Rachel Bass groaned as NSYNC filled the bar in Miami once again. Sitting her glass down on the table, she picked up her phone. Her brother's group had been playing too much to be a coincidence. Everyone liked a nostalgic Bye Bye Bye once in awhile during a DJ set, but anything else brought questions. The frequency was too much. So far she heard Bye Bye Bye, It's Gonna Be Me, and I Want You Back. She figured Tearin Up My Heart was already in the queue.

 

‘Which one of you is here in Miami at a bar called Lost Weekend?' She had to scroll down her messages to find the group text she had with the members of her brother's band. She didn't use it often. Barely used it at all.

 

‘Getting overrun with Bye Bye Bye?'

 

‘Either the DJ is a closet NSYNC fan or one of you is here.' Rachel replied to her brother. She knew it wasn't Lance. He and Michael had flown to New York that morning. ‘Songs have been playing way too much.'

 

‘I'm in Orlando with Izzy and the girls.'

 

‘Where's my invite?' She asked at Joey's response.

 

‘Come on up! We're drinking and playing games. Hanging out with a bunch of friends. I need another to kiss at midnight.'

 

Rachel laughed. ‘Between Izzy and the girls, I'd have to take a number.'

 

‘If I said it's me, do I get a kiss at midnight?' Chris answered.

 

‘If it's you, I'd kiss you right now. We wouldn't even wait for the New Year.' Rachel chuckled.

 

‘Damn.'  ‘I'm in Nashville.'

 

‘Better luck next time.'

 

‘I'm in Orlando with Jess and Silas.' Justin responded.

 

Rachel figured Justin wasn't the one at the bar. She would have heard through the rumbling of the patrons if he was there. There was only one left. Her lips curved into a grin.

 

‘Go easy on our boy.' Joey text.

 

‘You have to move slow. No sudden movements. He's very skittish.'

 

‘One wrong move and you can send him back in to hiding.'

 

Rachel grabbed her drink from the table and stood up. With her drink in one hand and the running commentary on her phone in the other, she set off to find the NSYNC member in attendance.

 

JC.

 

She grinned. Her pulse rose a couple notches. She hadn't seen JC since April when she was in attendance for their Walk of Fame star ceremony. It had been right in the middle of her tour. She had flown to California on the red eye to be there and had flown back out that same night. It had been worth it. The guys had been extremely busy that day and she barely had gotten to hang out. At least not as much as she wanted to. Plus they all had family in town.

 

Coming to the pool area, she spotted JC standing next to the table. He had a pool stick in one hand, a high ball glass filled with an amber liquid in the other. He was dressed in all black. Black jeans. Black t-shirt. Black rimmed glasses sat on his face. When he turned his head, she saw the bun at the back of his head. She couldn't help but roll her eyes. He was so ridiculous.

 

‘Target acquired.' She sent the message. She watched as JC didn't even acknowledge his phone. He made no move to pull it from a pocket and she wondered if he even had it. Of course he had it. Who went out without a phone nowadays?

 

‘Poor C.'

 

‘Nice knowing ya C.'

 

‘Boy is so clueless.'

 

Rachel nodded at Justin's text. She had done everything but crawl into his bed naked. JC never noticed her. Maybe after all this time she would have gotten a clue. If he liked her he would have made a move. Right? After twenty years there were multiple opportunities.

 

‘Show him your boobs.'

 

Rachel snorted at Joey's response. Typical Joey. It did have some merit though. She hadn't tried that approach. ‘Maybe I should just be naked in his bed...'

 

‘Moron still wouldn't be able to catch a clue.' ‘And gross.'

 

She giggled at her brother's response. ‘Maybe I should find myself a nice Jewish boy.'

 

‘That's what I did.'

 

‘Just go up to him and give him the kiss you were gonna give me.'

 

‘A kiss on the cheek? Lame.' She grinned as she answered Chris.

 

‘You'd think by now he'd respond.'

 

‘The boy is clueless.'

 

Rachel agreed. JC had yet to reach for his phone. He continued to play pool, laughing with a group of people. He was oblivious. ‘In more ways than one,' she thought.

 

‘Buy him a drink.'

 

‘Deliver it with your shirt off.'

 

Rachel rolled her eyes at Joey. ‘Not everyone is a boob man.'

 

‘Every man is a boob man.'

 

‘Uhm...no???'

 

‘Go sit on his lap. Even Lance will agree that works.'

 

Rachel snorted. That would probably work. If he was sitting down. He wasn't. She pursed her lips and looked over her shoulder. Mike, her security guard, rolled his eyes. He knew about her infatuation with JC. Had told her on many occasions what to do. She'd been too big of a chicken to do any of them. Nothing was stopping her from saying hi. She flagged down a waitress and ordered a drink for her and for JC. When she had the drinks in hand she started making her way toward JC. Before she could get to him, a woman came up to him. Rachel watched as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

 

Her heart sank. JC had smiled at the woman when the kiss broke. Her shoulders dropped. She hadn't known there was a girlfriend in the picture. Whoever she was hadn't been at the ceremony in April. Rachel sighed and looked down at the untouched drinks in her hands. Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Catching the eye of the waitress, she moved away from the pool tables.

