Part 77
The girls had set out a magnificent buffet, with plenty of champagne and sparkling cider for Becca. The door to the master stateroom had been roped off with a tacky sign that read "Honeymoon Suite."
"Not to sweat, Nicky," AJ said, "We'll be outta here in plenty of time for you to put it to good use."
Becca blushed as everyone else laughed.
They piled their plates high with food and settled into deck chairs to eat and watch the sun drop toward the horizon. Soft music played, and the couples drifted together to dance in the cooling evening breeze.
"This is perfect," Becca sighed, laying her head against Nick's chest as they swayed together, their fingers entwined.
"Anywhere is perfect as long as you're with me," he whispered.
"Thank you, Nick." Becca looked up into his handsome face, smiling at the way the wind had played havoc with his hair.
"For what?" he smiled down at her, more content than he could ever remember being.
"All of this. You, our friends …" She sighed once more, leaning back into his arms.
Smiling, he closed his eyes again, enjoying the feel of having her in his arms. He didn't realize the music had stopped until he heard Kevin chuckle.
"Not bad, Nick, not bad. Thirty seconds more and AJ would have won the bet this time."
Nick turned to see them all looking at their watches and grinning. "Shut UP, you guys. I’m exempt from this tonight, it's my wedding night." He grinned down at Becca, and then looked back at their guests. "And speaking of wedding nights … isn't it time for you all to head back to shore?"
"Gets right to the point, doesn't he?" Ali asked AJ.
"No tact at all," he smirked at her.
"We're not going anywhere without cake. Mama spent all day working on this just for you two."
"Howie, your mom made the cake? How sweet!" Becca was truly delighted and they all headed down into the dining area to cut the cake. It was a small, decadent confection with a rich dulce de leche filling. Nick and Becca cut the cake as everyone took snapshots, and then fed each other a small piece, lingering entirely too long over the frosting on their fingers.
Only when Kevin threatened to start timing them again did they break apart, their eyes heavy with desire and the fervent wish for everyone to be gone.
The sun was setting and everyone decided to head back to shore.
"Wait-" Becca said. "May I make a request before you all go?"
"Sure, Bec, what is it?" asked Kevin.
"Will you all sing for me?"
"What would you like to hear?" Brian asked.
"'More Than That'. It played such a big part in bringing me back to Nick. Please?"
Howie looked at Nick, who nodded his ok.
They gathered around Becca and sang, and true to form, when they reached the chorus Nick was in tears. But this time they were tears of joy. He took Becca's hand as they sang and for the first time he had just the perfect audience.
There were also tears in Becca and Sarah's eyes, they knew what this song meant to Becca and Nick, and their story had come full circle tonight.
In the emotion of the moment, they almost forgot to follow the tradition of tossing the bouquet. It was difficult, but they found a place for Becca to stand and gathered Sonja, Vanessa and Ali together. On the count of three, she tossed it over her shoulder, right toward the water. It was a perfect slow motion moment. Everyone gasped as AJ, desperate to save the day, reached upward for the flowers only to catch them in mid-air as he fell overboard. As he spluttered in the water, he yelled "catch!" and tossed them back onto the boat, right to Sonja.
Sonja laughed as she held the dripping flowers, shaking the water onto the deck.
"Great save, Bone," Sarah laughed as AJ hauled himself over the side of the boat, soaking wet.
"Garter time, Bec," Kevin smirked.
"And YOU, my friend are getting nowhere NEAR my wife's leg," Nick insisted. Leading Becca to a deck chair, he seated her gently, lifting the edge of her dress to her knee. The look she shot him spoke volumes. "Baby, would I embarrass you in front of all these guys?" he asked innocently.
"You KNOW it, Nicky!" Sarah laughed.
"D, control your wife please! Now, where was I?" Slowly he reached his hand beneath her skirt, his fingers skimming up the inside of her thigh and completely bypassing the garter.
"Nick!" Becca gasped at his audacity, blushing as the guys all snickered, yet flushing also from the effect his touch was having on her overly hormonal senses.
In a voice only she could hear he whispered, "Ten minutes, baby. Ten minutes and they'll all be gone. And you’re all mine tonight."
She smiled at him through glassy eyes and nodded her head.
Triumphantly he pulled off the garter, tossing it over his shoulder, and landing right in Brian's outstretched hand.
"Well, if we follow the new tradition, it's time for Brian to announce that he and Sonja have already set a date." AJ looked expectantly from Brian to Sonja, but it wasn't to be.
"AJ, you'll be the first to know, but no. Nothing like that, ok?" Brian shook his head, smiling.
Becca looked at Sonja, who winked at her and mouthed "Yet!"
The girls laughed, to the confusion of everyone else, before Howie announced one last toast.
A last round of champagne was poured as Howie lifted his glass. "Nick, Becca – I know you thought this day would never come, and sometimes you both wanted to give up. But this just proves what Sarah and I have known all along: true love is worth fighting for, and love can overcome any obstacle and make you stronger in the end. Be happy, love each other and for God's sake, do NOT miss sound check tomorrow!"