AJ n Cris Trilogy
In what other lives have I known your kiss
And what forgotten moments have I felt like this
The way you touch me I come undone
You know me more than anyone
Whatever you want
In what other lives have I touched your face
And what words did we whisper in a strange forbidden place
To be with you baby is to find myself
We're two of a kind you and I
I couldn't love anyone else
You are my beginning my end
You are my lover my friend
In this life in this time
Whatever You Need
*1*
*2* *3**4*
*5* *6**7*
*8*
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*1*
"AJ, I think someone is trying to break into your house." Liz looked out her window to the house next door.
"Who?" He asked. He didn't bother looking up from the pool table.
"Some girl."
"Might be a fan or something. They're always trying to get in." He took the shot.
"Want me to check it out for you?"
"Sure. Thanks." AJ had a headache and didn't really feel in the mood for this. He'd come over to Liz's house to chill and relax.
"Excuse me."
Liz watched the girl practically jump out of her skin. Slowly she turned around. "I was just tying to see if anyone was home."
"Did you try knocking or the doorbell? There's both available."
"His truck is there and I wanted to see him first before .." She sighed and started over. "Do you know if he's home? I came back to see him. I'm not sure if this is even the right house."
"Stop. What do you mean back?"
"He brought me here months before. But I couldn't stay because I had to go back home. I mean back to Maryland.. And I tried to come back but it seemed everything go in the way." She stopped herself again. "Does Alex live here?"
"When did you come back before?" Liz asked. She still wasn't sure if this woman was crazy or not.
"Months ago. Uh, don't tell me he moved."
"And you say he brought you here?"
"Yes. In his truck. That one." She pointed to the one in the driveway. "At least I think that one."
Liz finally decided this girl was a psycho fan who lived outside the scope of reality. AJ was not the type to be picking girls off the street and bringing them to his house. Besides Liz knew he was dating Alison then.
"Well, sorry you're too late." She lied. "It's like you said. He moved. A couple of weeks ago. Sorry." Liz shrugged and went back into her house.
Once inside she checked to see if the girl had gone. When she saw her drive away she returned to AJ in the gameroom shooting pool.
"Who was it?" He asked.
"A psycho fan. She thought she'd been to your house before."
"Did you get rid of her?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks."
"You can just forget about it now."
Cris sighed as she drove away. She couldn't help the past chain of events that delayed her return to Florida. Her father's massive heart attack, family business that had to be taken of, plus news that Jessica had been pregnant before the wedding. Cris was ecstatic at the news, but her parents found it shameful. Jess carried it to term but barely survived the labor. Cris knew she was too weak and fragile to handle it, which was why she stayed even longer.
It didn't make Cris feel any better for her parents to learn beauty pageant princesses didn't always make the right choices. When the baby came everyone was told it was born premature. Another classic example of the Danes' only concerns with keeping up appearances. It made Cris realize why she left in the first place. But this time she had some good memories of her family and a beautiful baby niece to go back to.
And now that she found out that Alex had moved she could transfer to the new position she was offered without qualms. Maybe the change would do her good.
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AJ walked beside Howie as they scoured the shopping plaza. This was his first week back in Florida since his move to California. The trip had originally been planned as a one day trip to attend his grandfather's birthday party. On short notice he changed his plans to a week at Howie's. Together they worked on demos for the new album. After hours in the studio it was quickly decided, a break was in order. They tried to enjoy the day without a mad rush of fans.
They stopped to rest on a bench surrounded by several shopping bags.
"Remember me?" A girl approached AJ.
He looked up ready to reach for pen and paper to sign autographs. There goes an afternoon of rest, he thought. He looked into those green eyes that he'd never forget despite the time that passed.
"Cris?" The whisper froze in his chest. He hadn't realized he'd stopped breathing until he was finally forced to gasp for air. He was instantly thrown into a coughing fit.
