell him, that’s fine. He’d want to know.” Tara softened. She said goodbye to Tiny and Randy and walked into the living room and proceeded to throw a vase at the fireplace. She was angry. She suddenly felt she couldn’t be happy for any length of time without Kim being thrown into her face and it was no longer tolerable to her. She screamed as she felt an intense pain shoot through her body and slumped to the floor.
“Tara!” Randy darted from the kitchen to the living room and found her on the floor. He looked around the room really quick and noticed the broken vase in front of the fireplace. “What happened? He asked as Tara came too.
“We need to get to the emergency room, something’s wrong with me Randy.” She replied. Randy scooped her up and took her to the car.
“So what did the doctor say?” Randy asked when Tara walked back out to the waiting room a short time later.
“Jet lag, exhaustion, sinus infection. Prescribed some meds and sleep. Thanks for bringing me in Randy.” Tara replied.
“Let’s get your meds and get you home. Don’t ever scare me like that again.” Randy warned her.
“I’ll do my best not to, promise not to tell Joey. He doesn’t need to be worried about what happened today, all right?” she asked as her cell phone rang.
“Hi honey! You guys on break?” Tara answered the phone.
“Aida’s worried sick about you. Where are you and why is there glass all over the living room?” Joey asked.
“Sorry… I dropped it and I just finished a doctor’s appointment.” She lied.
“You all right?” Joey asked.
“Yeah… just need some more rest. The trip took a lot out of me.” She explained.
“Well, don’t push yourself. And I thought you were going to slow down with the business?” Joey asked.
“I will once the tour starts. That’s why I’m trying to get everything out of the way now. Will you be home for dinner?” Tara changed the subject.
“I don’t think so. Just wanted to call and check on you.”
“I’m glad you did. Love you.” Tara blew him a kiss and hung up the phone.
“You know better than to hold things back from him.” Randy explained as they reached the car.
“Please, Randy… no lectures. He needs to concentrate on the upcoming tour and such. He doesn’t need to worry about me.” Tara said to her bodyguard.
After they filled the prescription, they went home.
Tara took the rest of the week to sleep as much as possible after giving Aida the rest of it off. Joey wasn’t home for longer than four hours to get some sleep. Tara began to feel better and had no more sickness or black out spells.
The guys finally had Sunday off and all Joey could think to do was spend it with Tara, but Tara was anxiously awaiting Trish and Adrianna. They were driving down from Pennsylvania and were due to arrive Sunday afternoon.
“C’mon Tara… she’ll call when she gets into town. Let’s go relax in the Jacuzzi.” Joey said as Tara checked again on their rooms.
Tara gave in and joined him in the Jacuzzi.
As Tara sat wrapped in Joey’s arms, he began kissing her neck and untying her bathing suit. They were both very relaxed. Tara turned around to face him.
“Remember the first time we were in here together, relaxing?” she asked him. Joey smiled at her as she kissed him passionately. She wanted him so much. It didn’t take long for the rest of her suit and then his suit to come off.
“I am so going to miss this when we’re out on the road. This alone time when it’s just you and me.” Joey said a little while later. This time he was wrapped in her arms.
“We’ll just have to find those times when we can be alone. There will be times, Joe. Right?” she asked as she lifted his chin to look into his eyes.
“Oh yeah. Don’t want to neglect us one bit.” Joey said and reached for her mouth.
“What is it about us and this Jacuzzi?” she laughed before they kissed.
“Smart move. Why don’t you look where you’re going!” Trish yelled as she got out of her GMC Jimmy. She had stopped for gas a few miles from Tara and Joey’s house when a limousine backed into her and smashed her bumper and tail light in.
“What the???” Chris was thrown about the backseat when the accident happened. As he looked through the tinted windows, he recognized the woman walking towards his limousine. `Quick Kirkpatrick, how can you calm her down?” he asked himself. He opened the door, got out and when he reached her halfway, kissed her.
“What the hell was that?” Trish broke the kiss, not letting on that she enjoyed it tremendously. Never expecting to enjoy a kiss from Chris that much.
“Sorry… just wanted you to calm down.” Chris covered as he was going nuts behind that cool, calm exterior of his. “We’ll pay for the damage to the Jimmy. You okay? Adrianna okay?” he asked.
“We’re fine…” Trish said as she focused on his lips and gave up all willpower and kissed him as she pushed him up against the limousine.
“Uh, we should check out the damage to the vehicles.” Chris said a few minutes later.
“Why aren’t you at rehearsals or something?” Trish asked as she followed him back to see the damage to the Jimmy.
“Day off. We’ll follow you. You’re headed to Tara and Joey’s right?” Chris asked.
“Yes.” She replied. Chris walked her to the driver’s side of the Jimmy and opened her door.
