“Anyone seen Brian and Jade this mornin’?” asks Kevin as he joins our table for breakfast.
“No,” AJ rolls his eyes. “They manage to give you the slip? Maybe they’re out getting married somewhere…”
“No way!” Kevin says angrily. “I dropped by their room last night and Jade was asleep. Brian said she was feelin’ kinda rough.”
“You should trust them,” Nick says. “I mean Brian’s your COUSIN. He’d never get married without having you there.”
“Well I’ll be glad when we leave Vegas,” Kevin sighs. “I don’t know… I just got this feelin’.”
“Jeez,” AJ mutters darkly.
“Where’s Howie anyway?” Kevin changes the subject.
“In the gym I think,” says AJ.
“What you guys up to later?” I ask.
“Dunno,” AJ shrugs. “Just gonna chill out. You?”
“I got a trip to the mall planned,” grins Nick. “Me and Ali are gonna totally wipe out her credit cards.”
“MY credit cards?!” I complain.
“Yeah, yours!” he grins cheekily.
A knocking on the door wakes me up. I lie under the sheets stretching slightly, hoping that whoever is on the other side of the door will go away. No such luck so I wrap a towelling gown around me and open the door. Kevin peers past me into the darkened room. Brian is still asleep.
“Hey there Jade. Thought I’d better check you guys were ok. Haven’t suddenly developed vampirism?”
“No, we’re fine,” I smile. “Just kinda tired.”
“Yeah?” he raises an eyebrow suggestively and I blush slightly. “So, I guess you’re feelin’ better?”
“Better?”
“Yeah, Bri said you felt kinda off last night.”
“Oh yeah… No, I’m fine now. Just needed some sleep I guess.”
“Well, you sure had a lot of that!” he grins. “I came by last night after the show and you were asleep already.”
“I was?” I look confused.
“Yeah, Bri opened the door to me and the room was all dark and I could just about see you under the sheets. I’m glad I didn’t wake ya.”
“Oh, out like a light,” I say, impressed at Brian’s sneakiness – there is hope for the man yet!
“Oh great. So, anything planned before we fly out?”
“Uh, y’know… Just chilling.”
“Yeah, me too. Mind if I join?”
“Uh…” I stare at him. I really wanted to just spend the day with Brian. But Kevin looks kinda lonely and I’m a sucker for pouts. And right now, he is pouting like a pro. “I guess.”
“Yay!” he grins. “How about golf?” Golf? Ugh. I HATE golf with a vengeance but I plaster a smile on my face and manage to nod. “Oh excellent. I’ll go get changed and we’ll meet downstairs in an hour.” Kevin runs off and I shut the door with a grimace. Gee, a day of golf AND Kevin… What have I done to deserve this?
I walk over to the window and open the blinds. The sky is a beautiful deep blue colour. I open the door and step out on to the balcony, breathing in the fresh air with a smile. When the sky was this perfect, it was kinda hard to stay pissed. Plus, at least golf is an outdoor game. Maybe I could just drive the buggy to its limit? That’d be kinda cool. I almost start giggling at the thought of Kevin’s face when I crash the buggy. I mean, let’s face it, if I get to drive it – it’s crashing. Brian’s strong arms wrap around my waist and I cover his hands with mine as I lean back into his kiss.
“Mornin’ Mrs Littrell.”
“Technically, it’s afternoon,” I grin.
“Afternoon Mrs Littrell,” he kisses my neck.
“Mm, I like hearing you call me that,” I turn around to face him and wrap my arms around his neck.
“I like sayin’ it, Mrs Littrell,” he grins and kisses me. “Y’know how much I love you?”
“I’ve guessed,” I giggle and runs my fingers through his tousled hair. “But I have a feeling it’s gonna go down a little bit…”
“Why?”
“Kevin woke me up earlier… Oh and can I just say – very impressed with that little bit of improv you did last night when he came a-knockin’. Pillow right?”
“Pillow,” he laughs. “And thank you,” he kisses me again.
“Mm, well he’s kinda feeling a little lonely I think. Y’know, Kristen’s gone back to LA, and Howie and AJ are the freaky duo, and Nick has Ali, and…”
“I have you,” he finishes for me and I smile.
“You have me… Big time,” I close my eyes as his lips meet mine.
Our tongues get all wrapped up and we just sink into each other. His hand winds itself through my hair and my fingers trail down his bare back, to tuck inside the lining of his boxers. He groans softly against my lips and pulls me closer against him so that I can feel him pressing against me. I lessen the kiss’ intensity and put my hands on his chest, gently pushing him away from me. His eyes open as I lean back against the balcony rail. He reaches out to pull me close again but I resist.
“No honey, we’re meeting Kevin in less than an hour.”
“We’re not,” he says, pulling me to him and kissing along my collarbone.
“Sorry, but we are. For a game of golf.” He stops kissing me and rests his head against me in defeat. “He just looked so lost,” I defend my weakness for men who pout.
“He pouted.”
“He didn’t pout…as such…”
“He pouted.”
“Ok, he pouted.”
“I can pout too…” He steps away from me and pulls a killer pout. I sigh. “See, pouting.”
“Oh baby…” I wrap myself around him and kiss him. “One game of golf…”
“Still pouting.”
“One game of golf lasting…say, 2 hours… And then I’ll do anything you want.”
“Anything?” he smoothes my hair back and kisses my nose. “2 hours?”
“Maximum.”
“Ok. You got me Mrs Littrell.”
I giggle, “I always had you.”
A long double shower later and we’re strolling hand-in-hand across the lobby to Kevin and AJ.
“Finally,” says Kevin, looking at his watch pointedly.
“Hey,” Brian shrugs. “It’s our day off.”
“And the LAST thing I wanna do is play golf,” mutters AJ. Kevin shoots him a look and he shrugs. “Hell, who wants to play golf? Like, ever?!”
“Agreement,” I say with a grin. “But the weather’s great so let’s just get outside and swing a few cues.” Both Kevin and Brian start laughing.
“That’s pool,” says Kevin.
“Whatever,” I roll my eyes and let go of Brian’s hand to root around in my bag for my shades. As I put the shades on, both Kevin and AJ stare at my left hand with expressions of shock. I realise that they’ve spotted my wedding band. “Uh yeah, Brian asked me to marry him last night.”
They look at Brian who starts grinning and holds up his left hand as well.
“Y-y-you guys are engaged?” Kevin stutters out before launching himself on us in a huge hug. “That’s great!”
“Thanks!” Brian grins at his cousin.
“’Bout time you made an honest woman of Jade,” says AJ gruffly before giving us both a big hug.
“We’re SO celebrating tonight!” says Kevin. “But I got us booked on the green in ten so let’s go.”
We all follow him out to a car. I kinda feel guilty about them thinking we’re engaged, but we haven’t told any lies so far. Brian DID ask me to marry him, I just kinda forgot to say that it was in a church and all that jazz. We agreed last night to say we are engaged because neither of us want to keep taking our rings off in public. And we ARE going to get blessed in church with all of our friends and family around. Just call it omitting stuff, not lying.