The Worst Timing Ever, by Kate (sirkate@yahoo.com)
and Mercutio (mercutio@europa.com)


Joey settles down onto the couch next to Justin's side.

Justin whimpers in self-pity.  It doesn't even hurt that badly,
really.  It's just... distressing.  To think of the way his body
has failed him.  To think that there's *nothing* he can do to make
this all better.

"So, Juju.  Chris called me up and told me that you were a pissant
little whiner.  Which I translated to mean that you'd beaten him at
Playstation.  Until I heard about your foot.  You feeling okay?"

Justin laughs in spite of himself.  "Yeah, I'm... no, I don't like
this.  I don't like it at all.  Not that that's gonna do anything
to change it."  He sighs and pokes Joey with his other foot.

Joey grabs Justin's foot and tickles it.

Justin laughs and jerks, trying to get away.  The motion jars his
broken foot into the back of the couch.  "Fuck!"

Joey looks guilty.  "Sorry."

Joey gets up off the couch and grabs a couple of the throw pillows. 
Arranges them around Justin's leg, trying to immobilize his knee
and his ankle without actually touching his foot.

Justin watches Joey.  "You're too nice, man.  You'll give me an ego
or something."

Joey chuckles.  "Like you don't have one already."

"Justin Timberlake?  Never."  Justin looks up at him.  "Honestly,
man.  What're you doin' here?"

Joey finishes arranging the pillows, then ruffles Justin's hair and
drags a chair over so Justin won't be tempted into kicking him and
Joey won't do anything else stupid.  It's a given that Joey is
going to do something stupid if he has the chance.  Joey knows
this.

Joey shrugs.  "Heard you were holed up in pain and your favorite
chew toy was being unsympathetic.  Figured I'd sacrifice myself on
the altar of the Timberlake temper before you start scaring
innocent deliverymen."

Justin reaches out and winds his fingers in the raveled threads of
Joey's cutoffs.  "I don't bite.  Besides, there *are* no
deliverymen."

Joey raises his eyebrows.  "Uh huh.  Suuure.  And you're gonna cook
for yourself?"

"I've got lunchmeat and bread.  And a microwave," Justin says
defensively.  The whole point here is that he can take care of
himself.  The bad and the good.

Joey raises his hands.  "Fine, fine.  You're self-sufficient man. 
You need no one, and would never stoop to ordering take-out."

"Right.  Besides.  It smells wrong, with the pills."  Everything is
wrong, but it could be because the pills are strong enough to knock
down a small elephant.

"Ahhh.  That makes sense then."

Justin nods.  "I'm always right."

Joey snorts, and reaches out from habit to shove at Justin's arm
playfully before checking himself.  "Yeah, right.  You keep telling
yourself that."

"Justin, you're always right."

"And humble."

"Joey, you're the humble one.  Too humble, man.  You gotta let the
world know you rock."

"Uh huh."  Joey gets out of his chair, goes to the French door and
throws it open.  Steps into the doorway and shouts, "I rock! 
World, I rock!  Because Justin Timberlake says so!"

Joey grins, shuts the door and sits back down, crossing his legs in
front of him in a relaxed position.  "Happy now?"

Justin sighs.  "You do, you know.  I saw you.  On Broadway.  You
belong up there." He pulls the little prescription bottle out of
his pocket and rolls it in his hand.  It's become a comfort thing,
knowing that even though it's too soon, he could take the pills and
feel better.

"Hey, no.  I know.  International pop star and actor here."  Joey
shrugs.  "I just don't always think it means very much, compared to
other things.  Like being a good dad or stuff like that.  And do
you need any water?"

"Nah, I'm good."  Justin considers the way he can hide the whole
bottle in his palm.  "You have to think, though.  Who else could do
as much with Bri as you do?  I mean, even if you weren't with us,
would you be with Kelly?  You told me once that it would never work
with you and her if you had to be around each other always.  So,
maybe you'd be madder at each other, and you'd see Bri less.  Or
she'd be caught up in the fighting.  Anyway.  She loves you, man. 
Just your voice, and she lights up like the Fourth of July.  You
can't do any better than that."

Joey smiles indulgently at Justin.  "I *know* that.  I'm just
sayin' that I think that's more important than the stuff the world
gets to see, y'know?"

Justin nods.  "Yeah, I see that.  Chris told me when I was, like,
fifteen -- always keep the important stuff for yourself.  The world
doesn't need it nearly as much as you do."

