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My December	By : Fuelish Category: Individual Celebrities > Josh Groban Views: 2010 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know Josh Groban. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
CHAPTER TWO

The kids were supposed to be doing their homework while she prepared supper but it sounded like they were fighting instead. Karen set the spatula down on the counter and stormed into the bedroom where the 7 year-old and the 12 year-old were arguing over a CD player.
“What are you doing?” She snapped, grabbing the headphones out of the 7 year-old’s hands. “You’re supposed to be doing homework!” The 12 year-old planted her hands on her hips.
“I want to listen to music while I’m writing an essay, mom!” Kelly yelled and pushed her sister. “She keeps taking it away!” Carolyn pushed her back.
“I had it first.” Karen stood between them holding them apart with her hands.
“Knock it off. No CD player until the homework’s done!”
“What!?” Kelly screeched, incredulous. “This is insane. I can’t write the essay without my music!” She turned and stormed off into her bedroom. Karen snatched the remaining piece of the portable CD player from Carolyn’s hands and then led her to the desk which occupied a fairly good amount of space in her already small bedroom.
“Carlie, you sit down and finish your homework and stop irritating your sister. Dinner’s almost ready and if I have to keep coming in here breaking you two up then there won’t be any dinner!” Carolyn sighed and sat. Karen went back out to the kitchen and, after setting the CD player next to her on the counter, finished her task of preparing Sloppy Joes.

Karen laughed as she read the message board. She had been enjoying this message board for a month and now she enjoyed it even more that there was another man who was posting and putting the resident alpha male in his place. She had gotten a private message from the new guy who’s name was jg022781 and it was very comforting. She replied to it and then went on reading the other threads. Suddenly she heard a voice, “Mom!” She sighed and left the computer to find Carlie sitting up in bed. Karen leaned against the door frame and folded her arms in front of her.
“What, Car?” Carlie smiled and pulled her covers up to her waist and smoothed them down over her legs.
“I forgot to tell you that I loved you.” Karen smiled back and sighed as she sauntered over to the bed and sat in front of her young daughter. She pushed stray hair from her forehead then kissed it.
“I love you too, sweetie.” Carlie slid her arms around her mom and squeezed. Karen pushed her backwards on the bed and tucked the covers around her tightly. “Sleep good. I might even make you pancakes for breakfast.” As she left the room she heard Carlie sigh happily. Sitting back down in front of the computer, Karen found she had a reply to her message from “jg.”
“So, I know you’re self-reliant, you have children, you have a job you like, then why are you here? Isn’t this a website for people who have ‘relationship’ issues. I know I sure do. My girlfriend *sigh* dumped me. Without a word! She never even said it was over! I had to hear it from other people that I’d been dumped. Isn’t that sad? I don’t even know why I’m talking to you about it. I’m sure you don’t feel like listening to some guy you don’t even know whine about his problems …” Karen bit her lip and sat back on the chair. Yeah, she had her issues. She found out that after 15 years of marriage she was married to someone she didn’t know, a total stranger. And it happened to be someone she didn’t like either. She didn’t talk about it very much, she didn’t like to talk about it and so she decided that she wouldn’t. She said as little as possible to anyone about him. She only spoke his name anymore when she was referring to the children’s father. And to them he was “your dad.” She doubted she would chat with this stranger about him but she wouldn’t decide that for sure until she knew ‘jg’ a little better. “Jay, I can’t believe she would do that! It takes a cold and heartless person to let someone as nice as you suffer humiliation the way she did. I will tell you, knowing very little about her, hell, I don’t know anything about her, I’m going to say you are definitely better off. Who needs someone in their life who would do that to someone as nice as you are? I’m here anytime you need to talk. I’m a good listener and sometimes I can actually come up with some good advice!” She sent the message and then yawned. It was nearing 10:00 and she was exhausted. She chuckled out loud. Way back in the day Karen’s life had just begun at 10:00! Now by the end of the news she was well on her way to dreamland. She was half tempted to wait and see if her new online buddy would reply but she used the little self control she still had left in her and shut down the computer. She lie in her bed and listened to the monotonous hum of the fan that stood on the other side of the room providing her with a much needed cooling breeze along with the chorus of crickets that sang from the open window. She mulled over the day. Work had been pleasant, the kids didn’t fight too much and the homework had been completed, and all before dinner! Life was good yet her heart felt heavy in her chest. The demands of the day finally over, the children were in their beds asleep but her mind kept drifting back to ‘him’ and the last time she saw him. She was okay with talking to him on the phone but seeing him with that other woman, the proverbial secretary, was painful and hurt more then she could bear. Karen had been the one to leave, she filed for the divorce but he had insisted on paying for it. She let him. He was guilty as hell and he knew it! The secretary was young and vivacious and apparently had things Karen didn’t, including a pair of double Ds. The tears fought to escape through Karen’s tightly closed lids but she kept them under control until, in the darkness of her mind she saw them, kissing in the bookstore as she entered, momentarily shocked into place until she forced her legs to move and bolted back out the door and down the block to her car where she sat and sobbed. Now the tears came as freely as they had that day. Karen rolled over and buried her face in her pillow, allowing herself a moment of self pity.