 

"Something wrong?" The waitress asked, seeing the drinks in Rachel's hand.

 

Rachel gave a small smile. "Not with the drinks." She put the drinks on the waitress's tray. "Just deliver them to JC and his friend for me." Before the waitress could say another word, Rachel disappeared into the throng of people. Mike close behind.

 

Leaving the bar, she turned right and walked down the sidewalk. At the intersection on Collins, she crossed the street and ducked into a walkway between two buildings. People passed by and she kept on going. She wasn't sure if she was recognized or not. Eventually she came to Ocean Dr and she crossed the street and made her way on to the pathways leading to the beach.

 

The beach was relatively quiet this time of night. Most of the people were piled into bars and clubs. She knew by afternoon, the beach would be crowded once again as vacationers spilled from their hotels to soak up the sun on the beaches of Miami. She sat down on the sand far enough away from the waves. Resting her arms on her knees she sighed.

 

It was stupid; this pain she felt in her heart. JC was free to date whoever he wanted. He was allowed to not return her feelings. It wasn't his fault her stupid heart couldn't let him go. Couldn't let her meet someone that caused her to forget about him. Maybe she was the clueless one. All this time she thought JC didn't know her feelings but maybe she hadn't been the one reading things correctly. She assumed he didn't know and that's why he never picked up on anything. Maybe he had known. Maybe he didn't want to take any of her offers. He didn't like her like that. He was just too nice of a person to come out and hurt her feelings. So he ignored her moves in hopes she'd realize and give up.

 

"Damn..." she whispered feeling the tears in her eyes. It had been amusing and adorable to think of JC as being an oblivious idiot. It was pathetic and pitiful when it was her being the oblivious idiot. What an ending to 2018 this was turning out to be.

 

‘New year, new me,' her mind told her. She scoffed at the thought. It had some merit though. She could go in to 2019 and leave her feelings for JC in the past. It shouldn't be too hard. They never really saw each other. He lived in LA. She lived in Nashville. She rubbed elbows with the country music industry. He rubbed elbows with the pop industry. Unless NSYNC reunited, the only time she'd see him would be a birthday party for Lance.

 

Another sigh escaped and she shivered at the breeze coming off the ocean. She wished she had a light sweater. Something to cover her bare arms. Spending the holiday in Miami had been Lance's idea. They spent the week before Christmas in Mississippi with their family. Lance and Michael left for Miami the Monday before Christmas. She met up with then on Friday after choosing to spend more time in Mississippi with her family. Then Lance had the opportunity to go to New York.  She could have gone with them, but she was not in the mood for Times Square craziness.

 

"How far is Orlando?" Rachel asked out loud.

 

"A couple hours," Mike answered. He'd been one of Rachel's body guard for many years. He loved every moment. Except these. Except when she cried. Every tear always tugged on his heart strings. Even though he wasn't that much older than his charge, he felt like a surrogate father.

 

"How about I get you a ticket back to Nashville. You can be home and kick in the New Year with your family. I shouldn't have ruined your time off with them to drag you to Miami."

 

"It's my job."

 

"I should have stayed in Mississippi with my family. Then you could have stayed with yours."

 

"That man's an idiot." Mike told her. He always spoke his mind to her. Always gave his opinions on everything. He never minced his words. Country music superstar or not.

 

"No." Rachel laughed softly. "I think I'm the idiot." She pulled her phone out of her pocket with the notion to look for a ticket back to Nashville for Mike. And maybe herself. There was nothing in Miami for her. She might as well go home. Watch the ball drop on TV from her house in Nashville at 11 and be in bed before midnight struck the central time zone.

 

The group chat had continued even after she had pocketed her phone at the bar. She grew embarrassed as she wondered what they must think of her. Pining after a man who didn't return her feelings. They always made sure to call JC the idiot. She wondered if that was to spare her feelings. If they secretly wished she'd be clued in on the fact that JC didn't reciprocate. Maybe they had sent her to JC in hopes she'd see the woman he was with. No one wanted to tell her he wasn't available. ‘Lead the horse to water.'

 

Rachel didn't want to read what had been said while she was making her move and during her wallowing after. She especially didn't want to read if JC had finally chimed in. Without reading what was posted, she sent two GIFs. The first was a golfer getting ready to swing. When he drew the club back, he was run over with the golf cart. She felt that particular fail was appropriate. Before she could take a swing, she was taken out. The next one was a man sitting in thought before his eyes widened in realization. She got clued in. A little slow on the uptake but she got there. Finally she sent a text.

 

‘Happy New Year guys.'  She sent the text with hearts. It was only after it was sent did she realize there were only four. Some Freudian slip.

 

*~*

 

JC groaned as Bryce sunk the ball winning the game.

 

"Champion!" Bryce threw his arms in the air.

 

"Let me show you how it's done." Kyle grinned, taking the stick from the pop star.

 

"Can't believe you lost." Eric chuckled as JC made his way to the table. "The kid sucks man"

 

"Damn phone kept going off. Was a distraction." JC grumbled good-naturedly as he pulled his phone from his pocket and sat it down on the table as he took a seat on the stool.