Of course the world knows everything about Justin.  He doesn't have
anything of his own.

"Exactly.  That's why I'm here now.  'Cause you're part of the
important stuff."

"Thanks, Joey."

Joey smiles at Justin.  Gives into the impulse and leans forward to
squeeze his shoulder before sitting back.  "Always.  So.  You have
the world-famous Fatone at your service.  Anything you want?"

"Sexual services?  Private screenings?  Homemade Italian?  I know. 
Get your ass on the couch and cuddle.  I'm cold."  Justin smiles,
the big 'boy next door' smile.

Joey smiles regretfully.  "I'd love to, but you already hurt
yourself once.  I don't think you can be good.  But--" he got up,
went down the hall to a guest room, came back with a blanket and
draped it over Justin.  "I *can* do something about you being
cold."

Justin pouts, then sighs and deflates.  "Yeah, I guess so.  You
know, make yourself at home."

Joey tucks Justin in, leans over him and places a kiss on his
forehead.  "Thanks.  I will."

Justin smiles and makes a face at Joey.  "Yeah, yeah.  There're
towels under the sinks and such.  Food in the kitchen, cable in
here and in the den.  Clean sheets on all the beds.  'Cept mine."

"Uh huh.  I'll take care of that then before you go to bed."

"Joey, I may be a spoiled diva, but I can sleep on the same sheets
for more than one night in a row.  They've only been on for two
days."

Joey lifts his eyebrows.  "Lemme take care of you.  I gotta do
something to make myself useful or Chris'll kick my ass when he
gets back into town and hears how bad I've been taking care of
you."

Justin shrugs.  "Chris'll just tease me about being a whiny brat."

Joey gives him a concerned look.  "You know he cares about you.  He
may call you whiny, and yeah, I was joking, but Chris really would
kick anyone's ass who didn't take care of you."

"Oh, yeah.  I know, totally.  He's a good friend.  I'm just, you
know.  Whining."  Justin tries on his biggest, shiniest grin.  "I
must be tired, man.  Don't worry about it."

Joey doesn't look like he believes him, but it's true.  He's tired,
down to his bones.  It's strange to not have four other people
there to divert the attention and split the work.  It's not that he
can't do it, because he *can*.  He can and he does and it's not a
problem.

"If anyone deserves to whine a little, it's you right now.  You're
in pain, you can't do stuff you want to do, and... hell, I'm not
saying it well.  You're tired, huh?  Lemme get the sheets changed
and you can go to bed.  I'll even carry you up the stairs if you
want.  Door-to-door service.  Or couch-to-bed service.  Whatever."

"Nah, it's cool.  You've gotta be tired.  Just go shower and I'll
be fine.  I'll nap here or something."

"Uh huh," Joey says.  He stands up and strokes Justin's hair.  "Nap
if you want.  You got the remote for the TV if you get bored?"

"Sure."  It's weird.  Justin didn't even realize he missed being
touched until now.

"Okay then."  Joey gives Justin one last pat then goes upstairs to
make the bed.

Justin closes his eyes and drifts.  He doesn't expect to sleep. 
His mind keeps a running commentary of where he's supposed to be
and what he's supposed to be doing.  How many people are being
disappointed because he's here on his couch instead of out there
where he said he'd be.

When Joey comes back downstairs a few minutes later, Justin looks
asleep.  He's pretty sure Justin would be more comfortable upstairs
in the bed, but if he's resting, Joey doesn't want to wake him yet. 
Plenty of time for that later.  He grabs a beer from the kitchen
and a book and sits back down in the chair next to the couch.

Justin knows Joey's there and smiles a little.  Joey's too nice for
his own good.

Joey thinks Justin deserves someone being nice to him just because
he's Justin, not because he's Justin Timberlake.  And wonders if he
understood that Joey was grouping him among important things along
with Bri.

Hours later, Justin is surprised to wake up.  He didn't realize
he'd fallen asleep.  Joey's still in the chair... or again in the
chair, since he has a bowl of popcorn on his lap and the TV quietly
on.

Joey hears Justin stir and turns the TV off.  "Hey." Picks up a
bottle of water and passes it to Justin.  "Time to take another
pill, probably.  Sleep good?"