"Guess you do remember me. I didn't think I was that bad though." She joked. "Are you okay?" She asked when she noticed he hadn't stopped coughing. She received an affirmative nod in return.
She looked up and saw Howie for the first time. "Oh, hi."
"We'll have to make our own introductions since AJ is indisposed at the moment." AJ glared up at Howie. It was obvious Howie found AJ's discomfort amusing. "I'm Howie."
"Nice to meet you. Cris." They both extended their hands. "What does the J stand for?"
"James." AJ answered for himself.
"That's cute." Cris smiled.
AJ frowned. "How?"
She shrugged. "It just is."
AJ made the mistake at that moment of looking into her eyes, or rather she into his.
"Alex fits you better."
They stood there in complete silence. AJ never thought he'd see her again this way. Since that night a million things trailed through his head but now they all escaped him. Around her he could only be honest.
"So, this is really awkward." AJ said.
"How did you meet?" Howie asked.
"We met at a bar." Cris answered.
Howie arched an eyebrow at AJ.
"It was over a year ago." AJ explained.
"I went back to your place but your neighbor said you'd moved." Cris told him.
"Yeah, I live in California now."
Howie's cell phone rang. "Excuse me."
Cris and AJ stared at each other. Questions floated through the air around them.
"Uh, AJ I have to get back to the office and help John with some things. Unless-" He looked to Cris.
She took this as her turn to speak up. "Alex, I need to talk to you. We could go somewhere and talk. I have my car."
AJ started to walk off with her but stopped when Howie placed a restraining hand on his arm. "You sure?"
AJ nodded. He trusted Cris completely although he didn't know much about her. And that scared him. But he did know every gold fleck in her eyes and he trusted that more than anything.
"We have some things to work out." He told Howie.
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They walked in silence to Cris's car. She wanted to tell him everything. Why she left that morning. Why it took her so long to come back. But now wasn't the time so she waited.
The silence worsened once they were in her car.
"We can go to a coffee shop around the corner or my place. Which ever you prefer."
"Your place." He said without hesitation.
Cris took the next left. There was a shorter route to her house but the direction she took would depend on this next answer.
"So, are you in a relationship right now?"
"Nothing ever seemed right after that night." Cris nodded. She understood completely. Another left. "You?"
"Nothing serious."
Five minutes later they pulled up to the apartment complex.
"Luckily I only live on the second floor." Cris told him. She was just making conversation. Anything to fill the silence. "The Harper's' live upstairs, fifth floor. They're an old couple but they say the exercise does them good."
"Here it is." She pushed the door open. "It's not much. Let me give you the tour."
"No." AJ took her hand and led her to the couch. "Later. I've waited a long time for this. The day you left I called my mother and told her I'd met the only woman on earth who completed me." He traced her jawline with a finger. "She laughed and said bring her over, I'll like her immediately. I told her then I thought I'd lost her forever." He fingered a strand of her hair. "It was straighter before and shorter."
"It's naturally curly." She was suddenly aware of the tangled mess of her curls. "What did your mother say?"
"There was a long pause and then she said life isn't easy and told me I was the most complicated person she knew. And the most dramatic, she told me not to forget that. But she said, love is forever and if I truly loved this girl she wasn't lost forever. If fate were on my side I'd find her in this life. If not we had forever to love each other. My mom is the most sensible person I know. I didn't even know she believed in love."
"She must love you even if you are the most complicated and dramatic person. What about your dad?"
"They divorced when I was 3. Are you parents still together?"
She nodded. "But-"
"Shh. We have forever." He kissed her softly. "I just want to hold you."
"Alex why?"
"Why what?"
"Why aren't you mad at me? I thought you'd be so upset with me for leaving the way I did."
"You had a reason didn't you?"
Another nod.
"I thought so. I took me a week to realize there may have been a reason. You don't walk out on someone who's exposed their soul to you. I knew you weren't that type of person."
"I was scared you'd think that about me. Don't you want to know the reason."
"It doesn't matter. Only a minor roadblock."
