Kelly practically ran out of the airline gate. Her bag was slung over her shoulder and her hair was held back by a pair of sunglasses. Frantically her eyes searched for that familiar blond face. He was no where to be seen.

"Kelly," she heard a soft voice call from behind her. Kelly turned quickly and looked at the wall behind her. A man with a hat and sunglasses on was smiling at her. She ran at him.

"Lance!" Kelly said loudly. "I didn’t see you."

Lance walked to her and motioned her to be quiet. "We don’t want the world to know that Kelly White’s sleaziest TV boyfriend is here."

Kelly threw her arms around Lance. He stepped back with the momentum. Instinctively her put his arms around her and rubbed her back

"That’s some welcome," he said. It was then that he noticed she was shaking. "Kelly? Are you okay?"

"He left me Lance. He fucking left me." Tears were running down Kelly’s face. "I loved him and he left me."

Lance held Kelly tighter. "I’m sorry Kelly." He pried her off his shoulder and looked into her eyes. They were filled with tears. "Let’s get out of here and then we can talk okay?"

Wiping her eyes she nodded. Lance grabbed her hand as they walked toward the baggage claim. Kelly pretended not to notice the thin gold ring that encircled his right fourth finger. She just held onto his hand tightly.

Kelly was lying on the bed in Lance’s hotel room. She had her eyes closed and her hands were clamped around a pillow that she was holding to her. The tears still ran down her cheeks.

Lance came out of the bathroom with a wet wash cloth. He wiped it over her burning cheeks and took away a small amount of the pain. He sat down next to her on the bed. Instinctively she moved her head from the pillow to his leg. He lightly ran a hand through her hair.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked quietly.

She shook her head into his leg. "It hurts too much Lance. Why does it hurt so much? Why did I love him?"

"You don’t choose who you love Kelly. It just happens." Lance lifted Kelly’s head gently and moved down so her head was resting on his chest. "Sometimes you fall for the people you least expect to fall for. Sometimes you know on first sight that you’re in love. Love is a funny thing."

"What about you? Are you in love with Michelle?"

"I’m marrying her aren’t I?" Lance turned the ring on his finger. "She gave me this ring as a commitment sort of thing. She has a diamond."

"You didn’t answer my question though Lance. Are you in love with her?"

"Yes Kelly," Lance said quietly. "I love Michelle. She’s a wonderful, caring person who is way too good to me.

"No one is too good for you Lance," Kelly said. "Who else would make me come out to visit them and then get me at the airport and get me a hotel room and then sit and talk to me, ignoring his wife-to-be, to comfort me?"

"You’re my best friend Kelly."

"And you’re my best friend too Lance." Kelly was silent for a moment. "Do you ever wonder what might have happened if we’d hooked up?"

"We did hook up Kelly." Lance was running his thumb in small circles over Kelly’s back.

"No, I mean like going out hooking up." Kelly turned on her side so that she was looking at Lance’s face. "We had the chemistry."

"Boy did we have the chemistry," Lance laughed. "So much that we almost combusted."

"But we aren’t combusting now are we?" Kelly asked.

"Probably because we’re both in love with other people."

"I miss the way we were Lance," Kelly said. The tears were coming to her eyes again. "Those were the happiest times I’ve had in awhile. They were so carefree."

"I miss the way we were too Kelly. We weren’t meant to be though."

"How can you be sure though Lance?" Kelly said. "You said yourself that love is a funny thing."

"We had chemistry, not love."

"How can you be sure though?" Kelly asked. "How can you be sure that what we have, had isn’t real love and we’ve just been fooling ourselves into thinking that we love other people."

"We’ve only been together twice Kelly. Well, on two separate occasions." Lance got up from the bed. "I don’t like where this conversation is going. I’ve got Michelle now Kelly. I’m not going to cheat on her. I won’t ever cheat on her."

"Lance," Kelly said as she got up. "We’ve only been together for two different weekends but we’ve talked on the phone at least four times a week for the last year." She made her way to Lance. She walked in front of him and placed her hands on his chest. "I’m not asking you to cheat on Michelle. I know that you care about her a lot."

"I love her." Lance said quietly.

"Okay, you say you love her," Kelly continued. "What I’m asking you to think about is us. Can you honestly say that everything has changed? Can you honestly say that you don’t want me as much as I want you?"

"Kelly," Lance said breaking her hold on him. "I think I’ll always feel an attraction for you. I’ll always love you in a way. Just not the way that you’re talking about."

Kelly walked to Lance and forcibly brought his mouth down to meet hers. He was so shocked that he didn’t resist. As her tongue probed his sealed lips however his brain kicked in and he pulled away.