"Yeah.  Yeah, I did."  The water's cool and good in Justin's
throat.  He stretches a little, feeling like a statue coming to
life.  His foot flexes on instinct and tears gather against his
lashes.  It is definitely time for another pill.

"Still tired?"

Justin grunts a response and hikes himself up.  The pill goes down
smoothly.  Justin drains the bottle.

"'Cause you know, if you wanna watch TV or go back to bed,
whatever, I can do that.  Whatever you need, baby."  Joey winces a
little, then smiles to cover it.  The 'baby' just kinda slipped
out.  He hopes it won't offend Justin.  If Justin asks, he's used
to talking to women, and that's why he said it.  Right.  Also,
Justin is incredibly sensitive about the Infant issue, and Joey
didn't mean it that way.

"I'm awake now, actually.  We can watch TV."

Joey smiles easily.  "Okay then."  He hands the remote over to
Justin.  "I was, uh, watching Iron Chef."

Justin snorts and laughs and holds his stomach and laughs until he
cries.  It's just... Joey.  And Justin missed him.

Joey's smiling up until Justin starts crying, 'cause that isn't
funny, not at all.  He kneels down beside the couch, and puts an
arm around Justin.  "Hey.  Hey.  It's okay.  You don't wanna watch
Iron Chef, we don't haveta."

Justin shakes his head and wipes at his eyes.  "No, I just missed
you.  It's okay." He wraps his arms around Joey and holds on tight. 
No one knows how to hug like Joey, who uses his whole body to make
it feel right.

"Whoa." Joey starts a little, surprised at the strength of Justin's
grip, Justin's desperation.  "You're gonna hurt yourself.  C'mon,
let me get you moved around here."  Joey lifts Justin up a little
and slides under him until Justin is sitting across his lap, feet
still safely draped across the length of the couch.

Justin smiles.  "I always get my way eventually.  Told you to get
on the couch with me."  He lays his head on Joey's shoulder. 
Joey's the only one big enough to cuddle.

Joey wraps his arms more securely around Justin, cradling his head. 
"Guess you are always right, huh?"

"I'm Justin fucking Timberlake.  Of course I'm always right."

"Always right, cute *and* humble.  What more can a guy ask for?" 
Joey lays a kiss on the top of Justin's hair.

"I wish I knew," Justin murmurs.  His voice is wistful as his heart
is scared.  He'll never have Joey.  Justin has reconciled to this
after many years.  This is enough, being held and cared for --
knowing he can care for Joey when it's his turn to be sick.

Joey laughs a little.  "What'd you ever need to know what a guy
looks for in a guy, huh?  Besides, you're Justin fucking
Timberlake, remember?  You're already everything anyone would be
looking for."

"Right.  That must be why--" he breaks off.  Bitterness is not the
order of the day.  Coming out isn't on the agenda either.

Joey shifts his hold so he can stroke Justin's hair.  "Must be why
what, baby?" he asks gently.

"Why she cheated on me.  Because I'm perfect."

"Ah, well."  Joey keeps stroking Justin's hair.  "That's a little
more complicated, y'know.  'Cause there's a world of difference
between what people are *looking* for and making a relationship
work."

Joey laughs a little deprecatingly.  "Because, y'know, it's not
like I made it work with Kel.  Or anyone else.  Best relationship
I've had with Kel is us trying to be friends for Bri's sake.  You
guys are the best I've ever done.  But that's pretty good."

"It's the best we can hope for.  Perfect doesn't exist.  Nothing
better exists for us," Justin says earnestly.  Friendship is the
best they can hope for because anything better is bound to fall
apart under the stress of their lives.

"Nothing better?" Joey looked at Justin quizzically.  "Your pills
doing something to your head, too?  'Cause, y'know, perfect doesn't
exist, but there's stuff like perfect for *you* and that's pretty
damn good.  I mean, look at my parents.  It's not perfect, but
they're happy, and that's what I'm looking for."

"If it was gonna work for me with anyone, it'd have been Brit.  The
only person who understands my life better, knows me more -- is you
guys.  And that's clearly not going to happen," Justin says
regretfully.

Joey thinks about whether to ignore that.  'Cause Justin *is* on
drugs right now and maybe doesn't know all he's saying, but then
again, maybe he does.  Says to heck with it.  "What's clearly not
gonna happen?  You and Chris?  I mean..." Joey thinks about it some
more.