“We’ll talk about this over pizza at my house tonight? Okay?” he asked, being bold. He had known she was moving her company down to Orlando and was looking forward to working with her, but seeing her with her hair up in a French braid in shorts and a tight shirt turned him on like never before. He waved at Adrianna before going back to the limousine.
“Man, that was some kiss.” Trish said to herself as she sat in the driver’s seat, stunned at what just happened. Her lips ached to be kissed by Chris again.
“Tara… I’m almost there… just leaving the gas station now.” Trish called Tara to let her know where she was.
“Great… We’ll meet you outside. I bet you and Adrianna are exhausted.” Tara replied.
“Yeah, a nap would do us both good.” Trish admitted.
“Great, and then we can grille.”
“Actually… I sorta have dinner plans.” Trish laughed. She couldn’t believe she was telling Tara this.
“Really? Do tell.” Tara was intrigued.
“I’ll tell ya when I get there.” Trish laughed and hung up the phone.
“Joey, they’re a few minutes out!” Tara was really giddy. She couldn’t believe everything with the company was finally coming true.
“You are so giddy, woman. I have a feeling that you two are going to be up all night as if you were at a slumber party.” Joey couldn’t help but laugh at how excited Tara was of Trish finally moving down to Orlando.
“Apparently not tonight. She has plans.” Tara said as they walked out onto the porch to see Trish pull in with a limousine pulling up behind him. Joey noticed the damage to the back of the Jimmy.
“Hon? Did Trish mention a car accident at all?” he asked.
“Hey Aunt Tara!” Adrianna yelled as Trish helped her out of the car.
Chris got out of the limo.
“That man kissed mommy and she kissed him back!” Adrianna told Tara and Joey when Joey scooped the little girl up in his arms.
“That explains her dinner plans.” Tara snickered. Joey tried to hide his chuckle at Tara’s remark.
“What did you do Chris… hit the vehicle of a beautiful woman just so you could follow her home?” Joey joked.
“Yeah.” Chris replied nonchalantly as he helped Trish get her suitcases out of the back of the Jimmy.
“Seriously?” Tara questioned as she walked up to them.
“Yes, the limousine backed into the Jimmy. Whether or not he did it to follow me home, I don’t know.” Trish replied as she turned to hug Tara.
“Trish, I told you that I’ll have the shop fix the Jimmy and in the mean time you can drive one of mine until it’s fixed.” Chris explained. He was trying to make things better. He felt really bad about hitting her car.
Trish just sighed as she grabbed her bags from him and walked past everyone and into the house. Tara shrugged at Chris as she followed Trish into the house.
“Um, thanks Chris. Let’s worry about the Jimmy later? I could really use a nap right now.” Trish admitted.
“Me too mommy.” Adrianna said as she remained in Joey’s arms.
“Okay then. Trish? Why don’t you and Adrianna come over after your nap then? I’ll see you both for dinner later.” Chris stated, “And again, I’m really sorry about hitting your Jimmy.” Chris made a quick exit.
“I’m not,” slipped out of Trish’s mouth as they watched Chris run back outside to talk to the limousine driver.
Tara and Joey showed Trish and Adrianna to their rooms. They would be staying with Tara and Joey until their house a few blocks over was finished.<HR>Tara and Joey spent the afternoon in the Jacuzzi once they were sure that Trish and Adrianna were sleeping.
“You’re almost asleep, aren’t you?” Joey asked Tara after they had been in the Jacuzzi for a half hour.
“Just about. Why?” Tara opened her eyes to look at her man.
“Are you going to be okay with me being in St. Louis for the next two weeks?” he asked.
“I’ll be out there on Wednesday. I’m fine with you being there.” She lied.
“What about the next few months with the tour and the endless promotion of the album and such?” Joey asked.
“Joey, we both knew the kind of jobs one another had and that we’d have to compromise our together time. Please, don’t worry. I’m fine with it. Besides, we’ll be together as often as possible.” Tara tried to sound convincing. She had not allowed herself to think otherwise as the day approached.
“You know I just worry. Now that we’re together for the rest of our lives, things are different and I don’t want them to change. “ Joey said as he ran his fingers through her hair.
Chris poked his head into the Jacuzzi room and told them that he had the Jimmy towed to the shop so that no one would panic when they didn’t see it in the driveway later on.
After the interruption, they stayed in the Jacuzzi a little while longer, enjoying the silence between them as they laid in each other’s arms. They finally got out when they heard Adrianna and Trish enter the kitchen. They dried off and got dressed before joining them in the living room.
Trish had called Chris’s to let him know they’d be over shortly as Adrianna climbed all over Joey.
“Adrianna… stop climbing all over uncle jungle Joey. Time to go see uncle Chris.” Trish said as she looked around for her keys. “Are you two sure it’s okay if we go over to Chris’s for dinner?”
“We’re fine with it. Gives us reason to go out to dinner ourselves.” Joey smiled.