"Why did you just do that?" Lance asked backing up quickly.

Kelly had tears in her eyes. "I don’t know Lance. I just had to. I can’t accept that we’ll never be together again."

"We can’t do this anymore Kelly. We can be friends but nothing more. You know that." He paused and looked at her. "I think it would be best if you left now."

"Do you want me to leave Lance?" Kelly asked.

He nodded once.

Kelly smiled slightly.  "Goodbye Lance." She slowly picked up her bag that she’d thrown on the floor and made her way to the door. Her hand was on the knob and she was turning it slowly. The door cracked open and then moved wider. She moved to the opening slowly. She turned and looked at Lance one last time. He was staring at her as she moved. He hadn’t moved at all.

Kelly walked out the door and closed it. She walked down the hall to the elevator, deliberately going slowly. She was giving him every opportunity. She pushed the button on the elevator. She watched as it climbed floors. The doors opened. Almost in slow motion it seemed. She walked in and turned around so she was facing the hallway.

The doors started closing as she saw Lance’s door open. "Kelly! Wait!" he called.

Kelly stuck her arm out quickly. She stopped the doors from closing. She ran out into the hall. Lance was with her almost instantaneously. His lips met hers. His tongue probed her already open mouth. His strong hands massaged her neck and pulled her closer. He broke away as suddenly as he’d kissed her.

"I hate you," he said shortly, vehemently. "Why do you have such a control over me?"

"It’s no less than the control you have over me." Kelly buried herself in Lance’s arms.

"Once more Kelly. That’s it. This is goodbye." Lance pulled away from Kelly so that he could look in her eyes as she answered.

She nodded. "Goodbye."

They walked down to the hallway towards Lances room. The door closed behind them quietly.

Michelle walked down the hallway of the hotel. Her hand was pressed into her pocket trying to extract the keycard from her tight jeans. The diamond on her ring caught on the inside of her pocket as she tried to extract her hand. She smiled as she thought of the man who had given her that ring. He’d proposed almost a month ago. It had surprised her because they’d only been together nine months. She’d responded yes enthusiastically though.

Lance had mentioned to her that he would get them a room at this hotel and she should meet him here. Something about an old friend coming into town and he was going to be here anyway. As long as it got her away from the other guys who kept teasing Lance about their sex life she didn’t care.

Michelle opened the door. She stepped inside the room and turned on the light. Lance’s bags were in the corner. It didn’t appear that he’d unpacked. She dropped her bag next to his and sat down on the bed. She flipped on the TV and curled up on the soft pillows. She began waiting.
 

Lance woke up the next morning to the ringing of the phone. He jumped up quickly but was hampered by the girl lying on top of him. He grabbed the phone as it started its second ring.

"Hello?"

"Lance," Justin’s voice came through the phone. "This is Kelly’s room. What the fuck are you doing in Kelly’s room at 7:30 in the morning? What the fuck do you think you’re doing? What the fuck are you going to Michelle because I sure as hell ran out of what to tell her about five hours ago."

"Fuck!" Lance said quietly. "Michelle."

"Yes Lance, your fiancée. The girl you want to marry. And if you’re answering Kelly’s phone I’m guessing you just fucked around on her. How could you, Lance?"

Lance was silent.

"Do you even comprehend how much you hurt Michelle last night? She’s been worried out of her fucking mind about you."

"I’ll explain it to her."

"What are you going to explain Lance? I’m sorry I just realized that I’m in love with another girl? Sorry we fucked last night. Sorry I ever proposed to you."

"She’ll understand Justin." Lance was absentmindedly stroking Kelly’s hair.

"She’d better not fucking understand because what you did is absolutely inexcusable."

"I’ll break it off with her then." Lance was almost tempted to throw Kelly off of him. He wanted to throw up.

"Lance," Justin said warningly.

"What the fuck do you want me to do Justin?" Lance did get up then unaware of his nakedness. "You want me to break up with her but you don’t. What the hell sort of trip are you on?"

"I don’t know," Justin said, "but I’m sure as hell glad it’s not the trip you’re on that made you jump in bed with Kelly again."

Justin hung up the phone. Lance had tears brimming in his eyes. He closed them and dropped the phone on the ground.

"I’m sorry Lance," a soft voice came from the bed. "I don’t know what came over me last night."

"It’s not your fault Kelly. It was at least half my fault. I’m the one who called you back." Lance walked to the bathroom and wet a washcloth wiping it over his face.

Kelly covered herself up with the sheet. "Listen Lance," she began as he came out of the bathroom. "I understand if you never want to see me again. I certainly gave you reason enough last night. I’ll be here until checkout time. If you want to see me, come by. If you don’t then I’ll never contact you again. I’m really sorry."