'Cause Justin and Chris are best friends, and Joey's pretty sure
that's who he means.  And if Justin thinks it wouldn't work between
them, it's probably because Chris said or did something to make it
clear that it wouldn't work.  Joey really hopes he doesn't have to
go kick Chris's ass for something he said or did, but Chris is
fiercely protective of Justin, and Joey doesn't think that's it. 
So it has to be something else.

"If you're holding back 'cause you think anyone would have a
problem with it, you shouldn't.  We wouldn't.  We'd be there for
you.  You should know that."

"Chris?  Ew!  That'd be like marrying my brother.  Ew.  No, man. 
Not Chris."  Justin makes a face.

Joey's brows knit.  So okay, Justin's bi.  New information, mostly,
although Lance has always said Justin probably was.  And if isn't
Chris, then who is it?  Joey can't see Justin having a thing for
Lance.  But it'd be hopeless if he did, 'cause Lance, well, Joey
loves Lance, but he doesn't think Lance would ever treat Justin the
way he deserves. And besides, the person Justin spends the
second-most amount of time with is JC.  And, yeah, Joey can see why
there might be problems there, 'cause JC can be kinda oblivious,
and then there was the whole solo album thing to cause friction
between them.

"And, like.  Uh, Chris is a boy and..." Justin trails off with a
sigh.  "Screw it.  Yeah, I don't give a shit that Chris is a man. 
That has nothing to do with it."

Joey snorts.  "So you're bi, baby.  No biggie.  You already know I
don't care."

"It matters to me," Justin says, pouting.

Joey gets it now.  This whole thing is new to Justin.  It was
pretty much a shock to him too, when Joey figured it out about
himself.  "Yeah, okay, sure.  It's hard at first.  You deserve time
to get used to, to being who you are. But, y'know, if you want C,
there's nothing wrong with that either.  It's not impossible.  You
want me to have a talk with him?  Feel him out or something?"

"It's not Jayce, okay?  It's not Lance, either.  It's you, it's
always been you, it'll always be you," Justin bursts out.  And this
can't be real, because he'd never just burst out with that after
years of trying not to hug Joey any longer than anyone else. 
Justin must be dreaming.

"Oh."  Joey is shocked.  Really.  Stunned.  "Me?"  It's kinda like
hearing you've won the lottery, because you *know* if you just
check the numbers again or the date of the drawing that it wasn't
*really* you.

"Yeah, I'm sorry."  Justin starts to struggle out of Joey's lap. 
In his dreams, Joey's never shocked.  He either laughs and hugs
Justin and leaves, or laughs and hugs Justin and stays.  This isn't
a dream, and Justin's ruined it all.

"Sorry?  Why sorry?"  Joey holds Justin firmly.  "Stop moving,
baby.  You're gonna hurt yourself if you keep that up."  And yeah,
maybe now he *can* tell Justin why he likes to call him 'baby'.

"Just let me go, just.  I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make it all
weird."  He keeps moving, lifting his foot carefully out of the
tangle of blankets and trying to stand up.

"Hey, no.  You wanna go somewhere, I'll get you there.  You don't
need to be walking on that foot, not when you have the Fatone taxi
service ready and available.  And," Joey's voice gets gentle,
"Whaddaya mean, make things weird?"  And yeah, he thinks he
understands now.  "Even if I didn't like you, even if I didn't love
you, baby, it wouldn't be weird.  Nothing but an honor having you
love somebody."

"If?"

"Yeah, what?  You thought maybe I didn't?"

"Don't play with me.  Just... Just *tell* me where I stand, Joey." 
Justin holds tight to Joey's shoulders.  He lets himself really
hope.

"Thought I did," Joey says, and strokes Justin's face.  Smiles at
him.  That was his own sexual crisis.  Realizing he was only ever
gonna love four guys and never anyone else that much, then
realizing he wanted them, too.  And he isn't gonna tell Justin that
it might have been any of the others 'cause he can tell Justin
needs it to be just him, just Joey, but it might have been, except
Joey hadn't really thought it'd be any of them at all.

Justin turns into Joey's body and kisses with all the skill he's
perfected over the years.

Joey rearranges Justin carefully and kisses him back, happy.  He
knows he's being played, but he isn't an amateur either, and he
enjoys just being with Justin.  That doesn't stop him from letting
his hand settle down over Justin's ass though.

Justin smirks into Joey's mouth.  "You want a piece of that, hmm?" 
He ducks lower to suck at the stubbly skin of Joey's neck.