 

"Those for us?"

 

Eric's question caused him to look up. JC saw the waitress with two high ball glasses on her trey. She was looking at him and he inwardly groaned. He didn't want people sending him drinks.

 

"Actually it's for you, JC," the waitress smiled and sat them down on the table.

 

"I can't accept those..." JC shook his head. He was funny about accepting drinks from people he didn't know. "Just send them back and tell ‘em no thanks."

 

The waitress frowned. "Oh, she already left. She took that surly looking bodyguard of hers and left."

 

"Bodyguard?" Eric questioned. He looked at JC confused.

 

"Who was it?"

 

"I'm not sure." The waitress shrugged. "Some country star I think."

 

"Rachel Bass?" JC asked. She was the only country singer he could think of who would have a security detail. He thought Lance was in Miami as well.

 

"Yeah." The waitress nodded. "She was gonna bring them over herself. I don't know what happened. She said to bring them over and give them to you and your friend, but I don't see your friend." She looked around but didn't see the long haired brunette.

 

"I didn't see her," Eric said giving a glance around the bar.

 

"Like I said. She left." The waitress gave them a smile and walked away, leaving the drinks on the table.

 

"Why didn't she come over?" Eric asked.

 

"I don't know." JC said. Even though the waitress told them Rachel left, he still scanned the crowd hoping to catch sight of her blonde hair. Plenty of blonde hair to go around but none of it belonged to Rachel.

 

"Wonder what friend she was talking about?" Eric reached for one of the glasses and gave it a stir with the mixing straw before taking a drink. "Maybe she was why your phone was going off."

 

"Maybe," JC frowned still wondering why Rachel hadn't come up to him to say hi. The waitress said she was bringing the drinks herself but changed her mind. Lifting his phone he saw the locked screen littered with text messages from all the guys. Every single one of them. Opening up his messages he saw a group chat. Only thing different about this one compared to the other was this one had Rachel's name to it. When he opened the thread he couldn't believe how many messages had been sent. Scrolling back to the top he started to read.

 

"Yo C! Let's go! You're up!" Kyle called. He had swiftly taken care of Bryce.

 

JC looked up forgetting for a moment where he was. He'd been lost in the images of Rachel in his bed naked, or her flashing him, sitting in his lap. He shifted in the stool as part of his anatomy took notice. The messages grew more vulgar between Joey, Chris, and Justin. But Rachel hadn't sent one since her comment about not everyone being a boob man. He wondered what had happened to cause her to change her mind about approaching him.

 

‘Target acquired.' That had to have meant she saw him. Why didn't she get his attention? He would have been surprised to see her. Would have welcomed her. He sighed.

 

"What's up?" Eric asked looking at his friend. "Who has been texting you? Was it Rachel?"

 

"Yeah. She wanted to know which one of us was here because of the music."

 

Eric laughed. "She understood the meaning behind the NSYNC songs." He felt for his friend. The DJ had known JC was there and decided JC wanted to hear all his songs. He didn't but JC wasn't going to say anything. He'd suffer through it with a smile on his face.

 

"Yeah, she sent a group message asking."

 

"Ah," Eric nodded. He'd been part of group messages that brought dozens upon dozens of notifications to his phone. "She say why she didn't stick around?"

 

JC shook his head. "No."

 

"Why who didn't stick around?" Kyle asked coming over to the table with his pool stick in hand.

 

"Rachel Bass." Eric supplied.

 

"Ah man! I thought that was her!" Kyle groaned. "Damn!"

 

"You saw her?" JC's head snapped up looking at his friend. "Where? When?"

 

"Standing over there," Kyle nodded his toward the pool tables and the crowd beyond. "You were still getting your ass handed to you by Bryce. I was hoping she was coming over here to see your ugly mug and you could introduce us. Then Jennifer came over. Eric said something. When I looked back up she was gone. I thought I had been mistaken and it wasn't her. Damn. Can't believe it was and I missed her."

 

JC froze. Jennifer had popped up. They had broken up in April after being together for almost five years. Unfortunately for him, she was a friend of his sister in law. When he would visit his family in the Orlando area, she was around. He didn't care that she was friends with Sarah. He just didn't want to see her.

 

‘She was gonna bring them over herself.' That's what the waitress said. Rachel had the drinks and was going to bring them over to him. Was she going to deliver them with her shirt off? Would she have sat on his lap? The text messages entered his mind again. Before she could bring the drinks over - one for him and one for her - Jennifer had shown up. ‘For you and your friend.' Rachel must have seen the kiss. Instead of delivering him a drink with potential strings, she bailed. "Damnit."

 

"Tough luck man," Eric told JC in sympathy.

 

Before JC couple respond, his phone vibrated in his hand in quick succession. The lock screen showed messages from Rachel to the group. He quickly opened the thread. The frown grew on his face and his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. The GIFs didn't stay on his screen for long before messages started kicking in from the guys. Ignoring them he stared at the pictures. A man getting run over by a golf cart. What did that mean? What did the guy realizing something mean?

 

And why were there only four hearts?

 

*~*

 

‘What the fuck happened?'

 

‘What the hell did you do C?'

