Silence descended on the room. Justin was in shock. He'd known she loved him, but she had never told him. Now she told it to the entire world Never mind that no one knew they were dating; Justin knew and that was all that mattered.
"She's dating?" Liz finally said, shocked. "And she didn't tell me?! How rude!"
Everyone laughed. It was nearly ten, and Cat should be getting back soon. They started to talk, but every few minutes, someone would glance at the clock.
It was near midnight when Cat came back. Still dressed in the gown she wore to the Oscars, she looked ravishing. Everyone but Justin glared at her the moment she walked in.
"You're dating?" Liz asked. Cat closed and looked the door behind her.
"And you didn't tell us!" Lex exclaimed.
"Yes I am dating, but I did tell you." Cat walked to her room.
"No, you didn't. We would have found some way to meet him if you did." Liz was still glaring at her friend.
"Yes, I did. When I told the entire world, I also told you." She went to her room and looked the door.
Thirty minutes later, she came out in a shirt and a pair of boxers. "I'm tired, so I'm going to bed." She walked into the the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of water, and came back out. Liz started to say something. Cat interrupted her. "We'll talk tomorrow." She went back to her and fell asleep within minutes.
After that, everyone else drifted into their rooms to sleep and dream.
Justin walked into Cat's room, through the connecting doors. Cat was sleeping. He walked over to the bed and stood staring down at her. Finally, he leaned down, brushed her hair from her face, and gave her a kiss. "I love you, angel," he whispered. He turned and walked out.
Cat smiled.
Justin walked into the front room. Chris and Lance were up; everyone else was sleeping.
"I'm going shopping," he told the guys. Chris and Lance looked up.
"We're coming," they said.
"No. I want to go by myself. I have to pick up something for my girlfriend.."
"Then we're definitely coming." They went into their rooms and left notes for their wives. They left.
The first stop they made was at a jewelry store. Justin walked in, followed by Lance and Chris.
"Why are we here?" Lance asked. It was one of the leading jewelry shops in the world.
Justin went up to the desk. "I'm here to pick up a ring," he told the man behind the counter.
"Timberlake?" the man asked, pulling out a small. black velvet ring box from the counter.
"Yes."
The man opened the box and handed it to Justin. "Is this suitable, sir?" he asked.
Justin looked at the ring. a two carat marquis cut diamond, surround by midnight blue sapphires, all set in twenty carat white gold. "Yep," he said, snapping the case closed. "I'll take ot."
Chris and Lance exchanged glances behind his back. They were determined to find out who the ring was for.
"Okay, I'm done. Let's go back to the hotel," Justin told the guys after paying for the ring.
"No, we want to go shopping for our wives," Chris said. "So we're going to some mall and pick up some things."
"But...."
"Shut up Justin. We're going." They piled back into the car and drove to a mall. They came back to the hotel two hours later.
Everyone was up when they came back, tormenting Cat. They wanted to find out who she was dating; they wanted to meet him.
"Is it someone we know?" Lex asked.
"Maybe," Cat replied.
Joe and JC were laughing. They'd occasionally ask a question about what he looked like, where he lived, and other things along those lines. Cat would glare at them and not reply to their questions. She would give vague answers to Liz and Lex.
Justin as the first in the room. He looked at Cat. "We need to talk," he said. She jumped off the couch and picked up her coffee. They walked into her room, Justin clutching his bags in his hands. He didn't want anyone to see the bag from the jewelry store.
Chris and Lance came in in time to see Cat and Justin disappear into the room. They heard Cat's stereo come on and the volume turned up.
"Justin got an engagement ring this morning," Chris said. "He's probably going to propose the next time he sees his girlfriend."
"He's what?" Lex asked, her mouth dropping.
JC and Joey looked at each other. So Justin was going to propose? Cat would surely say yes, especially after last night. They'd have to tell everyone soon.
Lance noticed them exchange glances. "You two know who he's dating! You and Cat are probably the only ones who know."
"Yeah, we know who he's dating," Joey said. "And Cat would have to know."
"Why would she have to know?' Liz asked.
Joey and JC started laughing; they were rolling with laughter. Everyone stared at them.
"Do you mean...?" Chris asked, starting to suspect.Cat collapsed across her bed. Justin sat next to her. He leaned over and kissed her. "I love you," he said.
"I love you, too," Cat said, giving him another kiss.
Justin grabbed the bag containing the ring. He pulled out the box and opened it. Taking it out, he turned back toward Cat. She was still sprawled across the bed, her eyes closed. Justin picked up her left and slipped the ring on her ring finger. Kissing her hand, he asked, "Will you marry me?"
Cat's eyes flew open. Her mouth dropped. She looked at Justin. He smiled shyly, waiting for a reply.
Cat looked from Justin to her hand, still held in his. "You're serious?" she finally gasped. Justin nodded. Her reaction was frightening him.
Cat's eyes filled with tears. "Of course I will. I love you," she said, tears flowing down her checks. She sat up and gave him a hug.
"I didn't want you to cry. It's supposed to be a happy event," he told her, wiping the tears away.
"Oh, I am happy. I've never been happier." She gave him a kiss. Justin gathered her in his arms, pulling her to him. They eat on the bed, hugging each other.
Chapter Fourteen