chapter one

I flip through the latest magazine Rolling Stone magazine that I was handed by Gia. Apparently it went better than the last interview he gave. I normally don’t bother to read interviews when I have the living, breathing human being living with me but Gia insisted I read it. I find the designated page and skim over the article until I see the spot she wanted me to read. She highlighted it, how typical Gia. Like I would somehow miss that certain paragraph. I shake my head and read on-

“So Justin, you and your girlfriend have been together for quite some time now.”

“Yes.”

“Some had said that the relationship was doomed from the start, what with your background and her previous medical condition. What makes you two so compatible?”

“I think it’s just a matter of who you can spend the whole day with and wish there were more hours in the day. That girl that challenges you intellectually and feel like when you’re with them, you’re whole. That’s what makes Beth and I work. I think our history has just brought is closer together. Kind of like and understanding for what we have gone through.”

“Including the loss of your child. From what was reported Bethany was pregnant and miscarried your child you had together.”

“I don’t comment on that situation other than to say it was a private matter that shouldn’t have been disclosed.”

“You often refer to her as your angel.”

“If it wasn’t for Beth coming in at the right time, I don’t think I would even be here to talk about it. I would probably be dead right now.”

“You really think so?”

“Oh yeah. She saved me.”

“So are there any wedding bells in your future?”

“You know what? I actually consider myself married already. I bought Beth both and engagement ring and wedding ring last year which caused that media frenzy as I’m sure you’re aware of. We are in it forever.”

“As proclaimed by your hand. You have a platinum band on your ring finger as well.”

“Yeah, they are a set.”

“So you feel like this is permanent?”

“Exactly. I feel like if Beth is going to show that she’s committed to me, I should wear a wedding band to show my commitment as well.”

“So you feel marriage isn’t necessary?”

“No, not really. I have no problem marrying Beth but we talked about it and to go through that circus was something we really don’t want to do right now, what with my music and a new rehab center being built. We are both busy and already consider each other a permanent fixture in our lives.”

“So you’re defiantly in love?”

“Without a doubt.”

“Well you heard it here officially folks, America’s favorite bachelor is off the market for good.”

I smile as I close the magazine and catch Tyson before he takes a header into the table. Gia comes racing around the corner in a tear but stops when she sees him hiding behind my body, “Tyson, I thought I told you to stay put!”

Tyson giggles devilishly and hangs on to my arm. I bite my lip, “He was just having a little fun G.”

“Fun my ass,” she mumbles so Tyson can’t hear her.

Tyson curls up in my lap and lays his head back against my chest as Gia runs through the opening of the latest center. So far we have gotten three up and running, one in New York, California and Florida. I help run the one in New York so I’m close to my family and I oversee the other facilities.

Justin comes in the front door with Trace in tow. He immediately comes over, kissing me and in the same moment, taking Tyson from my lap and throwing him up in the air to his glee, “How’s it going G?”

“It’s going. I canceled that stupid trip to the Toronto films festival in order for you and Beth to take that vacation you were talking about.”

“The film festival is not stupid,” Justin protests.

“Yeah, for the person who actually is there to see the movies. You use it for press coverage and an excuse to ski, a sport which your girlfriend detests.”

“That’s just because she’s uncoordinated,” Trace says laughing.

I roll my eyes, “If I recall last time you tried to ski you lost control and went careening down the mountainside. Now that’s what I would refer to as uncoordinated.”

Trace stops laughing and huff, “I wasn’t that bad.”

“Yes you were man, it was like watching a garden gnome trying to ski.”

Tyson starts to laugh uncontrollably as Justin makes funny faces to show how Trace tried to sky. Trace throws a pillow at Justin from off the couch, “Okay I get it. I forgot the golden rule, never tease Beth.”

“That’s right smart ass,” Gia remarks.

Justin and Tyson immediately point at her, “Mommy said a bad word.”

Gia stands up and takes Tyson from Justin, “Thank you very much. It’s someone’s nap time.”

Justin gives Tyson a high five, “Don’t try and get out of it G, we all heard you.”

“You know what? Why do we teach our children not to swear when as soon as their older they pick it up anyway.”