"Oh, yeah."  Joey heaves himself up, still holding onto Justin. 
It's a near contest for balance at the edge of the couch, but
Joey's had practice over the years, and he makes it.  Lifts Justin
up and starts toward the stairs.  "But I dunno if it's a good
idea."

Justin clutches at Joey.  "Holy shit!  I can walk, man.  You'll do
me no good if you throw your back out," he teases.

"You don't have to grab.  I gotcha.  And if I haven't thrown my
back out yet toting Chris around everywhere and putting Lance to
bed over the years, I can handle you."

"Putting Lance to bed, huh."

"Yep."  Joey mounts the stairs.  "He falls asleep over his
keyboard."

"So.  You and he really did, huh?  I sort of suspected."

"Really did what?" Joey asks, but he's not that stupid.  Mostly. 
Just not sure what Justin's ready to hear.  And he wasn't talking
about that anyway.  "Didn't mean that.  I was talking about on the
bus.  And I got used to checking up on him after I'd come in from
a night out, if he didn't go with.  Make sure he hadn't just passed
out in a chair."

"It's okay, Joey.  He's your best friend."  Justin tries not to be
so in awe of Joey's strength, but it's a hard thing to do.  They're
at the top of the stairs, and Joey's barely breathing hard.

"That too, though," Joey says, grateful they've reached the top of
the stairs.  He heads down the hall and takes a right into Justin's
bedroom.  If Justin's asking the questions, he deserves to hear the
answers.  "Not that it ever happened," and he's not explaining this
well, "because a lot of the time I didn't *know* and when I did
know, we'd already settled down to acting the way we do and it was
just easier to stay that way.  'Cause it wasn't like Lance wanted
it, y'know."

"Lance is a fool.  A blind fool."  Justin kisses Joey again, and
that's different than he imagined, too.  He always imagined Joey
with a beard, and Joey's still not got one.

Joey wants to laugh, 'cause Lance isn't either of those things, but
Justin's saying how much he appreciates Joey and that's just about
the best thing Joey can imagine, but he's got his mouth on Justin's
and he's got better things to do than laugh.

And then they're in Justin's bedroom, and Joey places Justin
carefully on the bed and grins at him.  The bed's already turned
down, because Joey'd always planned on tucking Justin in for the
night, just not, y'know, with company.  Tries to think of something
to say, but there isn't anything, not really, other than how glad
he is to be here and so he just grins.

Justin tugs his shirt off and tosses it to the floor.  He lays back
to work his sweats off.  "Were you gonna join me tonight?" Justin
asks.  He tries to sound teasing and certain, but maybe Joey can
hear that he's sort of unsure.

"Not sure that's such a good idea.  I don't want you hurting
yourself any worse than you already are, and I'm pretty sure you
wouldn't want to stay still if I got in there with you."

"Oh."  Justin tugs his boxers up from where they came to rest when
his pants came off.  "Oh, okay.  Yeah, right."

Joey catches the motion, but doesn't stop him.  "I don't wanna hurt
you.  You couldn't hold still on the couch when I tickled you.  How
are you gonna hold still if we..." he gestured at the bed. 
"Y'know?"

Justin blushes.  "Yeah, I know what you're saying.  I know.  You're
right."

"'Cause, y'know, it's not that I don't want you.  Believe me."  He
feels like showing Justin the proof, but he doesn't think that'd
help keep him out of the bed.

"No.  Of course you want me.  I'm Justin Timberlake, right?" 
Justin smiles and starts getting under the covers.

Joey's smile cracks a little.  He helps Justin get the blanket over
his feet without jostling them too much and tucks him in, then sits
on the side of the bed, looking down at him.

"No, not because you're Justin Timberlake.  'Cause you're Justin. 
'Cause you're one of my best friends and I love you.  Just like
this.  'Cause you're you."  And there's really gotta be a better
way of putting that, and he wishes he could show Justin with his
body, 'cause Joey's really good at speaking that kind of language,
but he can't as long as just jostling his foot sends Justin into
spasms of pain, and Joey settles for smoothing the blankets and
kissing Justin again, forehead, cheeks, lips.

Justin kisses back and feels too young.  "Thanks.  Yeah, I.  I love
you."  It comes out strangled and weak, even though he means it
with all his heart.  He's just scared.