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__________
AJ woke up Saturday morning at the sound of his cell phone ringing.
"Hello?"
"AJ, where the hell are you?" Howie asked.
"I'm at Cris'. Calm down D."
"When you didn't call last night I thought something was wrong. I thought we were meeting back at my house."
"We never said that. Besides I'm a grown man. I can take care of myself."
"I see. Well, last night went well, I guess. Sometime in the near future you'll have to tell me about her."
"Yeah I will." AJ sniffed the air. "I smell breakfast. Gotta go."
"Alright then. I'm sorry about overreacting. You know it's nothing but love."
"I know man. Thanks."
AJ threw on his jeans from the day before and started down the hall towards the kitchen. He liked this apartment. It was open and comfortable but with a modern vibe. It reminded him of a term he read in a catalogue: soft urban. He imagined it as her retreat to get away from a busy day.
AJ sighed as he walked down the hall. He written poems and songs trying to express his feelings of love, loss, sadness, even anger over Cris. He'd purge his soul so many times to try to rid himself of her and here she was back in his life again.
Cris was checking her messages as her food cooked. "Cris, we really need you here. All havoc has broken loose. Please come back we need you."
"I'm sure you can handle it without me." She muttered.
"Good morning." AJ kissed the side of her neck.
"Same to you."
AJ stood there and listened to the other complaints from her office.
"Who's that?" AJ asked.
"My secretary. Yesterday was my day off and they act like they'll fall apart with me."
"What do you do?"
"Executive for a advertisement firm."
She slid the scrambled eggs and the bacon into a plate. "Breakfast is served." She brought it to the table. "The most important meal of the day and the only one I can actually cook."
"Is it a local firm?"
"Currently the top advertisement firm in Southern Florida. I got promoted here from Kissimee last year. I know what you're thinking this sounds like a nice job so why am I living in an apartment like this."
"Well yeah."
"It's fits me here. I don't need a large space and the rent is reasonable. Besides the nicer neighborhoods are too far from the office."
"You don't seem like the office type."
She shrugged. "Life's full of surprises. I love my job. It's the most important thing to me right now. What do you do?"
"I'm into the music business in Cali." AJ thought that was brief enough.
"Oh really? Anything I would know?"
"I don't think so."
Afterwards they piled the dishes in the sink. AJ washed while Cris dried.
"I have to check in with the office and see if things are as bad as they say."
"I going to take a shower if that's fine."
"Go ahead. Use the guest bath. It has more towels. I used all the ones in the master this morning. Two doors down from my room."
AJ thought about life from here on out. Things would be different with Cris by his side. She'd have to move to Cali with him. But first she'd have to meet his mom. First thing today, he thought as he squirted some of Cris' shampoo into his hair. He knew he'd end up smelling like Vanilla Orchid but he didn't mind.
When he came out of the shower everything was set in his mind.
"Hey Cris, I was thinking .." He stopped when he saw her glued to the TV. "What's so fascinating?" He sat beside her on the couch. He saw it was the noon news.
"Backstreet Boys Howie Dorough and AJ McLean were spotted yesterday. For those of you who need reminding the pop based group started right here in Orlando. They have gone on to sell more than a 4.5 million records. They're everywhere no matter where you look."
It changed to a clip of thousand of girls screaming and holding posters. The camera zoomed in a 'AJ MARRY ME' sign.
"Cris?" He chanced a glance at her.
"Mellie loves you. You put on your music and she sings along. She knows every word. She's only a year old but she's the cutest baby you've ever seen. My parent's had a fit when she came out but she was worth it. Of course she's staying with them now because I had to leave."
"Baby?" AJ asked. He tried to calculate the time since the night he first met Cris.
"And the thing is the I didn't see the booklet because she spilled fingernail polish all over it. And then poured remover to try to get it out." Cris knew she was babbling but she couldn't help it. "It was the cutest thing. Her mother didn't appreciate it at all. Jessica was aghast especially when she discovered the scene of the crime was her new chintz sofa. I told her Amelia was getting too smart for that playpen."