Josh smiled when he read the reply from Karen. She was so kind, so caring. He wished she was right, he wished he was better off without Jan but he missed her terribly. He felt a pang of sadness, then jealousy, then anger. He sighed and took a swig off the bottle of beer that sat next to the laptop on the table. He pressed reply and wrote back to Karen.
“Karen, if only you knew. I really miss her sometimes. I honestly don’t know what the hell went wrong between us. Maybe we spent too much time together, maybe we didn’t spend enough time together. As I sit here and write I feel like I miss her so much but then again I’m glad she’s gone because if it wasn’t this guy then perhaps we would have even gone so far as to have gotten married and then things may have been worse. It’s nice to be able to talk to you about it. I hope you don’t mind.” He sent the message and before 5 minutes had passed he received a reply.
“Jay, I don’t mind at all! Listen, I have gone through some crappy things myself and I, too enjoy having someone to commiserate with. I am not really good at telling other people how I feel and being as I don’t really know you and you don’t really know anyone I know it might be easier for me to talk to you. Do you have an instant message program? Maybe we could chat instead of email back and forth?” Josh scratched his scruffy chin and decided to give it a go. He signed up for a Yahoo instant messenger name and then emailed Karen.
“Karen, I have Yahoo and my name is jg022781. I’m going to sign on and wait for me to add you.” He sent the message and then signed into the messenger system. It wasn’t long before she had added him and then waited for him to accept her.
“Hi Jay.” She said. He felt butterflies in his belly and laughed out loud at himself.
“Hi Karen.” He typed back. “So what’s new?” He felt stupid after he’d sent that.
“Nothing. Kids are at their dad’s this weekend. To be honest with you, I love them to death but I’m kind of glad.” And then she attached a small smiley face. He smiled.
“Well that’s good. So what are you doing with yourself all alone there. BTW where are you again?”
“I don’t think I told you to begin with but I live in Ohio.” He nodded.
“Ahhhh.” He said. “I couldn’t remember if you did or not. I live in good old CA.”
“Nice and warm, eh?” She asked.
“Yeah.” He said. He got up from the couch and grabbed himself another beer from the fridge. He twisted off the cap and tossed it into the garbage before plopping back onto the couch and pulling the computer into his lap.
“It’s not too bad here.” Karen typed. “It topped out at around 85.” He glanced out the sliding glass door that lead onto his balcony and took a swig of beer.
“It’s around 4PM here and it’s about the same.” He said. “Although I went from an air conditioned condo to an air conditioned car straight to an air conditioned studio. LOL.” He didn’t spend much time in the sun today. He laughed and took another drink of his beer.
“What kind of studio? Art studio? Hair studio? Tell me you’re NOT a hairdresser!” He almost spit out the beer and then laughed, wiping his mouth. He quickly replied.
“NO! I am not a hairdresser. I play the piano and I was in the studio today laying down some tracks.” She paused a moment before answering.
“Ahhhhh ….” Was all she said. He shifted his weight uncomfortably. He had been nervous all the while wondering if she had heard of him and perhaps now was the time to find out. He drank half the bottle of beer before he began to type.
“So, Karen, have you ever heard of Josh Groban?” He stared at the screen with the words burning into it before he mustered up the nerve to press the send button. She began to type back to him almost immediately. He was afraid of what she would say.
“I think so.” She said. “Doesn’t he sing kind of like Michael Buble?” He sucked in air when he read that. Michael Buble? He shook his head. He was much higher caliber then him! Well, at least she wasn’t a Grobanite.
“Yeah, he’s kind of like Michael.” He dreaded saying that but he couldn’t let on as to who he was. “I play the piano for Josh.”