"Hey, hey.  Don't worry.  Where do you think I'm going?" Joey asks
with easy humor.  He rests one hand on Justin's chest, brings the
other up to stroke Justin's hair.  "I'm still gonna be here later. 
And, y'know.  You *are* Justin Timberlake.  You could have your
minions track me down if you needed to."  He grins at him.

"Sleep with me?  Please."

"I don't think I can, baby.  Not without maybe hurting you, and I
don't wanna do that."

Justin nods and tucks his hands under the edge of the sheets to
keep from touching.  "Yeah, okay.  You know, any room you want." He
doesn't know what else to say, and so stops saying anything at all.

"Y'know, your timing sucks," Joey says.  "'Cause I don't wanna
leave you, I really don't, but I don't know how to stay either." 
He drops his head, thumb stroking down the side of Justin's face. 
"Worst timing ever."

Justin looks up at Joey and he thinks he knows how he looks.  It's
the look on Briahna's face every time she looks up and sees her
father, half her world.  "Worst timing ever, huh?  I could have
jumped you the first time I wanted you.  But, then, I was fourteen
and thought you might object."

Joey gives him a confused look.  "So you've always been bi then? 
I thought... I guess I thought it was a new thing for you.  And,
yeah.  That wouldn't have worked either."

"Man.  I thought I was gonna burn in hell, but yeah.  Always.  Just
didn't always want to be."

"I get that.  I spent about a week like that when I first figured
out that I liked guys, y'know, like *that*, before realizing it
wasn't every guy, just *the* guys.  And another couple months being
freaked out 'cause I didn't know what to do about *that*.  Finally
figured out that it didn't matter 'cause none of you had any idea. 
So..."  Joey shrugs.

Justin giggles.  "You wanted Chris.  I should tell him, torment him
with the fact that he can't have you any more.  Or, wait... he
knows, doesn't he? Oh, well, I can still tease him."

"And JC and Lance.  You can tease Chris all you want.  But."  Joey
looks troubled.  "Don't tease Lance.  Please.  He... I don't think
he ever knew, and I... he's got enough to deal with right now."

Justin shakes his head.  "They're my brothers, too.  I know them. 
Man, I'm so proud of Lance.  He's so brave."

"Yeah, well," Joey shrugs.  He isn't good at telling the people he
loves 'no'.  He isn't sure what he'd do if Justin *did* want to
tell Lance everything.  But Justin doesn't, and really, that's one
of the reasons Joey loves him.  "Me too.  And he is, he really is."

Justin yawns.  "Kiss me goodnight, Joe-boy.  If you're not staying,
I'm going to sleep.  Again."

Joey smiles at him.  "Okay." Leans forward and kisses him, a gentle
chaste kiss at first, then something more because he can't resist.

Justin leaves his hands under the sheet because if he grabs hold,
he's not letting go.  He kisses softly, like the after kisses are. 
With want not as important as the touch.

Joey breaks off the kiss after a long, long time, but only because
he knows if he doesn't, Justin won't, and he's not really all that
sure he wants to either.  "Good night, baby."  He strokes Justin's
hair again and kisses his forehead.  "See you tomorrow."

Justin can't speak, just nods and drinks in Joey with his eyes.

Joey stands up and backs away and then leaves the room.

Comes back two minutes later with a book, because, okay, it's dumb,
but he wants to be there while Justin sleeps.  Justin didn't seem
to be getting much rest before Joey showed up today and he seemed
to sleep a lot better with Joey there.  But Joey doesn't dare climb
in with him.  So, book.

Justin turns on his side and watches Joey.

"Hi," Joey says softly and holds up the book.  "Just thought I'd,
y'know.  Keep you company.  If that's okay."

Justin smiles.  "If you want.  You can go to bed, though.  I'll
sleep."

"I know.  I want to."  Joey pulls up a chair, sits next to the bed
and opens the book.  He's happy.  He's glad it's Justin.

Justin reaches out and sets his hand on Joey's ankle where his feet
are propped on the bed.  "Okay."

Joey smiles at him and pretends that he's reading the book when
he's really using it, at the moment, as an excuse to watch Justin.

Justin closes his eyes and drifts on daydreams.  It's kind of fun,
anyway.

Joey watches as Justin falls asleep and his hand goes slack on
Joey's ankle.  It's cute and it's sweet, and soon enough, it's
gonna be hot as all get out as well.

He can't wait.