 

‘What hotel she at Lance? Izzy and I are gonna drive down and bring her to Orlando.'

 

‘What the hell JC? What did you do? She's not even answering my calls or texts.'

 

The texts had moved away from the group Rachel had started and back into the group text the guys shared with each other. JC was certain it wasn't a good thing. For him at least. He had read all the messages that had come through in Rachel's thread. He didn't respond. He didn't even know how. What the hell did those GIFs mean?

 

‘I didn't do anything.'

 

‘That's the problem. You never do anything.'

 

‘Girl has been practically throwing herself at you for years.

 

‘If you weren't interested, you could have told her a long time ago.'

 

‘Who said I wasn't interested?'

 

‘Only the years you've done nothing.'

 

‘You're kidding right?'

 

‘You can't be this stupid.'

 

JC sighed as he sat on the chair on the patio. The waves roared below him. The TV they had gathered around earlier to watch the Cowboys game was now off. He had another high ball glass filled with amber liquid on the table next to him. He poured it before coming out to the balcony. He hadn't even taken a drink.

 

He didn't even know Rachel had been at the bar. Jennifer had been hanging around. She had been friends with everyone. He couldn't very well make her leave. He should have. He wanted to. It's not like he could claim their friends in the break up. He wished he could.

 

‘I didn't even know she was there. She never came up to me. By the time I checked my phone she was gone.'

 

‘How'd you not know she was there?'

 

‘The DJ was too busy playing Bye Bye Bye instead of Blown Away.'

 

‘She must have chickened out.'

 

‘Can't imagine why with the vulgar messages you guys were sending.'

 

‘We just wanted to make sure you knew and couldn't claim ignorance.'

 

JC rolled his eyes. ‘I'm not an idiot.'

 

‘Yeah right.'

 

‘You're a dumbass.'

 

‘Only an idiot would keep ignoring the signals she's been putting out for twenty years.'

 

JC's eyes widened. Twenty years? Maybe he was an idiot. He only picked up on them a few years ago but he had started dating Kathryn, his previous girlfriend, before Jennifer. Rachel hadn't been on his radar between girlfriends. She was on tour and all over the United States and Europe.

 

‘See. Idiot. You didn't know did you?'

 

‘No.'

 

‘So what happened tonight?'

 

JC explained the best he could; what he thought happened. Without Rachel corroborating he couldn't be sure. He probably would have done the same. Maybe. If the roles had been reversed he probably would have still gone up to her with the drinks. Especially if he liked her as much as he did. But if Rachel had been harboring feelings for him for two decades...he could see why she would have walked away when she saw Jennifer kiss him.

 

This time he reached for his drink. Twenty years. He couldn't imagine loving someone that long and not telling them. Watching from afar while he dated others. He had been on his way to twenty. He was already at seven.

 

He was an idiot.

 

*~*

 

‘Will you answer me?'

 

‘I'm fine Lance. I'm at the hotel. Searching for flights back to Nashville for Mike and I.'

 

‘Why are you going to Nashville?'

 

‘Because I live there. I came to Miami to party with you and Michael. I wish that NYE thingy would have been known before I left home. I would have stayed in Mississippi.' ‘Besides, why should I keep Mike away from his family when all I'm doing is sitting in a hotel?'

 

‘Find a party. You're in Miami. There's bound to be a million of them. There's supposed to be a good one at Nautilus rooftop.'

 

‘Nice try Lance. I know that's where Camp Podwall is staying.'

 

Rachel finished off the grapes in the bowl she had sent up to her room. Mike had made a run a Mexican place that had the best breakfast burrito she had ever tasted. When he had knocked on her door with it, she nearly kissed him. She offered her table for breakfast, but he declined. Deciding to go for a run instead. She felt like a lazy pile of bones for not going with him. It was New Years Eve. She could start exercising tomorrow. That's when everyone started right? 

 

‘You wanna tell me what happened?'

 

‘Nothing happened.'

 

‘Something that I'll believe?'

 

‘I told you. Nothing happened. Just like always.' Rachel told Lance. She wasn't lying. Nothing had happened. Nothing always happened when it came to her and JC. Now she knew nothing would always happen. ‘Like I sent last night, I'm clued in now.'

 

‘Yeah. What the hell did those gifs mean?' ‘I got the first one. What's the other?'

 

‘I told you. I'm clued in now.'

 

‘What the fuck does that even mean?'

 

‘It means I know I was a little slow, but I got it now.'

 

‘For the love of God, got what?!'

 

‘That JC doesn't like me. In a romantic sort of way. I got it. I understand. You guys could have told me.'  ‘You didn't have to protect me. You didn't have to tell me to go up to him last night and practically molest him on the pool table when you knew his girlfriend would be there.'

 

‘What are you even talking about?'

 

‘You guys wanted me to go up to him last night. You wanted me to see him with his girlfriend. I got it. He doesn't like me like that. There is zero chance of that happening between us.' ‘That's what I mean. I know that now. JC wasn't the idiot this whole time. The idiot was me and you guys were just too nice to tell me.'

 

‘I don't even know what to say'

 

‘You don't have to say anything.'