"Wait. Amelia? Jessica?"
"That's my sister. Mellie is my niece."
"Your niece. Not yours, I mean mine?"
"Oh no. You thought that-oh." She laughed.
"We didn't use protection that night. Or last night." He added.
"That time we were lucky. Now we don't have to worry. I'm on the pill." AJ looked surprised. "I'm ready for kids yet Alex. What's wrong? I should be the one freaked out considering what I just found out."
"What's the pill for? Just in case you decide to have sex with some guy?"
"No. Not just some guy. You make it sound like I pick guys up off the street to have sex with. I'm not that desperate."
"But you are sexually active? You told me you weren't in a relationship."
"Sexually active? You sound like my doctor. 'Now Cristian are we sexually active?'" She mocked. "Like that's really any business of some old balding guy. And I'm not in a relationship. I make sure there's protection you know a condom. The pill is just an added precaution."
"After that night, after that incredible night you can just go out and screw the next Joe Blow?"
She looked at him. "Don't tell me you haven't had sex in over a year?"
"You told me you haven't been in a serious relationship." AJ was trying to get his facts straight.
"I haven't. I can't believe I just found you again and we're having a conversation about why I'm on the pill. I need a drink. Want one?"
"I stopped."
"Drinking? Oh." AJ noticed she still walked into the kitchen.
"Sex is just some casual thing to you. So that night, what was that? Just another night?" Despite his feeling of not wanting to AJ followed her.
"Come on Alex, you know it wasn't." She defended herself. AJ watched as she lifted the lid off the decanter and the strong smell filled the air. "But I can't put my life on hold because of one night."
"I thought I'd found myself in you. I was ready to spend the rest of my life with you. I see I don't even know you at all."
Cris shrugged. She put her glass back down empty. "Welcome to the second date. Listen I have to go to the office for awhile." She lied as she grabbed her keys. "You can stay or catch a cab. I'm sure you have the money. Maybe I'll see you around. Or. . whatever." She gave a half-hearted wave.
"Cris!" AJ stared after her as she walked out the door. "Goddammit!" Why did this always happen to him? Why her? She was the only who'd ever walked out him and she was the only that mattered.
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"Okay people we have a problem and we have to fix it." Cris took off her jacket ready for business. "I need you to get me Tyler from downstairs. And someone please find out why the hell the Emery and Riddle accounts got switched."
"Cris, we have everything under control." Her secretary came up to her. "You told me everything on the phone."
"Well let's see some work get done around here."
Cris went into her office to think. She knew everything was okay. Sheryl was very capable. She just had to get out of the house away from Alex. The conversation was getting too heated. She didn't like the way it was going.
Truth was no other guy compared to Alex. She'd been searching for someone else to make her feel the way he did. Because if she found that it'd prove wrong the feeling she was trying to ignore. It'd mean it was love. Like Alex's mom she never believed in love either. In fact marriage was never a consideration. Somewhere inside she knew she wanted kids yet security was necessary in her life first. She wanted that maternal warmth she'd watch come from Jess.
For the rest of the day Cris completed all her work weeks ahead of schedule and did her best to avoid any more problems in the future. Finally she wondered why she was still in the office on a Saturday afternoon. Before going home she stopped for something eat. She hoped Alex would still be there but knew he probably wouldn't after the way she acted.
At the door she slowly turned the key. She looked around and carefully listened for anyone down the hall. He was gone.
She sighed and kicked off her shoes. She noticed a blank CD case on the side table. She opened it and read the folder note inside.
For Mellie, an early release of the new CD. Hope she enjoys it as much as the other one. I autographed it. Hopefully it'll be worth something when she's old enough to recognize its value. Tell her I said be good and stay cool. And thanks. ~Love Alex
-P.S. Thank you too Cris.
For what? She wondered.
