20 Questions

Chapter 39

The lobby is empty and unusually quiet when we get back. I'm not sure I have ever seen it this vacant. We all order some food from the bar and take our place on the couches next to the fireplace. I tell the guys I am going to run back to my room.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Hunter asks.

"Dude, give her some space," Bryson says, which earns him a middle finger from Hunter. "Maybe she needs to take a shit. Jenna, do you need to shit?"

"No, I don't have to shit. What the hell is wrong with you?" I ask.

"How much time do you have?" Justin snorts. "That's one long ass list."

"I just want to put my stuff away. But Bryson, if I have to shit, you will be the first to know."

"Can we stop talk about Jenna shitting please?" Hunter says in disgust, which I find rather amusing. "That's not an image I want in my head."

"I thought all her holes were in your head," Kevin jokes.

"This is exactly why none of you assholes have girlfriends," Hunter disputes. "You have no idea how to act like a civilized human being in front of a lady."

"Sorry, Hunt, but you're no better," Patrick counters.

"Lucky for him, and I guess all of you all for that matter, I'm not much of a lady," I say with a smile before turning on my heel in the direction of my room.

"I love you, Jenna," Kevin yells behind me.

"I swear to God, Kevin. I will throw your ass in the fire," I hear Hunter taunt.

I giggle at the banter as I walk into my room and decide to call my parents. I'm still worried about my dad and I want to check in on him. My mom answers after the second ring.

"Hey, Mom, how is it going? What did you guys do today?"

"Oh, it's good. Your dad and I just hung out at the house today and watched Christmas movies. And by that, I mean I watched Christmas movies and he fell asleep on the couch."

We laugh because he is notorious for falling asleep as soon as the TV comes on like a basic dad.

"Where is he? Is he feeling better? I've been worried about those problems he has been having with indigestion."

"He took some acid reflux medicine and said he felt better. I don't know if that's factual, but he is a stubborn man. You got that honest from him. He's already asleep. He tried to stay awake to watch the weather and then fell asleep at the commercial right before it."

"Yeah, that sounds like him. Well, I know you are probably getting ready to go to bed. I just wanted to call and check in. I'll let you get back. Love you."

"Love you, too. Sleep well." I hang up the phone and head back out to the lobby. Our food has arrived and the growl in my stomach reminds me how hungry I am.

"Jenna Jameson, welcome back," says Kevin.

"Boy, you know that's not my name."

"Hey, what is your last name anyway?" Kevin asks.

"Janes."

"Well then," Patrick says. "We shall call you JJ from now on."

Everybody must have been starving because there wasn't much conversation until all the food is gone.

"Oh, I'll be right back," Patrick says and jumps up. He runs back in the direction of his room before anybody has a chance to ask what he is doing.

"He probably has to take a shit," Bryson says.

This boy has an unhealthy obsession with people's bowel habits. A few minutes later, Patrick returns holding a guitar and hands it to Hunter.

"Oh no," Hunter says, arms up in surrender. "Not tonight."

"Come on, man. You are so good. You need to serenade your woman," Patrick argues.

Hunter looks hesitant and tries to refuse repeatedly, but the guys and I are relentless. He finally gives in but tells us that he is going to need a few more drinks before he starts playing. He walks up to the bar and returns with two rounds of shots. I hadn't really planned on drinking tonight, but I guess it is a special occasion, so I take my two shots off the tray.

Justin holds his shot glass up in the air. "Here's to another year with my brothers. Let's toast to the past, the present and the future. Our past hasn't always been what dreams are made of, but it made us into the men we are today. Here's to Josh, who should be here with us. We look around at the present and appreciate the people sitting next to us. I wish Josh could have seen Hunter right now. He's the happiest I have ever seen him thanks to the beautiful woman sitting right next to him. And here's to the future. May we all find the love that Hunter has and maybe one day, we will all have children and be the father's that we were never lucky enough to have. I love you guys. And Hunter, you better count your lucky stars that you met Jenna before I did because you wouldn't have had a chance after she got a piece of all this."

He stands up and rubs his hands over his chest until Hunter throws a coaster at him. I burst into laughter. I love these guys and I'm so thankful to have them in my life. The guys and I shoot down our first shot. I grab my second shot and stand up.

"Ok, it's my turn to do the toast. First, I want to toast to Hunter. Thank you for shaking up my world and showing me how to love not only you, but myself. You saved me from myself and showed me that no matter how terrible life can get, there is always light in the darkness. Second, I want to toast to you guys. You've shown me the strength of family, blood or not. You have welcomed me into your world and I am forever grateful for it. I feel like I have gained four big brothers. I love you guys."

The guys sit there for a moment, marinating on what I have said. Justin stands up first, the others following suit. Muscled arms embrace me, four vertically enhanced men tower over me and I am overwhelmed with emotion. My life is better for having them in it. No matter what happens after this week, I will never forget how I feel in this moment.

A guitar strums, the guys release me and we all turn to listen to the musical stylings of the sexiest man alive. Hunter's deep voice belts out a familiar tune, the chords precise and his voice as smooth as polished wood. He covers Dan Seal's One Friend and if I wasn't already overly attracted to this man, hearing him croon and watching him play like a damn rock star sets my world on fire.

"You know Dan Seals?" I ask him, all excited he is familiar with a classic.

"Of course, I know Dan Seals. He is one of my favorites." He smiles at me and plays on.

I sing along and sometime around mid-chorus, the realization hits me hard that I haven't sang in years. Not since Jansen's death. I can sing, I just haven't, because singing comes from a place of happiness for me and I have pushed that emotion so far down, I didn't think it was possible to resurface. I haven't felt the music, the melody that you feel in your bones, your heart and your soul. I lost that along the way. Yet here it is, in Aspen, brought on by the man that brought me back to life.

I look around the room at the lodge employees who are now smiling and watching. My mom used to talk about these moments in life where you are truly happy and you know, right then and there, you are exactly where you are supposed to be. My body is relaxed, my mind is still, my heart in love, and my soul at peace. I know, with everything in me, that this is one of those moments.

Hunter plays a few more songs until the lodge employees tell us that they are closing down the bar and ask if we need anything else. We politely decline. It's been an amazing day, but it's also been an awfully long day and everybody is tired, including me. Hunter runs back to his room to brush his teeth and I return to my room. I go in and brush my teeth, wash my face and slide into bed. I have just turned on the TV when Hunter walks in.

"Baby, I am so tired," he says, covering his mouth during a long yawn.

"Me too. Come to bed and cuddle with me."

"Gladly."

He lays down and puts his arm around me. I lay on his chest and we are both asleep within minutes.