 

Rachel preferred that he didn't say anything. What was there left to say anyway? JC didn't want a relationship outside of friendship with her. What could she do? Move on. It was the only thing she could do. Go back to home to Nashville. It's not like she could have a relationship anyway. She lived in Nashville. He lived in LA. In the middle of January she was going back on our leg three of her Cry Pretty tour. It would take her into March where she would have a short time off before going to Europe. Her tour wrapped up in July.

 

With a sigh, she stood up and walked to the sliding door and out onto her balcony. She squinted against the bright morning sun as it rose above the ocean. The beach had a smattering of people. People already swimming in the ocean. She watched a couple give a final stretch and take off running down the beach together. Three woman were already laying out on towels working on their tans. A lone man stood in the shore casting a line out into the ocean. There was a couple walking hand in hand barefoot through the surf.

 

She wished she could go for a walk down the beach. Just wonder aimlessly. The surf rushing up over her feet carrying her footprints away. People would nod and smile politely in greeting. People pretending not to notice another person at all. That's what she wanted. To walk down the beach and no one would bother her. No one would stop and want a photo. No one would stop and want to talk. They would just smile and nod as they kept on moving.

 

It had been years since she'd been able to that. Normally it didn't matter. Today it did. She just wanted to walk and be lost in thought. Walking at dawn would have worked but she had been sleeping. She could probably walk after dark tonight. People would be too busy at parties. She hadn't planned on being in Miami after sundown.

 

Rachel heard her phone chime from where she left it on the table. She pushed away from the railing and made her way back inside. Lifting her phone she sighed. Lance again.

 

‘Joey wants to come and take you back to Orlando to party with him and Izzy.'

 

That sounded like fun. If the invitation had been extended before the bar last night, she would have taken herself to Orlando. ‘No thanks. Don't need pity invitations. I'm going back to Nashville. And you can tell Chris not to meet me at the airport.'

 

‘Now you are being an idiot.' ‘We told you to find JC last night to help'

 

‘It helped.'

 

‘To get him to stop being an idiot and see you. He's not dating anyone. He doesn't have a girlfriend. They broke up in April. She cheated on him.'

 

‘That's not what I saw last night.' Rachel felt for JC. She knew how it felt to be cheated on. ‘Maybe he just hasn't told you they are back together.' ‘It doesn't matter anyway. I'm not going to waste any more of my time. It's been twenty years Lance. It's past time to move on.'

 

There was a knock on her door and Rachel turned her head to stare in its direction. Putting her phone down on the couch, she went to the door figuring Mike had returned from his run.

 

It wasn't.

Rachel stared in shock at JC standing outside her door. He was dressed like he had been last night - in all black. Only difference was his hair. It hair hung down to his shoulders. In his hands he held two Starbucks coffee cups. While he was smiling, Rachel could see the hesitation on his face. She wasn't sure what to say. She was completely caught off guard. How did he even know where she was? Her eyes narrowed.

 

Lance.

 

She was gonna kill him.

 

"Hey," JC said with a small smile. He could see emotions rolling across her face. She didn't look happy to see him. He found himself cursing Jennifer again. Wishing she had stayed away so Rachel could have interrupted his pool game. "I uhm..." he cleared his throat. "Bought you a drink. Returning the favor."

 

"I..." Rachel stared at the offered coffee cup then met his eyes once again. "What are you doing here?"

 

"Delivering coffee." The smile on his face slowly faded when she made no move to grab the cup. He sighed. He couldn't have lost his chance already. "Can I come in?"

 

Rachel hesitated before pulling the door open wider and stepping back, allowing him to walk through.

 

"Where's Mike?" JC asked as he stood in the middle of the small suite. He felt like an idiot still holding the coffee cups so he sat one down on the table.

 

"Either still out for his run or back in his room." She stared at him. "We don't share rooms you know." She rolled her eyes. "I didn't see you spooning with Lonnie while you were on tour."

 

JC chuckled, rubbing his neck with his free hand. "Yeah." He fell silent again. "Lance says you're going back to Nashville today."

 

"Lance has a big mouth."

 

JC was grateful for that. Without Lance relaying what was going on he wouldn't have been able to make an attempt to right what should have been done a long time ago. He wouldn't have known how long she had feelings for him. He wouldn't have known that she was giving up on them ever having a relationship. He wouldn't have known she was planning on leaving Miami. He wouldn't have known where she was staying. He sat his coffee cup down and walked to her. She met his eyes.

 

"Lance told me you've been trying to get my attention for twenty years."

 

Rachel felt her face flame with embarrassment. She broke their gaze. "Well you don't have to worry about that anymore. I know it's not gonna happen. There were some tears shed last night but I'll be okay. I'll take that ‘new year, new me' crap to heart. No more pining away. No more flirting. Or signals."

 

That was the last thing JC wanted. "Well good thing for me, the new year isn't until tomorrow. I have," he lifted his left arm to look at his watch. "Fifteen hours to change your mind."

 

"What?" Rachel asked, turning her head to look at him.

 

"I said," JC took a step toward her, then another. "I have fifteen hours to change your mind about giving up on me."

 

Rachel swallowed. "What do you mean?"