“Ahhhh.” She said. “So you’re some big whig in the music business.” He grinned proudly.
“You could say that.” He said and then added, “LOL.”
“At least you think so!” He had a good laugh at that. He liked her. She was funny and the best thing was she had no idea he was Josh Groban. “So, Jay, how are things going after you-know-what?”
“I am beside myself, Karen. She hasn’t called in over a week and we didn’t actually end it.” He felt a little hesitant but if he could talk about January to anyone it would be to her.
“You didn’t end it??” Karen asked and then pasted another mixed-up face.
“No. We kind of argued on the phone a week or so ago and then I heard from various people that she was with another guy. I haven’t heard from her since.” He lay his head back against the back of the couch and waited for her reply. When he heard the little ringing sound signaling a reply he lifted his head.
“That’s really ugly, Jay, to not break up with you and then date another guy. I swear, if I knew her I would smack her a good one!” He smiled half-heartedly.
“It’s okay Karen. I just …” He trailed off and then sighed heavily. He couldn’t believe that January would do that to him. It was just Jude Law for Christ’s sake! Josh was better looking, wasn’t he? What did Jude have that he didn’t have? For that matter, what did he have that Jude didn’t? A fabulous, money making voice, that’s what! He shook his head. He just didn’t see it. He was brought back to reality when he heard the little bell signaling that Karen had replied.
“Well she’s lost something good in her life, Jay. I don’t know you very well but I can tell one thing about people and that’s if they are good or not. And you’re good.” He smiled sadly.
“Apparently not.” He typed back.
“Listen,” She began and then he saw the icon at the bottom of the page that signaled she was typing. “I’m somewhat of an impath and I can tell if someone is a good person. I wouldn’t be talking to you if you weren’t.” He finished his beer and got up to get another one before responding.
“Obviously Jude Law’s just a bit more sexy then I am.” He typed and then erased it. “Obviously this other guy’s got something I don’t.” He re-typed then sent.
“Yeah.” She replied. “Some inconsiderate bitch.” He laughed out loud at that and the sound of his phone ringing made him jump. His computer fell off his lap and hit the floor with an audible thud!
“Fuck!” He yelled and stood quickly not knowing which to get first, his computer or the phone. He opted for the phone. He flipped it up and muttered hello before even looking at who it was.
“Josh.” His brother stated.
“Goddamn it, Chris!” Josh snapped and bent down to pick up the laptop which was face down on the floor.
“Nice way to greet your bro.” Chris said calmly.
“You made me drop my computer on the fucking floor.” Josh picked it up and stared at the screen which by now was a series of yellow and orange lines. “I think it’s broken.” He sighed and held the power button down until it flickered off.
“Sorry about that. And if you think about it, I didn’t actually make you drop it asswipe, you dropped it on your own. Now if you want some help breaking it I could come over and really do some damage.” Josh set it down roughly on the cocktail table and paced into the kitchen. He ran a hand through his curls catching his finger on one and pulling at his hair.
“No, thanks.” He growled painfully.
“What’s up?” Chris asked nonchalant. Josh looked patiently up at the ceiling saying a silent prayer for composure.
“What’s up? I just told you what’s up, I dropped my frigging computer on the floor when you called.”
“I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight?” Josh opened the fridge and looked inside. There wasn’t really anything appetizing in it so he closed it again.
“No, but thanks for thinking of me.” Chris was silent on the other end.
“Listen, Josh, you’ve got to get out of there and blow some of the stink off of you. I know you’re upset about Jan but Josh, there are hundreds of gorgeous women out there just dying to meet you and date you and …” Chris coughed on the other end. “well, other things. You know …” Josh went into his bedroom and slipped out of his jeans and into a pair of boxers.
“Yeah, well, I’m sure but I’m tired and in my PJs already. I’m not up to going anywhere right now.” He went back out into the living room and after retrieving his laptop computer made his way back into the bedroom turning off lights and locking the front door. He set his alarm system then crept off into the bedroom.
“Even mom says you need to get out and start dating again.” Josh rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, well the last time mom butted in about my private life she set me up with a female rapist.” He muttered and crawled in between the sheets of his bed. He heard Chris laughing heartily in the background as he tried turning his computer back on.
“What?” Chris asked between giggles. “Who was this?” Josh sighed as he waited to see his welcome screen appear.