Cris laughed at herself. For the second time in her life she ran from love. She was just too stupid to see it for what it was at the time. Laughter turned to sobs. She felt like a little child and a fool all at once. Alone and confused. The world seemed too big. Love seemed too big a concept to grasp. She fell asleep on the couch.
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*6*
AJ spent all day Sunday with Howie. They saw a movie, making sure not to appear in the news this time. AJ's hand itched in his pocket. It was wrapped around his cell phone. He wanted to call Cris so badly. He could ask her if she found the CD or how she was doing, make it seem casual. Anything to hear her voice.
During the movie AJ couldn't sit still. "Bathroom." He told Howie as he left the theater. In the lobby he pulled out the crumbled piece of paper he'd written Cris' number on. He got it yesterday from information. Slowly and deliberately he punched in the numbers. There was a slight pause before it rang. He counted the rings as he waited for her answer. After a minute he hung up before the answering machine clicked on. Maybe she was ignoring him. He sighed and went back in. Afterwards they enjoyed a big Sunday dinner at Mama D's. AJ loved the warm and welcome atmosphere.
"Howie, you want kids right?"
"Yeah, of course."
"What if you met the perfect woman but discovered her career was too important?"
"She probably wants to provide a secure environment first. I'd give her a few years. You can't ask her for children first thing in the relationship."
"What if I want to provide security?"
"Financial support yes. But maybe she isn't ready for that kind of commitment."
AJ was silent for a few moments. "I've decided to go back home a couple of days early like today."
"Does it have anything to do with Cris?"
AJ nodded. "Everything to do with her."
"She drinks too." AJ said dejectedly as if that was it, the final reason for his leaving. "She offered me a drink."
"She couldn't have known AJ."
"I know but." He sighed. "Maybe we've just grown too much the past year. Maybe we've out grown each other. That first night we met we sat on my couch and just talked you know. Her favorite movie was Dogma. Now I'm worrying it's The Wedding Planner or some shit like that. Things are so different in the harsh reality of daylight. Maybe that's why she left. Maybe she woke up in my bed that morning and knew, just knew that in the real world we weren't the same people that got caught up in the romanticism bullshit the very night before."
"You don't believe that."
"Hell, I don't know, maybe we were both drunk that night. But I remember everything D, everything. What we talked about, what she looked like, the way she felt. Did you know that she has a tattoo now?"
"No," Howie smiled. "I didn't know."
AJ ignored the sarcasm. "Yep. It's a biker chick in the form of an angel. Good detailing. You can see the angel's piercing and tattoos. It has an heart on its arm with a rose."
"The artist did a good job. But AJ this doesn't mean anything. You've gotten more tattoos since then too."
"I know but it means something. Everything means something."
"It just means you're overreacting. By the way what is Cris short for?"
"Cristian."
"AJ would you like more desert? We have pie and cake left." Mrs. Dorough asked.
"No ma'am but thank you anyway. I'm stuffed. Your cooking was excellent as always. I should know I've been sampling it since I was a kid."
"True, no matter what we served you showed up for dinner."
"I only came over the days my mom cooked. I knew where I could go for some good eating." He looked around the table at all the smiling faces. For the moment all his troubles were forgotten. The joy of Mama D's food. Taste the savory flavor and let your cares melt away.
"Don't let your mother hear that. A woman prides herself on her cooking."
"Oh she knows it's the truth. I asked her one day if she would rather me come to your house for dinner or starve and she started giving me cab money."
"I don't know how you eat so much when you're skinny as a bean pole." Pollyanna said.
AJ shrugged.
"Now what you need is a wife that cooks for you." John put his arm around his wife. "That's how I fell in love with Susan."
"I agree completely." AJ said. "Mama D will you marry me? No one that I know can cook as good as you."
'Cris doesn't cook', he thought as he laughed at a blushing Mama D. Almost a whole minute he congratulated himself. Next objective: a whole lifetime without thinking about her.