 

"I'm not dating anyone. I'm not in a relationship. I know what you saw last night," he said when he saw her open her mouth. He knew what she was going to say. "Jennifer and I broke up in April. She's been hanging around a lot this weekend. Trying to get back together."

 

"That an option?" Rachel asked, holding her breath. She couldn't look away; mesmerized by his blue eyes.

 

JC shook his head, not breaking their gaze. "Not a chance." He lifted a hand and tucked her hair behind her ear. Rachel blushed and ducked her head. He smiled. "What were you going to do when you came over?"

 

Rachel looked at him in confusion.

 

"Were you gonna have your shirt off?" He grinned at her. "Sit on my lap? Kiss me?"

 

"I see you finally read your messages..."

 

"After the waitress delivered the drinks," JC confessed. "Said they were from some country singer with a bodyguard. You're the only country singer I know with a bodyguard."

 

"She didn't know who I was?" Rachel asked offended. "No wonder the DJ was blasting NSYNC and ignoring me. He probably didn't know who I was either."

 

JC chuckled. "Trust me, it's annoying as hell."

 

"Not being recognized?" Rachel teased, purposefully misunderstanding what he meant. "I was gonna give you a hug."

 

"What?"

 

"You asked what I was gonna do when I came up to you." Rachel explained. "I was gonna give you a hug."

 

JC lips curved into a smile. He held his arms out. "Well..."

 

Rachel grinned and stepped forward into his arms. Her arms wound around his neck while his snaked around her waist. She felt one of his hands against her shoulder, another on her lower back holding her to him. She relaxed against him, holding him, allowing him to hold her.

 

"You busy tonight?" JC asked, his lips near her ear.

 

"Well I had planned on going to Nashville." His hair tickled her face. She wasn't used to the feeling. None of her boyfriends ever had long hair.

 

JC hummed in response. "Anyone lined up to kiss at midnight?"

 

Rachel leaned back in his hold to catch his gaze. "Now that you mention it, no. Know of anyone?"

 

JC grinned. "I might know a guy..."

 

"Know a guy huh?" Rachel returned his grin with one of her own.

 

"I do. He's not in Nashville though."

 

"Maybe I should stay here..." her breath hitched as JC's lips drew closer to hers. Their noses touched lightly.

 

"Maybe you should..." JC whispered. He closed the distance between their lips. He brushed lightly against her lips once, twice before he settled upon them. His lips moved gently with hers. He felt her hand cup the back of his head. Her fingers tangled in his hair. He ducked one arm beneath hers so he could cup the side of her head. His thumb rested right in front of her ear; his fingers just touching the back of her head. His pinkie and ring finger rest on her neck. Her hair was silky and smooth beneath his touch.

 

The kiss ended slowly. Rachel rested her forehead against his, her eyes closed. As she opened them she caught herself smiling. "You had fifteen hours to convince me to stay. What are you gonna do with the rest of the fourteen hours and forty five minutes?"

 

JC grinned and kissed her again.

When the knock at the door sounded, Rachel put down her phone and stood. She wondered if Mike was back from his run. A peek through the peephole told her otherwise. It was a hotel employee. She pulled the door open. "Yes?"

 

"Ms. Bass," the lady said with a smile. "This came for you."

 

Rachel stared at the envelope for a moment, confused. Who would be sending her mail at the hotel? She hadn't even been here long. Taking the envelope, she frowned. The outside only held her name. Looking back up at the lady, she sent her a smile. "Thank you."

 

"Have a good day." The lady returned the smile and walked away.

 

Rachel closed the door as she inspected the envelope. The handwriting on the front was foreign. She didn't recognize it. That didn't mean anything. Someone at the front desk could have written her name on the envelope before they delivered it. Turning the white envelope over, she slid her finger beneath the flap.

 

Inside was an invitation.

 

To Eric Podwall's New Years Eve party.

 

Rachel stared at the invitation in confusion. Her heart beat faster as she read the information. Who had sent it? Better yet, why had it been sent to her? Who would think she wanted to go to Camp Podwall's party? Right now, it was the last place she wanted to be. She glared at her phone.

 

Lance.

 

Rachel snatched up her phone from the couch and furiously typed out a message.

 

‘Did you tell Eric where I was staying?'

 

‘What are you talking about? Who's Eric?'

 

‘You know damn well who Eric is. Did you tell him where I was staying?'

 

‘Why? He come over trying to get you to sign with his team?'

 

‘You did. You fucking jerk. Why did you tell him?'

 

Rachel was irritated. She didn't want to go to Eric's party. She didn't want to run in to JC. She wanted to go back to Nashville where she could be in the privacy of her own home. There she could pour a glass of wine and cry over what was lost. Not that she hadn't cried the night before when she got back into her hotel room. When she had climbed into the shower the tears started. Some of the tears were over the embarrassment at how pathetic she was, at how oblivious she was over the years. Some of the tears were over the sadness of coming to the realization that something she wanted wasn't going to happen. The loss of a dream.

 

‘So you'll go and talk to JC.'

 

‘I don't need to talk to JC.'