“I don’t know, some Penny chick. She was all over me like white on rice, Chris, I couldn’t even breathe.” The welcome screen faded in as Chris was laughing so hard on the other end he snorted. “Did you just snort?” Chris didn’t answer, he was still giggling. “It wasn’t funny, Chris! I’m gonna give her your phone number so she can call you.”
“Go ahead Groban, I heard she was a hottie.”
“Oh yeah, you heard that from mom. What’s that tell ya.”
“I’m going to tell her you said that.” Josh sighed and shook his head as his main screen booted up on to the computer, evident damage not visible.
“Go on ahead tough guy and listen, I have to go.” He faked a yawn. “I’m really tired. I had an early call this morning and man, I’m beat.” On the other end he heard a tapping sound.
“Yeah, sure, old man. Go on to bed. I’ll just go out and get wasted and get laid for the both of us.” Josh waited for his programs to load before he could sign on to the Internet.
“Hey, just make sure both of us get home safely and without some crotch rot, okay?” Chris laughed.
“Yeah, right.” He said and then hung up. Josh signed on to the Yahoo Messenger service to see if Karen was still on and shook his head when she wasn’t. He checked his email and found he’d gotten a note from her.
“Sorry if I offended you.” She wrote. “I didn’t mean to insult your girlfriend and make you sign off. If you’re still talking to me email me back and let me know.” He sighed angrily and emailed her back explaining the series of events that led up until now and pleaded with her not to blame herself. He signed off after that and lay in bed, alone, and in the dark.

Karen felt awful after Jay signed off quickly and debated with herself whether or not to even email him. It was wrong of her to call his girlfriend a bitch but that’s how she felt, like it or not. And Jay was too nice of a guy to be treated like that by some unfeeling, uncaring woman. She just hoped he wasn’t too offended to talk to her again. She sighed and then quickly shot him off an email before shutting down the computer, finishing her glass of wine and then crawling into bed.

Waking up the next morning, much too early for a Sunday, a Sunday without children in her face no less, she went straight over to the computer and turned it on. While it was booting up she padded out to the kitchen and made a pot of coffee. She curled up in the overstuffed office chair in front of the computer with her steaming coffee and signed into her email program. Surprisingly she had a message from Jay. She smiled, relieved when she read that he wasn’t angry about the final comment she’d made and cringed when she’d read that he’d dropped his computer. She emailed him back asking him to let her know when he’d be online so that they could continue their chat. Then she went on to the message board and read the newest posts. She was feeling really good inside. There was something about being a support system for someone who needed it that gave the spirit a little boost. She hadn’t really been able to help Jay yet per se but now that she knew he wasn’t upset and had actually enjoyed her comment she felt positive about chatting with him. She was just wishing that he would sign on so they could chat when she noticed that he had just signed on. Just as she was preparing to instant message him he greeted her.
“Good morning.” He said and added a little smiley face. She smiled and replied.
“Good and morning together is an oxymoron. And I should be sleeping, I could be sleeping!” She pressed send and sipped her coffee.
“Then why aren’t you sleeping?” He asked.
“I can’t figure that out.” She said.
“I should be too but I was anxious to see if you were okay after last night.” Karen smiled. That was extremely nice of him.
“Aren’t you sweet?” She said. He didn’t answer for a few minutes, apparently she embarrassed him.
“I’m a dork.” He said, finally. She laughed.
“Are not!”
“Am too.” She sighed. A childish game she liked to play …
“Are not, are not, are not, are not …” She typed over and over and pressed send.
“Okay, okay!” He said and included a laughing smiley. “I give. Uncle! I’m not.” She nodded satisfactorily. “I’m a geek.”
“Don’t make me smack you again …” She typed. He sent back a laughing smiley.
“So you think my girlfriend is a bitch.” He said.
“Yes, that I do.” She replied.
“Well I’m beginning to think that myself. You know, I thought I loved her and that we would spend the rest of our lives together.”
“And now?”
“Now … *sigh* I can’t believe I ever thought that. I’m disgusted with myself.”
“Don’t you dare be disgusted with yourself! Jay, you were honestly in love with someone who wasn’t worth it! Now what you need to do is focus on yourself. You have earned some time for you.”
“All I do is have time for myself. I’m not having much fun with it.” She laughed quietly.
“Well, I don’t have much time for myself and I wish I did. I guess I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum.”
“Kids keeping you busy?” He asked.
“Yeah, that and work. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids.”
“Here comes the proverbial ‘but.’” She took a deep breath.