“Ooohhh, a date! Cool!” Tara smiled. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go find something to wear.” She giggled as she left the room.
“Purple blazer!” both Trish and Joey yelled after her and burst out in laughter.
“You love her in that outfit.” Trish replied.
“Yup, I do. Now… before you go over to Chris’s, let me show you the alarm system and give you a key.” Joey stated. He showed her the alarm system and handed her a key as Adrianna began to tug at Trish’s shirt.
“Thanks Joey! Have fun tonight. We’ll try not to be too late.” Trish said as she and Adrianna left the house.
“Not a problem! Have fun!” Joey said before going up to the bedroom to change.
“So… where are we going for dinner? Tara asked as she came out of the bathroom in the purple blazer, a lilac shell, and blue jeans.
“You’re favorite restaurant.” Joey smiled.
“No way! McDonald’s! Really?” she teased.
“McDonald’s! McDonald’s! I can’t believe you said that!” Joey laughed as he playfully grabbed her and pushed her down on the bed so he could tickle her.
“Joey! Stop! Please…” she said after a few minutes. She couldn’t take any more tickling.
“But it’s so much fun… but, I know what’s more fun.” Joey said as he stopped tickling her and brought his lips to her ear. He blew into it and said, “Dinner and dancing… with more to come later.” Joey kissed her neck and got up to change.
They went out that night to her favorite diner and then went to their favorite club before returning home a little after midnight where they fell asleep in each other’s arms until Joey had to leave early the next morning.
“Baby, I’ve got to go now.” Joey whispered to Tara as he brushed some hair from her face. She had gotten up with him at four am and made him some breakfast while he finished packing. He had gone to put his bags in the foyer and came back to the kitchen where she was putting the dishes in the dishwasher.
“So soon?” she asked.
“You’ll be in St. Louis on Wednesday, right?” Joey asked as they embraced. They didn’t want to let the other go.
“With bells on. Have fun and work hard, and most of all, miss me.” She said before they kissed. She walked him out to the foyer and helped him with his bags. He put them down on the porch to hug her once more.
Tara noticed that Chris and Trish were over on his porch kissing.
“Man, he works fast!” Tara said aloud.
“Tara!” Joey replied.
“Sorry, but you were thinking the same thing.” She replied as she hugged Joey even tighter. She didn’t want him to go. She wanted him to stay home with her. She could feel in the pit of her stomach that things were about to change between her and Joey and she didn’t like the feeling. “I’m going to miss you.” She told him.
“I’m going to miss you too. See you in a few days and don’t overdo it. You may be off your medication, but you’re still not a hundred percent yet.” Joey warned.
“I promise.” She replied as they kissed one last time before he broke away from her.
“I have to go. I love you, Tara.” Joey said as he grabbed his bags and headed for Lance’s Land Rover.
“I love you too.” She replied.
“Come on Chris! Let’s go!” Lance said as he stuck his head out his window. He waived to Tara.
Tara couldn’t watch them leave and solemnly went back into the house and went back to bed where she cried herself to sleep.
Trish gave Tara her space and waited for Tara to come downstairs a little while later.
“Aida says that you need to call Kevin regarding security details.” Trish said when Tara appeared in the kitchen a little while later.
“Where is Aida?” Tara asked.
“She and Randy took Adrianna grocery shopping so I could go for a walkthrough of the house and see what all still needs to be done.” Trish replied. “Wanna come?”
“I can’t. I have a meeting at Jive at three. Thanks though.” Tara replied. “Dinner though? There’s a great new place that just opened up that has Mongolian Bar-b-que.” She suggested.
“Sounds like a plan. Meet you back here say around seven?” Trish suggested.
“You got it.” Tara smiled for Trish. After Trish left, Tara went to her room and got ready for her meeting at Jive. It concerned helping to make Britney Spears appear more adult due to the parental outrage of how she was coming across to their young daughters. Britney and the record label still wanted her to appear as sexy and as comfortable as possible but with a positive image and role model effect to the young girls and tweens.
Once the meeting was over, Tara checked her watch… it was only a little after four. She checked her voicemail and had messages from Kevin, Joey, and Trish waiting for her. She left each of them a voicemail before driving home. She still couldn’t get that feeling out of the pit of her stomach. It was a feeling of doom. She hated that feeling. Just when everything was going so well, it decided to hit. What was the difference now than what it was before she and Joey had gotten married back on New Year’s Eve. True, the marriage was not valid, but they loved each other more than ever and just had to make time to elope this time to make it official. When she got home, she slipped into a bathing suit and went to soak in the Jacuzzi. She had the guys’ new CD on low so she could hear if someone came into the house.
She tried not to think about hers and Joey’s relationship. Was it going to end up like Chris’s and Danielle’s? Was she going to lose the man she loved more than life itself? Was this tour going to tear them apart or bring them closer together?
Tara knew that only time would tell. The only question that remained was would their love survive.
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