 

She definitely didn't need to talk to JC. Right now she wasn't sure if she could even look him in the eyes. How she must have come across to him. There were probably many instances where she had put them in awkward situations, embarrassed him. She was a fool. How many times was she the butt of jokes to people who saw her fawning over him?

 

‘I'm gonna send him over there.'

 

‘I'll be in Nashville. I don't care.' Rachel sent but her heart jumped at JC knocking on her door. The thought of seeing him after the new information...

 

‘I can have him knocking on your door long before you are even packed and on your way to the airport.' ‘Will you stop freaking out and listen to me?' ‘JC is single. He's not dating anyone. He and Jennifer are not back together. The dumbass wants you.'

 

Before Rachel could reply a picture came through. It was a screen shot of a text conversation. She read the line where JC had stated he was interested. Her heart pounded faster. She stared at the invitation then back at her phone screen. A decision faced her. Did she ignore JC's words and go home or did she take a final chance and go to Eric's party? Reverting back to her childhood she chanted ‘eenie meanie miney moe' back and forth over her options until she landed on one.

 

Her decision made, she tapped her phone screen a few times and lifted it to her ear. "Mike, I need to go shopping."

 

*~*

 

"I'm not so sure about this," Rachel said as she and Mike stood in the elevator that would take them up to the roof top of the Nautilus where Eric's party was being held.

 

"Too late to back out now." Mike said as he leaned back against the side of the cart, his hands gripping the railing.

 

"No it's not. When the doors open we just hit the close door button, go back to the lobby, flag down a car and go back to my hotel."

 

Mike gave her a dry look. "Did you really drag me shopping, spend hours trying every damn piece of clothing on, make me your own personal dress holder to chicken out at the last minute?"

 

"Yes?" Rachel said sheepishly. It had taken her hours to find the perfect outfit. Mike had been correct. She figured she tried on every dress within the Miami city limits. She'd pull dress after dress off the rack and make Mike hold them until he resembled a clothing rack himself. Then she'd drag him to the changing room where she'd try on each outfit. Some got tried on more than once because she just wasn't sure. She really didn't pay him enough when it came to days like today.

 

"I will toss you over my shoulder and carry you into this party and deposit you in his lap." Mike threatened.

 

He'd do it too.

 

Rachel scrunched her face and sighed. She had to do this. She didn't spend hours getting ready to spend the night in her hotel room watching Ryan Seacrest on TV. The dress she wore came to mid-thigh. She'd always been told she had great legs and the dress really showed them off. It was a pale champagne color, long sleeve, and covered in silver, sparkling sequins from breast to hem. The material on her chest and arms was a nude sheath. It held the same sliver sequins sporadically dotted down her arms and across her chest. On her feet were peep-toe high heels in a champagne color. The heels definitely emphasized her legs.

 

Her hair was left down with wavy curls. Three tier drop crystal earrings were in her ears. Make up had her wishing she had her team available, but she was able to muster through the foundation and bronzer, the eye shadow, eye liner, and mascara. A pale pink lipstick capped off the look.

 

Her nerves built the closer they got to the top. "How do I look? I look okay right?" She brushed her hands down her stomach.

 

Mike sent her a look. "Did you see the commotion you caused downstairs?"

 

"No?" She had been too busy trying not to throw up.

 

"You caused a fender bender. A bicyclist ran into a sign. A pedestrian ran into the trash can outside the door. Another one tripped over that blue vase. The valet shut a passenger in the car door. This was all before we got inside where a husband tripped over the luggage cart knocking the suitcases all over the floor. I'm pretty sure you caused three divorces on the walk to the elevators and will be the cause of a wet dream for four teenagers tonight. Do I need to go on?"

 

"You're such a liar."

 

"Surprisingly not this time," Mike chuckled. It had been comical to watch the reactions from people as Rachel walked through the lobby.

 

The elevator came to a stop and a second later the doors opened revealing a small lobby. Rachel assumed the elevator would have opened to the roof top. Stepping from the elevator she could see the doors to the outside. She could see the shadows of people on the other side. She could hear the music pumping and the loud conversation. A sign was erected depicting the event as Camp Podwall. It stood next to a table with a host who had a clipboard. A private party had a guest list. A man stood at the table talking with the host. Both men turned to look at her.

 

"Hey!" Eric grinned and stepped forward. He drew her into a short hug. "Been waiting on you."

 

"How'd you know I was coming?" Rachel asked when the hug ended. "Do you have spies downstairs?"

 

Eric grinned but didn't answer her question. "Hello, I'm Eric," he held his hand out to Rachel's bodyguard.

 

"Mike."

 

"You didn't have to bring him here. There's no one here except my crew."

 

"He's a big Glee fan hoping to see Matt."

 

Eric laughed at the thought of the big burly man watching Glee. "Sorry Man, he couldn't make it this year."

 

"Guess we'll have to stalk him later," Rachel teased Mike.

 

"You're hilarious." Mike said dryly. The look on his face signaled he wasn't impressed. "Regular riot."

 

"You look amazing." Eric said as he looked Rachel up and down. JC wasn't going to know what hit him

 

"Mike said I caused a traffic accident downstairs."

 

"I bet you did." Eric laughed. "You ready?"