“BUT I would also like to do things, you know, go out on a date, have dinner with someone, go to a concert or a movie. Adult things.” He sent her a leering smiley.
“Adult things are nice. I haven’t really done anything fun for a while. Wouldn’t it be nice if we lived closer together and we could do some fun things together? There are a million things to do around here.” Karen felt a swarm of butterflies flutter through her belly when she read his last comment. How she ached for a man’s attention. Jay sounded like a great guy. If he lived closer …
“Yeah, Jay, that would be nice but remember you’re hurting right at the moment and dating on the rebound can be dangerous.”
“I know, I’ve had other girlfriends but I need something to take my mind off of her. Thanks for talking to me. I really need this.”
“I’m glad to be of assistance.” They chatted a while longer and then Jay had to get going. He was due in the studio shortly. Karen took this opportunity to sign off and get some work done around the house before HE brought the kids back home and chaos would ensue once more.

CHAPTER THREE

Before signing off and heading into the studio Josh snuck onto his website again and found the news about January and Jude Law had been exposed. He felt anger welling up inside him and sighed as he read the posts from women who all wanted to ‘mother’ him. They insulted Jan and begged to be the first to press his sad, little head to their bosoms and comfort him. He exited out of the website and slammed the top of his laptop closed before rubbing his now teary eyes frantically. He got up from the couch and paced the living room. He decided that he hated her. He hadn’t heard a word from her in more then a week. He’d already wiped her number off his speed dial. He stomped off into his bedroom where he pulled out a box of photos. He tore every single one of the two of them together into pieces and threw them in the air. He hoped it would make him feel better, it didn’t. He proceeded to find every picture of them together and ones of her alone and tore them to shreds until there wasn’t a single photo of her left in the condo. The only thing he got out of it was a trail of confetti from one end of the house to the other. He ended up staring at his pathetic reflection in the bedroom mirror. He looked old. He had bags under his eyes and they were puffy and tired-looking. He growled. Yeah, he now hated January. She was a bitch, just like Karen said. She didn’t deserve the love he gave her. She didn’t deserve him. He would find better. And he wouldn’t settle for the first girl that came along either. Karen was right, he needed time for himself, time for Josh. He felt tears sting his eye and blinked quickly to brush them away. They dripped down his cheeks. He turned away, disgusted from the mirror and flopped down on the bed where the tears came quickly and he began to cry. He covered his eyes with his arm where his sleeve soaked up the tears. Angrily he slammed his fists backwards on the bed and then sat up. He wiped his face and sniffled. He didn’t want to be a cry baby and decided he wouldn’t be. Yeah, the pain went deep but it wasn’t unbearable. There were plenty of women clamoring for his attention, weren’t there? Chris was right, he needed a distraction. He got up, grabbed his keys and headed out the door.

That morning in the studio wasn’t the best for Josh. He was frustrated and disgusted with himself. He hadn’t properly warmed up and his throat was feeling a bit raw. He sat down at the piano and plunked out the notes to a new song he had been working on and after recording what he thought was good he went to bang on the drums for a while. It was one of the only things that truly relaxed him anymore. When he was sitting there, whacking the skins his mind was blank, he wasn’t thinking of Jan, he wasn’t thinking of his mother, no thoughts of women spewing their unwanted attention on him in his hour of ‘need.’ It was just him and the kit. He played for most of two hours until he was drenched in sweat. He left the room and met with his producer in the hall.
“Hey.” He said breathless then nodded.
“You wanting to do some more today, Josh?” David asked him, planting his hands on his hips feeling that he already knew the answer. Josh pursed his lips and frowned, deep in thought. Then he nodded.
“You know, I think I will … let me rinse off real quick.” He said and headed towards the locker room. David’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He scratched his head and walked off towards the studio to wait for Josh. He took a quick shower then bounded into the studio. Feeling better now then he had earlier he put down two songs then headed out into the blinding sunlight. He drove straight over to his parent’s house where he had supper with them. When pressed by his mom about dating he told her he was going to start.
“But first,” He said, finishing the last of a mudslide his dad had made for the three of them. “I’m going to get back to me. I’m going to make the best CD I ever have, the fans are going to LOVE it!” His mom smiled, she was glad to hear that Josh was getting back to being himself despite the embarrassment his former girlfriend was causing him. His dad held up his drink.
“To dating!” He said. Josh and Lindy held up their drinks too.
“To dating!” They repeated. Josh checked his watch and made up an excuse to leave.