Lance looked at Kelly and got dressed in silence. "Goodbye Kelly." He walked out the door not looking back.

Kelly tried not to let the tears fall down her face.

Lance let himself into the room. He looked at the window and saw the woman he loved sitting at the table in front of it. She turned around slowly.

"Hey," Lance said.

"Hi," Michelle said.

They stared at each other in silence, unsure how to proceed in their conversation.

"Why didn’t you call me last night Lance? I was so worried."

Lance bit his lip. He looked at the floor. He looked at the ceiling. He looked at the walls. He felt the tears grace his eyes. He didn’t answer.

"Who was she Lance?" Michelle said quietly.

"An old friend."

"How long have you been fucking her?" Michelle said again, her voice deadly calm.

"We haven’t seen each other in a year." Lance walked towards Michelle. "Michelle, there’s something you’ve got to understand…"

"Were you planning on fucking her and then fucking me? Is that how it works now Lance? Was there a third girl in on this little evening of pleasure?" Michelle’s voice had lost all elements of the calmness.

"Michelle listen to me." Lance’s voice was forceful and he cringed as he saw the tears stream down Michelle’s cheeks. "Kelly and I had a one night stand a little over a year ago. Through various circumstances we met again and again. There is something between us that neither of us can control. That was the first and last time that I’ve ever been unfaithful to you. Last night was goodbye."

"Goodbye? Good-fucking-bye?" Michelle got up from her chair. "How am I supposed to believe you now Lance? Do you have any idea how much this fucking hurts?"

"I’m sorry Michelle. It was never supposed to happen last night."

"Well as far as I am concerned it can happen every night." She pulled the ring off her hand and threw it at Lance. "Just tell me one thing. Do you love her at all? And does she love you like I love you? Because if it was just some cheap dirty trick I hope you can live with the fact that you ruined us over sex."

Lance was silent for a long moment. "Yes, to both things, I think."

Michelle walked past Lance and slammed the door.

"Goodbye Michelle."

Kelly closed the door to the hotel room. She had five minutes before she was supposed to check out. She made her way to the elevator. The door opened almost immediately. She got in and made her way down to the lobby. She walked to the check-in desk and handed the man her room key. Her eyes were red and puffy.

"I hope you enjoyed your stay with us," the man behind the desk said.

Kelly nodded glumly. "Thank you."

Kelly put her bag over her shoulder and put on her sunglasses.

There was a light tap on her shoulder and she jumped around. Lance was standing behind her.

"I’m sorry I didn’t come back to your room," he said quietly.

"I wasn’t expecting you to," Kelly said.

"Kelly," Lance began.

"No Lance, I think I just need to leave."

"Kelly, come up to my room and we can talk this out without being in an extreme public place okay?"

Slowly Kelly nodded.

Kelly followed Lance into the room. They both sat on the bed.

"Lance," Kelly began. "Today I felt like we actually had a one night stand. I felt dirty and used and hurt. Like we were supposed to feel. I don’t like this Lance. I liked the way we used to be. If I could take back last night I would. Please don’t tell me you enjoyed it."

"No, Kelly, I didn’t enjoy it," Lance said. "It did make me realize something else however."

Kelly looked at Lance. "What’s that?"

"The fact that I love you."

Kelly stared at Lance. "You what?"

"I broke it off with Michelle. Last night made me realize that I love you. You complete me better than anyone else I know. Maybe we weren’t supposed to have a relationship but I’d rather have casual sex with you once a year than commit to anyone I know I can’t be faithful to."

"Could you be faithful to me?" Kelly asked.

"Yes," Lance said. "I could."

"But we already said goodbye Lance." Kelly got up from the bed.

"We could say hello again," Lance said.

"We can’t keep screwing up each others relationships Lance." Kelly looked at the confused looking Lance. "Yes, you screwed up mine. I called out your name in bed. It just went downhill from there. I thought that if I saw you again I’d realize that I didn’t love you. That I didn’t want you. I was sadly wrong."

"Do you want to say goodbye?" Lance asked.

"I think it would be best for both of us," Kelly said. "We aren’t good for one another."

There was a long silence. Neither of them moved.

Finally Lance cracked a grin. "Since when have we ever done what was good for us though?"

Kelly smiled.

"Come here," Lance said fondly.

Kelly came and stood between his legs. She pushed him down onto the bed.

"I’m here," she said. "Now what do you intend on doing with me?"

"Well, I have a few days to find out don’t I?" he asked.

Kelly straddled him and kissed his lips lightly.

"I think you have the rest of our lives."

Lance flipped Kelly over. "Good."