 

"No." Rachel said, but it didn't matter. Eric simply tucked her arm through his and walked toward the door. Mike followed behind.

 

Eric opened the door and held it open allowing Rachel to walk through first. The music was loud as the DJ spun tracks. People mingled all over the roof, talking and laughing as they enjoyed the night waiting to ring in the New Year.

 

The nerves continued to build. There was no turning back. Rachel was outside, on the roof top, in the middle of the party. She'd been seen. She'd been recognized. She had no idea who any of the people were. She thought she recognized an actor from Glee but she wasn't sure.

 

"If you had been thirty seconds quicker last night or slower," Eric had to lean close in order for Rachel to hear him over the noise. "I'm not sure what C said to Jennifer to make her leave, but she didn't stick around."

 

"Meet me back at my room?"

 

"Not hardly," Eric shook his head. "Trust me. After what she did, he won't be getting back with her."

 

JC was in front of them. He hadn't noticed them. He was talking with a couple of people. His hair was down and he wore the same black rimmed glasses as last night. He had on black dress pants and brown shoes paired with a long sleeve button up dark green floral print shirt.

 

"The man has no fashion sense."

 

Eric chuckled. "Maybe you could help him with that?"

 

"I am only one person and that's a full time job." Rachel watched as he laughed and her stomach did a summersault. "You sure he's single?"

 

Eric snorted. "You think any woman would have let him buy that shirt, let alone walk out of the room with it on?"

 

Rachel titled her head in agreement. She would have burned the shirt on sight. There was still a bundle of nerves inside her belly. A quick look over her shoulder revealed Mike. He crossed his arms and arched an eyebrow. She wasn't getting passed him. If she tried to make a run for it now, she knew Mike would make good on his threat. He would toss her over his shoulder and deposit her right in front of JC. She thought about testing him, but before she could, Eric yelled out.

 

"JC!"

 

Hearing his name, JC turned his head in the direction. His eyes widened when he saw Rachel standing next to Eric.

 

"Holy shit," Kevin said, his eyes wide.

 

"I feel like I'm in the middle of Grease," Bryce said, leaned on Kevin's shoulder. "And bad girl Sandy just showed up."

 

"I got chills! They're multiplying..." Kevin sang as he chuckled.

 

JC left the guys behind and walked toward Rachel unable to take his eyes off her. She was stunning and he felt not worthy. He looked at her arm, tucked in Eric's and felt a wave of jealousy course through him. The green eyed monster reared its head and he wanted to forcefully remove Eric's arm. He hadn't been expecting her. Not here. Definitely not here at an invitation-only event. The smile on Eric's face alerted him the fix was in. Even Mike had a guilty look about him.

 

Rachel...she looked nervous. He could see the nervousness on her features. Twenty years. The words echoed in his head. The smile grew on his face as he came to a stop in front of her. He searched her eyes. The woman before him had been trying to get his attention for twenty years.

 

He didn't say a word. JC raised his hands and cupped her face. His fingers threaded through her hair. He lowered his head and captured her lips. He felt her hands grip his wrists as her lips moved with his. He felt a sense of victory knowing she had let go of Eric to hold on to him. When he broke the kiss he stared at her, watching as she slowly blinked her eyes open. "I owe you a drink."

 

A blush built on her neck and swept across her cheeks as Rachel thought about the previous night and the aborted drink.

 

"Lance said you were going back to Nashville."

 

"I thought about it," Rachel confessed. "Then I played eenie meanie miney moe on coming here or going home."

 

"And it picked here?"

 

"No it picked go home, but I didn't like that choice."

 

JC grinned and pulled her into a hug. Her arms wrapped around his waist and she relaxed into his hold. He saw Mike behind her in conversation with Eric. They were laughing, smiles on their faces. Even in conversation Mike's eyes constantly scanned the crowd looking for threats. He briefly wondered what had happened to make Rachel need a bodyguard. The thought vanished when Rachel raised her head.

 

"I've been trying to get your attention for twenty years." Rachel said she stared into his eyes.

 

"I've been told I'm an idiot."

 

Rachel smiled as she entwined her arms around his neck. His hands sat on her waist. She could feel the tiny movements of his thumbs as they moved back and forth. "Do I have your attention now?"

 

JC slide his hands from her waist around to her back and pulled her more tightly against him. "One hundred percent."

 

"Good," she closed the distance between them; their lips a breath apart. "My next step was lying naked in your bed." She watched his eyes darken.

 

"We don't have to stay here." JC's voice came out rough. That had been the text message that sent his thoughts reeling last night. The thought of walking into his bedroom seeing Rachel laid out of his bed. Naked. Waiting for him. He felt a shiver work its way through him.

 

Rachel giggled softly at his response. "We gotta ring in the New Year together."

 

"We can do that from my room."

 

Their noses touched gently. Breaths mixed. Their voices were soft. Even with the loud music around them, they still understood every word.

 

"You owe me a drink."

 

"I can get it to go."

 

The smile was slow to form on Rachel's lips. "We've waited this long. What's a few more hours?"

 

"Are you going to kiss me again?" He whispered against her lips.

 

"At midnight."

 

"Then too..." Before Rachel could respond, he kissed her.