“Yeah, I gotta go, I’m supposed to meet someone tonight.” His dad walked him to the door and then hugged him tightly.
“Hey, son, don’t let all that stuff get to you. I knew it wouldn’t last long. I just never said anything before. It wasn’t really my business.” It wasn’t really any of your business now, Josh thought but smiled at his dad.
“I’m not going to. Don’t worry about me, Dad, I’m stronger then you know.”
“Good going son! See ya tomorrow!” He clapped Josh on the back before Josh sprinted to his car and sped towards Beverly Hills. He parked in his designated space under the condo building and rode the elevator up to the fourth floor. He stuck the key in the lock and turned quickly. He flicked on the lights and kicked the door shut with his heel as he made his way in the dark to the living room. He lifted the top of the computer and turned it. While it was booting up he went into the bedroom and shed his jeans and slipped into a pair of sweats. He stuck a bag of popcorn into the microwave, set the timer and went to get a cold beer from the fridge. He poured the popcorn into a bowl and took it and his beer into the living room. He settled himself on the couch and signed into Yahoo Messenger to chat with Karen. She wasn’t on right away so he browsed the Internet, checking on his own website and message board and when he found that nothing had changed he moved on to something else. It wasn’t long before Karen signed on and paged him.
“Jay, you there?” She asked.
“I’m here.” He typed back.
“I can’t stay on long. It’s Sunday night and I have to get these kids ready for bed. School tomorrow.” She said and sent him a sad face. He sent the sad face back to her.
“Too bad. I wanted to chat.” He said.
“I do too but you should see them! I think HE fed them sugar right before dropping them off!!” Josh sighed. He really did want to spend the night chatting with Karen.
“How long will it take?” He asked.
“Not sure.” She replied. He wanted to ask her something but was hesitant. He didn’t want her to think he was a stalker. He giggled at himself. How the tables have turned!
“Can I …” He typed and then sent it by mistake before he could erase it.
“Can you what?” She asked. His face turned bright pink though he was alone in his condo.
“Can I call you?” He asked and grimaced as he pressed the send button. He leaned his head back on the couch not wanting to see the reply. When the bell rang that she’d replied he was hesitant to look.
“Sure you can.” She said and gave him her number. “Just give me like 20 minutes to get them calmed down.” He smiled.
“Okay.” He said and then watched as she signed off. He sat there on the couch, smiling like the cat that just ate the canary. He felt butterflies flapping around in his belly. He was actually nervous. He’d never done anything like this in his life and he was about to talk on the phone with a complete stranger. Well she wasn’t that much of a stranger, he’d spoken to her multiple times on the computer but live was different. He set his computer down on the couch and stuck his feet up on the cocktail table. He covered his face with his hands and rubbed. Too nervous to sit he got up and paced around the house, putting things that had ended up out of place where they belonged. He found a half-full cup of coffee next to his bed and took it to the kitchen where he dumped it and rinsed the cup. He retrieved his mostly empty bottle of beer from the table by the couch where he was sitting, downed the last of it and grabbed himself a fresh one. He took a huge gulp for courage then belched loudly. He wiped some spittle off his bottom lip with the back of his hand.
“Wow, that was classy Groban.” He said and laughed to himself. “Yeah, I know, wasn’t it? Could you just see the crowd cheering if I opened my mouth onstage and came out with that?” He checked his watch. He had 5 more minutes before she said he could call. He moved from room to room, pacing like a caged animal before grabbing his cell phone and flopping back down on the couch. He took a deep breath and then exhaled. His heart was pounding. He shook his head. What was wrong with him? Like he’d never spoken to a person he hardly knew on the phone before! He didn’t understand it. Karen was different, he told himself. How? He didn’t know but she was. He checked his watch again. It was time. He waited another minute so she didn’t think he was overtly anxious to call. He lifted the top of the computer and glanced at the number. He flipped open the top of his cell phone and began to dial. His hands were trembling. He found himself taking short, shallow breaths as the phone rang on the other end. Suddenly he heard the phone pick up and a friendly female voice answered.
“Jay?” He heard her say. He almost didn’t answer. He almost hung up without saying a word.
“Yes.” He strained to say, cleared his throat then repeated himself.
“Are you okay?” Karen asked, concerned hearing his voice crack. He cleared his throat again and squirmed on the couch.
“Yeah, oh yeah, I’m okay. I just hadn’t spoken for a long time.”
“Good, I was afraid you were going to tell me you had some bad news.” Josh frowned.