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*7*
Cristian woke Sunday with an intense headache. She saw the bottle on the coffee table and realized why. Slowly she stood in search of strong coffee and aspirin, definitely aspirin. There was something she tried to forget in all that alcohol. She tried to remember it now. Thinking was too much of a strain. She raised her hand to her head.
"Maybe I should stop." She muttered. It was then she remembered what it was. Alex was gone out of her life probably forever this time to California and she had no idea how to get in contact with him. An hour later she was dressed and feeling much better. She sat with the phone in her hand. There had to be someway to reach him.
"Think Cris, think." Hit with a burst of inspiration she called her secretary. "Sheryl I need you to get some information on Howie Dorough."
"Cris, it is Sunday. Call information. Here I'll give you the number 411."
"I doubt he'd be listed. Come on Sheryl, please."
"Okay but I want you to know this is above and beyond the call of secretarial duties. What's the name again?"
"Thank you so much. Howie Dorough."
"He's the one with the Lupus Foundation, right? Didn't we do some advertising for them?"
"I don't know. I need either his cell or home phone number."
"It may take me awhile. That kind of celebrity info isn't exactly real forthcoming."
"I have faith in you. And please hurry."
"Alright, alright."
Fifteen minutes later Sheryl came through for her. "Howie and John Dorough own a real estate company together. We do some ads for them. I have a phone number for a Ms. Patricia Summerland. That's all I could get. You might be able to get something out of her."
"Thanks Sheryl. See you at the office tomorrow."
"Yeah. Bye."
"Hello may I please speak to Patricia Summerland?"
"This is she."
"Ms. Summerland, sorry to call you on a Sunday. This is Cristian Dane from the advertising firm and we have a problem with one of the ads. I was wondering if I could get in contact with either John or Howie."
"Couldn't this wait until tomorrow? John will be in his office then and you can call him there."
"No ma'am it can't. It is a matter of the utmost importance. I'll be frank with you Ms. Summerland. I don't think this should be leaked to the public but. ." Cris paused dramatically. "I have a complaint from one of my employers that they were sexually assaulted by Howie Dorough." Cris said a quick sorry to Howie. He really did seem like a nice guy but she desperate.
"That's preposterous. Howie would never."
"That may be but imagine the implications of an allegation like this. It could do serious harm to the company not to mention Mr. Dorough has influential status. I believe you're aware of his growing campaign against Lupus disease. It would be a shame for such a good cause to loose funds over something like this. And I'm sure that it would. Now all that could be avoided if I could just get in contact with him and we could resolve the whole matter today. The number please Ms. Summerland."
Cris ran up to the first ticker counter she saw. "Can you tell me the terminal to LAX?"
"14B"
"Thank you." She said as she ran off.
She thought it would take forever to get to it. Finally out of breath she found it. She saw him one of the last ones in line to board. She stopped to breathe and to look him over. A smile appeared as she stood and slowly approached him. Before she reached him he turned and their eyes met.
"Cris, what are you doing here?" He asked.
"I was hoping maybe to stop you from getting on that plane."
"Why? You made everything clear earlier at your place."
"No I didn't. When I'm with you I'm not afraid of right or wrong. I'm just Cris, plain and simple. But when you leave I become so afraid that the pure epitome of love has left my life. Without you there is no love in my life. I tried; you can't find that in sex. I need you."
"Excuse me." The person behind AJ moved up in line in front of him.
Cris was now aware she was pouring her heart out for everyone around to hear. She grabbed AJ's hand and kept talking. He wasn't saying anything back yet. She watched his eyes for a reaction.
"When I close my eyes I imagine opening them to see you every morning. Just the thought is the greatest feeling in the world. Can I ask you a question? When we touch do you feel like your skin is going to explode with emotions like a volcano erupting but the feeling is more of a gliding glacier down your back. I never told you why I left that morning. I was scared that you were it."
"I'm what?"
"That you might be Love." AJ glanced down at their clasped hands. "Tell me what you need. Whatever you need. Nothing else matters. I refuse to let love walk out on me again."
