Part 32
"God, yes."
And then she was in his arms, once again sealing their promise with a kiss. This time was more subdued than the first, but there was an underlying feeling of deeper commitment, of permanence, that was a result of their many months apart.
"When?" he asked, holding her tight.
"As soon as possible. Another few weeks and you'll be on tour again, Nick."
"And you think I have any intention of leaving you behind? No way! I'm not letting you more than ten feet out of my sight for the rest of your life."
She grinned at him. "Cool!" was all she could muster before getting the giggles. "I love you," she said.
"I love you, too, Bec. I guess we have a wedding to plan, huh?" He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking into her eyes. "Let's go back in and make the announcement before Sarah and Howie leave."
"You always did move fast," she laughed, as he dragged her through the sand toward the house. Struggling to keep up with him, she failed to see that he had stopped short, and collided with his back. "Nick!"
"Sorry! But I just had a thought. Carson's here with a camera, we can't do this."
Becca took a deep breath. "Yes we can."
"Bec?"
"Nick, I have to get over this. It might as well be tonight and it might as well be with someone we all like, right? Look at me … there's not much way we can keep this a secret any more, especially since I'll be with you on the road. It's more aggravating to hide it than to deal with it straight up."
"Ya know, I was wrong."
"About what?"
"You *have* changed. You've grown up."
"I had to, Nick. I was the only one I had to depend on for months, and now I – *we* - have someone else to consider besides ourselves. I don't want to wait any more."
"So tomorrow we'll sit down with the calendar and –"
"Tampa."
"What about Tampa?"
"You have a show there on June 9th, and then you have the next day off before you go to Atlanta."
"How do you know-"
Becca ducked her head and was glad it was dark enough that he couldn't see her blush.
"The Internet is a great thing, Nick. I've watched you for months, seen pictures from the concerts … it made me feel closer to you."
"Damn, Bec, I had no idea." He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "So, June 10th, huh?"
"Sounds like a good date to me."
"But where? We don't have time to get a church together and all this stuff that Howie did."
"That's ok, I don't want that." She knew this'd shock him. "I've dreamed about this for so long Nick, and I want to go back out to the island. Just you and me and our friends. We can take your boat-"
Nick snorted. "You mean assuming it's been towed off the sea bed by then?"
"It will be, just relax. We'll charter a boat for everyone else and then you and I can spend the night out in the gulf."
"But I have to be in Atlanta the next night, baby."
"Nick, think. Planes fly out of Tampa every hour. As long as you're there by sound check it'll be fine."
"Then I guess we're getting married," he grinned.
"YES!" she shrieked, jumping on him and hugging him. "I love you! I love you! Let's go tell the others." She started toward the house. "Come ON! What're you waiting for?" Grabbing his hand she pulled him up the steps.