“What kind of bad news?” He asked, confused.
“Oh, I don’t know, like that …” Karen cleared her throat. “Thing you call a girlfriend contacted you or something.” He heard strange noises on the phone and then it sounded like it had been dropped. “I’m sorry, Jay, I’m trying to get my youngest child into her pajamas and she’s fresh out of the bath and these damned pajama pants won’t go over her legs easily!” Josh laughed. He remembered those days … he hated getting pajamas on after a bath. That was why his mom always powdered him. He blushed. Until he was too old for that!
“Have you tried powdering them?” He asked quietly.
“No, but that’s a good idea. Wonder if she’d go for it …” Karen said thinking aloud. She sighed heavily. “Okay, the last one is in pajamas.” Josh laughed again. He had been extremely nervous when he’d first called but being as she was half listening, half taking care of kids he was more at ease.
“My mother used to do that to me and my brother. The clothes went on easier and we smelled nice and clean.” It was Karen’s turn to laugh. She tried to picture that but she had absolutely no idea what “Jay” looked like.
“Hey, I just remembered I have not seen a picture of you!” Josh swallowed a lump in his throat.
“Well, I’ll have to find a picture for you. I look hideous. I’m a freak.” She sighed heavily.
“Yeah, right.” She said flatly. “Well I can tell you one thing, you sound young.” He moved his eyes around the room nervously.
“How young?” He asked and smiled.
“Maybe 20.” He laughed.
“Older then that.”
“Thank God because I like talking to you and I didn’t want to have to cut it off so soon.”
“You would do that?” He asked, surprised.
“Yeah, in a heartbeat!” He sighed.
“Oh come on! You don’t go for that older woman, younger man deal?” Things had calmed down in the background and Josh assumed she had finally settled herself.
“Well, I honestly don’t know. I haven’t tried.” He smiled into the phone.
“Well you should try it, you might like it.” He said softly. Karen was silent a moment.
“So, Jay … how come you don’t have much in your profile on the website?” He sighed and sipped his beer.
“Well … I didn’t really go there looking for anyone. Basically I just wanted to read about how to deal with this break up and not go nuts over it. It’s really upset me, Karen. We still haven’t officially broken up. It’s got me torn up inside.”
“I know.” She said and then quickly added, “Well I can imagine how you feel. I felt similar when I found out my husband was cheating on me. He didn’t tell me, I heard it from someone else. It really sucked.”
“Yeah, that’s how I found out and the sad thing is that I asked her point blank and she denied it. She got angry and hung up on me.”
“I still say she’s a bitch.” Josh smiled. “She doesn’t deserve you. You are a tender, caring person. She’s a bitch.” He laughed.
“You said that twice.”
“She’s twice the bitch.” He laughed with Karen.
“So do you mind that I’m younger?” He asked. She was surprised and didn’t know what to say at first.
“Well, I … Umm … I’m not …” There was a pause. “I don’t know, Jay. I mean, where are we going with this?” He sat up and planted his feet on the floor.
“Well, I’m not saying we should go anywhere right now but I, umm … Didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable talking to me.” He ground his teeth together and shook his head. He was going to blow it before they’d even spoken a second time.
“I feel okay about it. Are you okay with it?”
“Yeah, oh yeah. You have helped me a lot with this. I just, I don’t know what to do about her. I thought I loved her.”
“I know. It is a rude awakening when you find out the person you thought you loved was a totally different someone that you really don’t know.”
“You’re right!” He said. “When she had the chance to go away to another country – to a conference with this guy she jumped at the chance. I should have known right there and then.”
“Oh my God, yes! Why did you allow that?” Josh got up from the couch and took his empty beer bottle to the kitchen and grabbed another.
“I had no choice! It was for work. If I’d have said no it wouldn’t have mattered either way.” He popped the top off the bottle and took a swig.
“Well I think you’re better off. You have time now to do what you want and when you want to. Spend time with your family and friends. Get your career going …” He nodded.
“Yeah, I owe my brother some time I guess.” He said with a sigh.
“You see? How about your mom and dad, are they still alive?”
“Yep, and kicking! Kicking me for having dated her in the first place. My mom was not one of her biggest fans.” Josh chuckled.
“Well no woman is good enough for any mom’s son. I’ll tell you that right now. My son is 14 and I can’t imagine letting him date someone I didn’t like.”
“Your son is 14? No way!”
“Way. He’s 14 and I’m feeling mighty old these days!” Josh shook his head.
