Midnight Phone Calls

First ring. What am I doing?

Second ring.

I so should not be doing this. I know that she's probably exhausted and suffering from extreme jet lag. Where is she anyway? I can't even keep count of what country she's in.

Third ring.

I so should hang up.

"Hello?" Her voice is exhausted. She sounds so tired. What time is it there anyway? Maybe 4:30 or 5 am.

"Baby," I whisper.

"J - what's wrong, are you alright?"

I have to smile because if she ever called me at this time of night, I would also think there's only one reason that she called. And not to just say hi.

"I am fine sweetheart, just fine. Oh, I am so sorry that I called now." I whisper into the phone as I turn over in my bunk.

"No, no, it's ok," she whispers with the groggiest of voices. "So, what's going on?"

I start to laugh a bit, "Well, I just wanted to let you know that we broke up."

Silence. I still smile a bit and can't believe that I just woke up my sleeping beauty in Italy to tell her this news.

"What?"

"We broke up and you didn't even call me to tell me. I had to find out from Johnny who read it on the Sun."

"Get out, when did this happen?"

"Last week when you were chugging beers with Tara."

"Tara who?" she says into the phone with a bit more pep.

"I don't know - Reid maybe. And who's Jason?"

"I don't know," she says as she starts to laugh. "Am I upset over this?"

"Oh yea, you are devastated. Apparently, I am doing just fine though."

She starts to laugh and I smile. I know it was wrong to call and wake her up, but I had to talk to her. I know that I will never loose my fiancée, but just like all of the other painful rumors, you need each other's reassurance.

It's not like the press can convince me that something is wrong or something has happened. But only in certain cases have they been able to rattle me. The first was the death hoax and I admit, this is the second one. Seeing the words on paper is hard to read, especially when you love someone as much as I love her. The mere thought of it is devastating, let alone ever thinking it could be reality.

"So, am I quitting show business?"

"By all means, no. You've already found someone new."

She starts to laugh really hard this time. "Wow, that was easy. Good for me. Is he hot?"

"No, he's fat and ugly." Her beautiful laugh makes me smile. I can see her eyes, and her sweet smile.

We sit there in silence as I listen to the bus roar down the highway and she starts to calm down again.

"I wish they would pick it one way or another. Either we're breaking up or we're getting married."

"We're getting married," I purr into the phone and I hear a faint sigh. "Two more weeks and then it's our wedding day."

"I know baby, I know. I can't wait to get to the island. I can't wait to be in your arms again."

"Me neither love, me neither."

Again, silence fills the air, but I treasure it. I feel like I am falling asleep in her arms.

"How was the show?"

I smile as I think of how much fun I am having with the guys. "It was a blast," I say. "Listen, I just needed to hear your voice love. I am going to let you go back to sleep."

"OK baby, anything else going on?

"Ummmm no."

"What are you hiding J?"

"Nothing."

"Don't lie to me."

"I love you baby," I say.

"I love you too, what are you hiding from me?"

She's going to kill me.

"I shaved my head."

"I am breaking up with you. Now it's over."