chapter nine

We flew to Malibu for Christmas a couple of days ago. Justin insisted on picking out a tree in Colorado before we left and have it delivered today. Since are little “meeting of the minds” a couple of days ago, we’ve been enjoying each other’s company a lot more. I know I certainly got my Christmas present already. I’m still cautious though. I’m not really sure where we stand.

I’m trying to sleep but Justin is insisting I get up to see the tree delivered because I have never actually had a Christmas tree. I am excited, but I just want to sleep for five more minutes. But that’s not in the cards for me.

Justin comes in the room and moves the hair from my neck and starts kissing my neck, “Come on, get up.”

“No…” I mumble as I put my head underneath the pillow.

He pulls the covers off me and I groan as he climbs on top of me and starts tickling me. I laugh hysterically and he flips me over so I land on my back. Justin leans in and kisses me before swatting my butt, “Up, up, up.”

I jump in the shower, letting the water relax my muscles. I feel of pair of arms wrap around my waist and a hard body press up against me as well as something else hard.

“I thought I had to move quickly.” I breathe as his hands explore me.

Justin snickers in my ear, “The tree doesn’t come for another hour and fifteen minutes. I just wanted you up.”

His hand travels lower down my stomach and I know it’s going to be exactly one hour and fifteen minutes before he’s done with me.

_______________________________________________________________________

We finally got dressed and were just in time to see the tree being pulled off the top of the truck. I go downstairs and watch as the delivery people put it up and leave as Justin admires the tree.

“What do you think?” He asks, opening some boxes to reveal lights and ornaments.

“I think it’s beautiful. I’m excited to see it all lit up.”

“Trace will be here soon to string the lights with me and then we can decorate it.”

He hands me a cup of coffee and I sit on the couch and admire the evergreen now gracing the living room. It’s so beautiful. Someone’s hands goes around my eyes and I smile, “Guess who?”

“Umm, the pizza guy?”

“Try again.”

“The bagboy I’ve been wanting to sleep with at the grocery store?”

“Nope.” Trace snickers.

“That annoying short person who follows Justin around a lot?”

Trace smacks the back of my head affectionately before hugging me, “How’s it going?”

He gives me the “how is he treating you” look.

“Just great. Really.” I smile as Justin walks in and kisses the top of my head.

“Let’s get this tree decorated. Trace, you’re the short one so you can start on the bottom.”

Justin and I laugh as Trace scowls at him, “I put up with this verbal abuse why?”

“Because I bought you a Ferrari for Christmas last year.”

“Oh yeah…” Trace says, grabbing a string of lights and plugging them in before beginning to string the lights.

I shake my head at their bickering. They are too cute. I’ll just never admit it out loud.

They string the lights and then we all hung ornaments on the tree. As I hung the last one, Justin hands me a little box.

“What’s this?” I ask.

“Open it and see.”

I unwrap the box and open it. Inside is an ornament in the shape of a book and it reads To Kill A Mockingbird.

“Thank you.” I hold my arm out and he comes over and hugs me in front of the tree.

I put it on the tree and admire the decorations. Trace comes over, huffing from climbing to the top of the ladder to string everything and making it back down, “That is about the most I’m capable of in one day.”

“We know Trace. Remember when you used to try and lift weights? That was a fiasco.”

Trace mocks Justin’s speech and Justin throws a ball at his head.

“I’m here!”

The front door swings open and Lynn walks through the threshold. She runs up and greets Justin, hugging him.

“Summer, it’s so nice to see you again.”

She hugs me and I look at Justin as she does so. He throws me a “see, she likes you” look.

“It’s really good to see you too.”

Lynn moves to look at the tree, “Its beautiful honey. You did a nice job this year.”

Rob comes in carrying a boatload of gifts and puts them under the tree.

“Um mom, I thought I told you not to worry about bringing gifts?”

Lynn puts her hands on her hips, “What kind of mother do you think I would be if I didn’t bring presents?”

“One who did as she was told?”

“Summer, the first thing you learn about men is never do what they tell you to do.” Lynn takes me by the shoulder and steers me towards the door.

“Justin, Summer and I are going to the spa. When we get back we’ll have dinner and open presents.”

I was whisked to the nearest spa and found myself getting a pedicure with Lynn in the chair next to me.

“It’s nice to be pampered every once in a while isn’t dear?”

I sigh contently and relax in the chair, “Definitely.”

“How are you and Justin doing on tour?”

“Good. The schedule is hectic sometimes, but I enjoy the driving and seeing different places. I’d been in LA for six years, it’s nice to see actual snow for a change.”

Lynn nods, “I agree with you Summer. By the way, Summer’s a beautiful name and one you don’t hear very often. Is there a story behind it?”

I smile, “It was my mother’s favorite time of season as well as the time frame of when she married my dad. She said she wanted to think of me and remember the day they got married, so Summer it was.”

Lynn looks at me, “And what about Justin’s relationship with you? I saw the way he looked at you. You two are more than a publicity stunt.”

I look back at her, “I don’t know what we are to be honest with you. I’m just along for the ride.”

Lynn smiles, “You’re his saving grace. I haven’t seen my son this happy in a long time.”

“I’m not anyone’s saving grace. I feel lost… and desperately searching for the right path.”