The line for boarding kept moving in front of him and still AJ stayed quiet. Cris watched and pleaded with her eyes. "Alex please."
She'd stood here, opened the contents of her heart, wasted her pride and dignity all over the ugly gray carpet to him and he stood there hard as stone. She left go of his hands and turned to leave. She gave it her best shot. Tears that she didn't know she had welled up but she refused to let them go until she was out of his sight.
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AJ stood there and stared after her.
"Sir last call for boarding." A stewardess came up to him. "Sir? Are you okay? This is the 124 flight to Los Angeles."
"Yes I know." AJ said. "But I'm not going on it." He placed his ticket down on the counter and walked away.
He searched for Cris. While she was talking he'd been watching her. The light bouncing in her eyes, her soft lips moving against each other as spoke. He looked around for the black lace tank top she wore.
He spotted her not far from the exit. She laid her head on her arms.
"Cris? I know I acted really stupid back there. Look at me please."
He squatted down in front of her. Using his finger he lifted her face up. In her eyes he saw another part of her a vulnerable, unsure part. He'd always seen the independent, confident Cris.
"Everything you said was true. This thing between us scares me too. Some times I think we're moving too fast but I take one look in your eyes and everything feels so right."
"That may be so but what are we going to do about the real world? We live on separate sides of the country for starters."
"I was thinking you could get a great job in Los Angeles. You'll love LA." Cris looked as though she didn't agree. "Or maybe not. We'll work on that. Either way we'll have something figured out."
Cris smiled. "Everything will work out for the best won't it? "
AJ kissed her slowly with everything he had poured into it. "I hope that answers your question."
She grabbed his hand. "Come on. There's some one I want you to meet." She led him to the exit.
"Who?"
"An awesome woman I met. She's waiting in the parking lot.
"When?"
"When I was trying to find you."
"On the way here?"
"Hm-hmm. She drove."
"Did you take a cab?"
Cris walked up to a very familiar looking silver Mercedes. "I bought that car last year for my mom.. "
"Everything all straight now?" Denise asked as she straightened from leaning
against the car.
"Did I tell you the most awesome thing about her?" Cris asked AJ. "She made you into the person you are today."
"I had help. Let me tell you it wasn't easy. Boy almost drove me crazy." She climbed behind the wheel.
"How did you two get together?" AJ asked as he followed Cris in the back. They settled comfortable in each other's arms.
"Cris called me." Denise answered.
"How?" He looked to Cris.
"Tell you later. Promise. Just know I have my ways."
"I told you she was amazing." AJ told his mom.
"I thought you said I was the only woman who completed you."
"That would make you amazing."
Cris only kissed him without a word.
"I have one more thing to add to what you said earlier." AJ slowly opened his eyes.
"What?"
"I see you and a house and a couple of dogs."
"And children." AJ looked shocked. "Not now but someday. Soon."
"I have the dogs and the house. I want to give you whatever you want."
Cris shook her head. AJ was ready for a speech on a woman's freedom to personal independence. "Everything I need I found that night. In you. Whatever I need."
"If that ever changes, you let me know." He kissed her temple.
"It won't." She assured.
"But if it does." He insisted.
"Can you believe this?" She asked Denise.
Denise nodded. "He's going to be a tough one to handle."
"I think I can handle it."
"You seem to be doing a good job so far."
"Hello, I'm right here." AJ waved his hand.
"I know baby."
"We can't miss you." Denise slipped a CD in the system.
"Who's this?" AJ listened as the first few bars played.
"Tina Turner." His mom answered.
"What's love got to do, got to do with it?" AJ sang horribly off key.
"Shh," Cris placed a finger over his lips. "Just listen."
AJ kissed her finger as the understanding came over him.
In what other lives have I known your kiss
And what forgotten moments have I felt like this
The way you touch me I come undone
You know me more than anyone
Whatever you want
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