“Because it’s good parenting,” I remind her.

“Like when mothers say not to have ice cream for breakfast. We all know that’s not true,” Trace says, sitting down next to me.

“Shorty,” Tyson says, half waving as he is carried upstairs to the nursery that was set up for Gia when we found out she was going to be having a baby.

“Did you hear what he said? She taught him to call me shorty.”

“You are short,” I say have assed.

“Not to Tyson, I tower over him at this point in his tiny life.”

“He’s smart enough to know who’s short and dumb and who’s not,” Justin says, holding his hand out to mine and pulling me up from the couch.

“Well I’ll see you guys later, I have a date tonight,” Trace says, gathering up his keys and leaving.

Justin and I walk through the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of merlot and two glasses, going out into the backyard and sitting on the porch. He pours the liquid into the glasses and flips on some music, handing me a flute, “Here you go.”

“Thanks,” I respond, taking the glass from his hand and making myself comfortable. Justin sits down next to me and reclines slightly to watch the sun go down. My head slides over until it hits his shoulder and relax against him.

“You happy about the vacation?”

I nod, “It’ll be nice to have some alone time without any interruptions. Sometimes I think we go nonstop without taking the time we should for ourselves.”

“I know, our sex life is suffering.”

I chuckle, “Not what I was thinking idiot.”

“Really? Because that’s exactly what I was thinking we were going to be doing the whole time we are on vacation.”

“I have no doubt that’s what you were thinking but I had a totally different approach to Hawaii. Like actually seeing it.”

“You can see it through the window,” Justin says, putting his hand slightly up my shirt.

I take a sip of my wine, “We are leaving the bungalow.”

“Come on, we could consider it the honeymoon we never took.”

“Maybe because we are not married? You think maybe that has something to do with it?”

Justin wraps his arm around me, “We don’t need a piece of paper telling us that we are going to be together forever. Note the rings on your finger.”

I subconsciously play with the bands on my finger as the one on his completes the set, “You’re right.”

“I’m also right about the sex.”

I ignore him, "You and Trace are going to come down and see us. We'll fly you in and have some fun."

"Well the guys will have fun, you two will be watching Tyson."

Gia laughs, "No, Derek will be watching Tyson, Beth and I will be tanning." I nudge him slightly, playing with his fingers in my hand. Gia comes out and sits down across from us, “You guys hungry?”

“I could use something to eat. I could grill some steaks if you guys want?”

I stand up and hand Gia a glass of wine, “That sounds good.”

Gia shifts her feet along the ground, “Derek should be back in town tomorrow and I can go back to living at me home and intruding in yours.”

“Gia stop. You know Beth loves you and although you overstay your welcome, I’m more likely to get sex when you are here because I get brownie points for letting you stay.”

I kick one of Tyson’s balls at him and he dodges the attempt to hit him. He grins, “I’m just kidding. You know we love having you G and neither of us wants you to have to stay alone in your apartment.”

“Thanks.”

I rub her back gently, “Besides, I like having you here. A little girl talk never hurt anyone.”

“Except for the one guy who has to listen to it,” Justin remarks, turning the stakes over.

She leans over and gives me a hug, “So you excited for your vacation in a few weeks?”

I nod, “It’ll be nice. The weather should be beautiful there.”

“I’m not sure what I’m going to do without following you guys around for a whole week.”

I laugh, “Anything you want. No whinny pop star to take orders from sounds like a vacation to me.”

Justin picks up one of the steaks and puts it on the grill, “Hey, ever since you two teamed up on me years ago Gia gives me orders, not the other way around. I remember the days when Gia was too timid to ever say anything to me because she might get fired.”

“Those days are long gone,” Gia says.

“The things I do for you baby are amazing,” Justin says, tossing me the lighter.

I ignore him and raise my glass, “To us. May the rest of our life be as great as it is now.”

“And may we always be friends forever,” Gia adds, holding hers up.

“And that we continue to grow closer,” Justin finishes as we clink out glasses together.

I slip under Justin’s arm and take a carrot stick, “I could stay like this forever.”

But you know what they say, all you have to do to make God laugh is to tell him your plans. Life never does go according to plan.

2