John woke up the next morning. He didn't intend to let Joanna go this time. He was going to tell her how he felt about her as soon as she woke up. He went to reach for her and all he felt was the mattress. He opened his eyes. Joanna was gone.

"Jo?" He sat up. "Jo?" He looked at the clock on the end table. It read 9:00 AM.

John checked the bathroom. No one was there. He put on his boxers went down and looked in the driveway. Joanna's car was gone. John went back upstairs to throw his clothes from last night in the hamper. He kicked something under the bed. He bent down to pick it up. It was Joanna's bra.

Joanna went and picked Cody and got on the next flight to the next state. When they got to the hotel Joanna dropped Cody off with Dustin and went to AJ's room. She knocked on the door. AJ answered.

"Hi." AJ said.

"Hi." "Can I come in?"

"Yeah." She went in. They sat on the couch. "What happened?" "Are you ok?"

"Yeah." "I just made a really big mistake last night."

"What did you do?" "I thought you slept at John's."

"I did." "AJ, we slept together."

"What?! She said shocked. "You and John had sex?"

"Yeah." "Which we shouldn't have did."

"You didn't like it?"

"Yes I did." "That's beside the point."

"What is the point?"

"The point is we're great friends, great as friends and that's how it should stay."

"I want details."

"AJ."

"Come on."

"It was great but it didn't mean anything." "I think I responded the way I did because it's been so long since a man has touched me like that and made me feel that way."

"Is he good?"

"Yes amazing but that still doesn't change the fact that it shouldn't have happened."

"Are you sure it didn't mean anything?" "Or do you just not want it to mean anything?"

"It can't mean anything." "We're friends."

"With benefits."

"No." "No benefits." "The benefits expired as of this morning."

"Are you sure that's what you want?"

"Yeah I just hope he's ok." "Hopefully we can pretend like nothing ever happened."

"Like you did before?"

"Exactly."

"Jo, you two obviously have feelings for each other or this wouldn't keep happening."

"No." "There are no feelings." "Our emotions just get in the way of our rational thoughts sometimes."

"In all the years you've known John, you've never wanted him to be your boyfriend?"

"No."

"Jo."

"When we were teenagers I did have a crush on him." "That was years ago though."

"You love him don't you?"

"No." "Look." "I need you to take Cody to see him today at the arena."

"You can't avoid John forever."

"Not forever just for about a week."

"Coward."

"Please you know Cody looks forward to seeing him every day."

"Ok."

"Thank you." "I have to go get Cody." "See you at work."

"Ok bye."

"Bye."

Later that night AJ took Cody to see John at his locker room. She knocked on the door.

"Hi AJ." John said.

"Hi."

"Where's Jo?"

"Busy."

"Hi uncle John." Cody said.

"Hi buddy." John said. "Listen come in and sit on the couch ok?" "I need to talk to aunt AJ for a second."

"Ok." John took him inside and sat him on the couch.

"Sit right here and be a good boy." "I'll be right back."

John stepped outside shutting the door behind him.

"She's not busy." John said. "She doesn't wanna see me does she?"

"No she doesn't."

"I knew it."

"Last night freaked her out."

"Why?"

"I don't know." "I don't buy what she told me."

"What did she tell you?"

"That's private."

"Next time you talk to her tell her we need to talk."

"Alright."

After the show Joanna and Cody went back to the hotel room. She put him to bed and just got into hers. There was a knock at the door. She went to the front door.

"Who is it?" She asked.

"It's me." John said.

"I'm going to bed can you come back tomorrow?"

"You left something behind." "Last night." Joanna opened the door. John was holding a brown paper bag. She took it and looked inside seeing her bra.

"Oh." "Well, thank you." She went to shut the door. John put his hand on it.

"I wanna talk."

"Fine." He went in. "Let's go into the bedroom so we don't wake Cody."

They went into the bedroom. Joanna sat the paper bag on the floor.

"Why did you leave this morning?" John asked.

"Because."

"Why?"

"Did you want next morning weirdness like we had last time?" "What happened last night was a mistake."

"We both wanted it."

"I didn't say I didn't want it." "I said it was a mistake." "We're friends John." "You've been my best friend for as long as I can remember." "I don't want that to change."

"Let me guess." "You want to pretend like nothing happened last night right?"

"I'd like to."

"I knew it." "I can't." "Not this time."

"Why?"

"Because I- forget it." He said frustrated.

"What John?"

"Nothing."

"Tell me."

"Fine." "I love you, ok?" "You don't love me and you never have." "I've been in love with you since I was a teenager but who cares right?" "Since the times we were together were so horrible." "So that I've made a complete fool out of myself I'll be leaving now." He went to leave she stepped in front of him.

"Wait." "I do love you." "I'm scared."

"Of what?"

"Opening my heart again, losing you, ruining what we have." "I've always loved you to, when we were younger I thought you didn't like me that way." "Then after the first time we slept together it scared me." "The same way it's scaring me now."

"You don't have to be scared Jo." "I'd never hurt you." She hugged him. "Being together won't ruin things." "It'll only make them better." "I want to be with you Jo."

"I want to be with you to." She looked at him. They kissed. John picked her up and laid down on the bed. Within seconds they were both naked. He slipped inside her. "I love you so much Jo." John groaned. "Mmmm, I love you too." They kissed. For the next for hours they were in there bliss.

Afterwards John was holding Joanna.

"That was great." Joanna said.

"Yes it was." "I'm glad we're finally together."

"Me to."

"I promise I'll make you happy Jo."

"You already do." She kissed him. "Now how are we gonna explain this to Cody?"

"We'll sit him down tomorrow and talk to him."

"Ok." "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." "I love you."

"I love you too."