I close my eyes for a minute and I feel Lynn’s hand brush up against my cheek.

“I know it’s hard to trust any male after everything you’ve been through, but part of living is giving yourself the chance to open up to someone else.”

I don’t know if I can.

“I met Jenna.” I say slowly.

Lynn eyes get a little wider and she nods in understanding, “That must have been interesting.”

“You have no idea.”

“She didn’t used to be that way darling. Jenna was sweet and beautiful. Justin started dating her when he was seventeen and she was fifteen. They used to call each other every night and sometimes she’d join us on tour for short periods at a time. But then Justin was getting more famous and he stopped caring for her as much, and Jenna was younger and didn’t understand. She felt the need to get back at him from what he told me. I don’t know exactly what she did, but I can imagine.”

I breathe deep, “He said he was deeply in love with her.”

Lynn shakes her head, “He was when he was younger, but as he grew up in the spotlight and changed. Justin likes to say he was in love with her when she did what she did, but the truth of the matter was Jenna was hanging on to him while he was pulling away. Justin just doesn’t like to be hurt and when everything happened, he felt betrayed and it brought back feelings he felt for Jenna when they were younger.”

“Jenna still has feelings for him.” I say, biting into a strawberry.

“But Justin doesn’t reciprocate her feelings. What I do see is the way he looks at you.”

I drink the remaining champagne in my glass quickly in hopes of getting some sort of rush as the conversation takes a uncomfortable turn.

Lynn smiles and I get the feeling she knows exactly what I’m thinking. Mom’s are like that. The bad news is that I have to let her read my mind for the next four hours. Yep. Four hours.

________________________________________________________________________

Lynn and I got home from the spa and then cooked dinner. Everyone ate and then it was time for presents. I have to admit, I am a little giddy. I have actually never had a Christmas present in my life, so this tops all my previous experiences with the holiday.

Lynn sits next to me and Justin and Trace get on the floor to hand the gifts to everyone.

“Mom, this one’s for you.”

Justin hands Lynn an envelope and she opens it to reveal a trip for three to Hawaii.

“Thank you Justin.” Lynn kisses Justin on the cheek as Trace digs through the presents for his.

“No one panic. Wait for it, wait for it… I found it!”

Trace opens his gift and it’s a key to a Harley. Trace does a little dance before hugging Justin.

“Alright man, if you’re going to cry, could you do it in front of the digital camera so we can laugh at you later?”

Justin receives a smack from Trace for that one. Justin starts whispering to Trace about something and Justin bolts from the room.”

Lynn looks at Trace, “Where is he going?”

Trace only grins and shrugs.

Justin comes back in the room and carries a blanket over what looks like a box. He puts the box next to me on the floor, “This is yours Summer.”

I cautiously pull off the blanket to reveal the cutest puppy.

“It’s so cute.” I squeal, picking the puppy up and putting it on my lap.

Justin rubs my arm, “It’s a girl. I got all the little accessories to go with her.”

Trace comes in the room carrying a pink bed with a little rhinestone encrusted collar and food bowls that say “princess” on the bottom.

“Oh Justin…” I look at him and back to the puppy, my heart melting.

Lynn pets the squirming puppy on my lap, “What’s her name going to be?”

I smile, “Layla.”

Justin smiles, “You mean Eric Clapton’s Layla?”

I grin, “No, Derek & The Dominoes’ Layla. It was Eric Clapton’s band before he went solo. It’s got a faster rhythm to it.”

“You know Derek & The Dominoes?” He inquires.

“The library where I borrowed all my books from in LA also allowed people to take out music.”

Trace ruffles the puppy’s head, “Layla it is then.”

The phone starts to ring, so Justin puts another box in my lap and goes to answer it. I open the box and inside is a Nikon digital camera with different lens to take portrait, long range, fast action and close up shots. My mouth hangs open at the gift.

Trace starts laughing and I look at him puzzled, “What’s so funny?”

“The king of “Get those fucking paparazzi out of my face” bought you a camera.”

Lynn and I start to laugh. It’s ironic when you think about it. Layla begins to play with the wrapping paper, so Trace retrieves the pen and we put her inside it with the cardboard box she’s playing with. She’s so adorable I can barely stand it. Justin comes back in and I can tell something isn’t right.

“You okay?” I ask when he sits down.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

I shake off the feeling and hand Justin his present. My funds are more limited than his, but I think he’ll like it. He unwraps his gift and lifts out all the current Playstation 3 games available on the market. For all his whining over the console, he is too busy to even go and pick out the games.

“Thanks Sum.”

Trace grins and goes for the console in the closet as everyone else finishes up opening their gifts. I pick up the collar for Layla and put it on her. She barks as she chases her tail. Justin comes and sits next to me as Lynn goes inside to wash the dishes and Trace sets up the game.

“Are you sure you’re alright Justin?”

He gives me a reassuring look, “Absolutely. You like the puppy?”

“I love her. Thanks so much.”

“Justin, get your ass over here and look at these graphics!”

I whisper in Justin’s ear as he goes to get up, “The rest of your gift is upstairs. I went to Victoria’s Secret and got a few things.”

He groans and gives me a look of frustration.

I grin and he sits with a pillow on his lap. I’ve still got it.

10