“You are NOT old. And from that little tiny picture I saw in your profile you are very pretty.”
“Jay, that picture is so small you couldn’t see it with a magnifying glass. I’m certainly not pretty and yes, I’m old!”
“I’m not going to argue with you because if there’s one thing I learned from dating it’s that you can never win an argument with a woman when she thinks she is right.”
“Very good!”
“So, I’ll just say I think you’re pretty and that’s that.” Karen sighed. “Okay, fine then send me a real picture and I’ll make the final decision.”
“Maybe.” Karen teased.
“What do you mean ‘maybe’?”
“Just what I said. I’ll see if I can find one that won’t singe the eyeballs out of your head.” She said and laughed.
“Hey, did you know that you are Plankton’s wife on Spongebob?” Josh said with a laugh.
“Hey, did you know that you obviously have no life if you sit around watching Spongebob?” Karen taunted right back at him. He gasped audibly.
“I can’t believe you said that!” Karen laughed at him. He laughed with her. “And you know what, you would be right! But I love Spongebob!”
“I do too. When the kids are watching it I pretend I’m not paying attention but I laugh quietly at it. And yeah, I knew that about Plankton’s computer wife.”
“That’s what I like about you, Karen, you are so cool.” She giggled.
“Sure I am. That’s what everyone says about me. Hey, there’s Karen, she’s cooool!” Josh laughed.
“Well I think you are.”
“You might just be the only one.” She sighed.
“That’s what counts, right?”

Josh and Karen chatted on the phone for hours. At midnight Josh went into his bathroom and pulled his contacts out of his eyes while still talking to Karen. Then he brushed his teeth.
“Are you brushing your teeth, Jay?” Karen asked incredulous.
“Unh huh.” He mumbled.
“We’d better hang up.”
“No!” Josh said. “I’m not done talking.” Karen laughed.
“You’re ready for bed!” She said. “And so am I.”
“No, I’m not yet, I still have my jeans on.” He said and held the phone with his shoulder while he unsnapped and unzipped them. He slid them down over his slim hips and stepped out of them. He pulled off his underwear and tossed them in the corner. “Well now I don’t.” He said in a sexy tone.
“Don’t even go there, Jay!” Karen chastised. He pulled on the boxers he wears to bed and then went to make sure the front door was locked.
“Okay, okay, I put on my pajamas. Is that better?” Josh teased as he set the alarm and made his way back to the bedroom flicking off lights on the way. He’d already shut down his computer the hour before.
“Yes. Did you powder yourself before you put them on?” She giggled and Josh sighed.
“Nooooo ….” He said. “I would have had to have showered first and I’m pretty sure the phone wouldn’t have made it through that.” Karen giggled again.
“Yeah, probably not.”
“I’ll powder tomorrow.” He said as he crawled between his cool sheets and settled himself back against the pillows. The bed was calling to him and now that he lay in it, was threatening to suck the energy right out of him and send him off to dreamland. He fought it, he was enjoying his conversation with Karen too much to sleep now.
“Good boy!” She said. “And, speaking of tomorrow, I have got to get to bed so I can get up for work!” He sighed.
“So soon?” He asked. Karen laughed softly.
“You are so cute.” She said. “We have been talking for nearly 3 hours! This isn’t soon.” Josh snapped his wrist up in front of his face and checked his watch. It had been over 3 hours since they started chatting on the phone!
“Woah! I don’t think I’ve ever talked on the phone this long in my life!”
“I’m sure I have. Those teenage years are quite memorable.” She said with a sigh.
“Yeah, I know that.” Josh said and then waited until he heard Karen laugh to laugh with her.
“All those years ago!” She remarked.
“Yep.” He said.
“Okay, I’m gonna go.” Josh tried desperately to talk her out of it but she insisted on hanging up. “Call me tomorrow if you want and I’ll bore you some more.” Josh closed his eyes as he lay his head back on the pillow.
“You don’t bore me.” He said softly.
“Yeah, sure.” Karen said.
“You really don’t.”
“Well okay then. Wait until a few more phone calls and your first episode of hearing me holler at the kids before you make that determination.”
“I will.” He whispered. He was getting sleepy and this time he couldn’t fight it.
“Good night Jay. And it was great to talk to you.” Karen said knowing he was on his way out.
“Good night.” Josh said half asleep and closed the phone terminating the connection. As he drifted off he could hear her beautiful voice and he smiled.
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My December