The next day, after lingering a while at her friend Jenifer's side and strolling through the streets, Courteney Cox returned home. As she'd expected, her husband was nowhere to be found.
She glanced around the slightly empty room, and without meaning to, her mind drifted back to what had happened last night.
God, I can't believe I did that… How embarrassing. Thank goodness no one found out!
Even as she scolded herself, Martin's image kept creeping back into her mind—only in her imagination, of course, and in a rather unclothed state. She had never actually seen him like that… but she could picture it vividly enough.
She went into the bedroom, switched on the TV, and dug a CD out of a drawer—Martin's Dance film.
It was probably the most popular movie he'd ever made.
She popped the CD into the player, drew the curtains closed, and lay back on the bed.
Then she suddenly sat up, pulled a packet of tissues from the drawer, and set it on the nightstand.
Just in case, she thought. If things get… emotional.
The following morning, the clouds had cleared.
Golden sunlight spilled into the bedroom through the slits in the curtains.
Remembering the ridiculousness of the day before, Courteney felt her cheeks warm. But when she noticed the other half of the bed empty once again, her expression cooled.
~Jingle bell, jingle bells tae ni isabel.
Her phone rang— "Jingle Bells" chiming brightly.
It's Jenifer.
Her voice softened. "Hello, honey. What's up?"
"Out to sea? Doesn't Martin have filming today?"
"Oh, the crew's taking a scheduled day off."
"Alright then, I'm in."
Blue skies, white clouds, gulls circling, the spray of waves…
Courteney leaned lazily on the yacht's railing, letting the October sea breeze wash over her. It was chilly, so she wasn't in a swimsuit.
Jenifer stood beside her. "Feeling better now, hon?"
"A bit," Courteney replied. "But last night he didn't come home again, and I—hey! Jenifer! What do you think you're doing?"
Jenifer's hand had suddenly slid around her waist, wandering upward and downward with deliberate mischief.
"This is punishment," Jenifer teased with a sly smile, "for all those gloomy thoughts."
"Okay, okay! I'll shut up. I'll shut up!"
"Too late! You're coming with me!"
"Ah! No, let me go!"
Up on the control deck, Cameron Diaz stood next to Martin, looking down at the two women horsing around below. "They're such good friends," she said with a laugh.
Martin was watching too, though his gaze lingered more on Jenifer's playful little hand than anything else. Jenifer's such a troublemaker. Courteney's completely done—heh!
Aloud, he said, "Yeah, their friendship's like yours with Drew."
"That's true. Jenifer and Courteney are like sisters. Compared to them, Gwyneth and I aren't as close. I heard she's having marriage trouble lately—lots of fights with Chris Martin."
"Oh? Whose fault?"
"Both, really. Gwyneth's always been a bit of a princess, and after having kids it got worse. Chris isn't much better—always out late with his band buddies, never at home."
Night fell.
The yacht anchored in the shelter of a small island.
In her cabin's shower, Courteney let hot water cascade over her, steam curling around her like countless gentle hands caressing her skin.
Without realizing it, she began to picture a man standing in front of her—an impossibly handsome face leaning in to kiss her.
Of course, that face belonged to Martin.
Stop. I can't go there. She slapped her cheeks with both hands, trying to snap herself out of it.
But later that night, she still couldn't sleep. Her mind kept spinning, imagining what Martin, Jenifer, and Cameron might be doing together in their cabin.
No. Stop it. Calm down, Courteney. Don't lose your mind.
Oh no… no, don't get up…
Her brain screamed orders, but her body disobeyed, slipping out of bed.
She padded softly to the door of Martin's cabin and pressed her ear to it.
Minutes passed.
She was exhausted from standing there, but her pulse raced. It had been a long time since she'd felt like this.
When the sounds from inside finally faded, she prepared to sneak back to her room, unnoticed—just like last time.
But suddenly the door swung open from the inside.
In the dim light, Martin's striking face appeared before her.
For a moment, her mind went blank. She stood frozen, unable to speak or move.
He smiled, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her straight into her cabin.
Courteney felt as if her soul were about to leave her body.
A strange pressure bloomed low in her belly, and at the height of an almost unbearable rush, she let go completely.
"Aah… ahhh… ahhhh…"
When she finally came back to herself, everything was still again.
Her whole body felt oddly light, her mind clear, as if she'd just had a long, luxurious steam bath.
"How does that feel?" Martin's voice was gentle at her ear.
Her cheeks burned. "Jenifer can never find out."
"Actually," Martin said with a grin, "it was her idea."
"What?" Courteney's eyes widened.
"Rest up. Or… do you want to go again?"
"No, I—mmph—ah! Ahhh—!"
...
Entertainment Daily: "The crew of Joker has been making rapid progress, so Martin gave everyone the weekend off. Our reporters spotted him taking Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz out on a yacht, along with Aniston's close friend—Courteney Cox."