“This it?” AJ asks as he drives slowly down a street in Marathon.
“Must be,” Howie is looking out of the window. “Yeah, I see Nick’s Durango and Kevin’s jeep. And the mailbox is Kentucky blue!” Howie laughs.
“Oh PLEASE,” AJ rolls his eyes and parks the car. “Kentucky blue?”
“Hey, it’s a good colour,” Howie defends gesturing down at his light blue T-shirt.
“I like it,” Pollyanna says from the back seat and AJ rolls his eyes.
“Do NOT back up Howie.”
“Oops,” she giggles and they head up the path and ring the doorbell.
“Welcome!” Brian throws open the door with a big grin. “Come on in. Find it ok?”
“Yup, ‘course Nick’s HUGE car parked outside kinda helped,” grins AJ.
“I got gifts!” grins Howie holding up a big bag.
“Wow, thanks,” Brian smiles and leads them through to the back garden where a barbecue party is in full swing. “The people you don’t know are neighbours or Jade’s friends.”
“Not gonna take us round and introduce us?” asks AJ.
“Ain’t got the time dude!” Brian chuckles.
“He doesn’t know half of them himself,” says AJ to Howie and Pollyanna who laugh.
“There’s that as well,” Brian grins. “Jade is around somewhere. Want a tour?”
“Totally,” Howie grins and Brian obliges.
“Jade, ya want a burger?” yells Kevin from behind the barbecue grill. He had taken charge the minute he arrived, leaving Brian and Jade free to mingle.
“I’m good thanks,” she walks over to him. “Are you ok here?”
“Oh sure!” he grins. “I love barbecuing.”
“He says it’s therapeutic,” laughs Kristen coming up behind Jade.
“It is!” Kevin says. “Totally.”
“I really LOVE this place Jade,” Kristen tells her.
“Thanks,” Jade smiles. “We do too. It is so great to finally have a proper home with Brian.”
“I bet,” Kevin smiles. “Remember when we first moved into our place honey?”
“Oh yeah!” Kristin giggles. “It was a LOT of fun.”
“Sure was,” Kevin winks and she blushes slightly.
“So, I just met your brother. He’s pretty cool. FBI huh?”
“Yeah,” Jade smiles. “I am so proud of him but some times I really wish he had a boring job.”
“Hey, can I get a burger?” Nick joins them. “You got onions?”
“No onions,” Ali follows him over. “They make your breath smell SO bad.”
“Aw!” he whines.
“Ok, get onions,” she gives up. “But don’t think you’re gonna be kissin’ me later.”
“So no onions,” Nick tells a laughing Kevin sulkily.
“This place really is amazing Jade,” Ali smiles at her friend. “I just did the tour again with Howie, AJ and Pollyanna. Brian is totally doin’ the proud thing.”
“He is?” Jade giggles. “I’m glad you like it. And thanks for being here,” she gives Ali a quick hug.
“I’m happy bein’ here,” Ali smiles. “And I totally need to get you alone later,” she adds with a wink.
“Cool,” Jade giggles and Nick throws them both a worried look.
“Relax Nicky,” Ali says with an evil grin.
“I’d better go mingle a little,” Jade says and heads off.
“Good trip in New York?” Kevin asks Ali. “I haven’t seen you since you got back.”
“Oh yeah!” Nick grins before Ali can answer.
“For YOU, yeah,” she rolls her eyes. “My mom practically turned into blondie’s slave.”
The others laugh as Nick grins smugly.
When I leave the others by the barbecue, I decide to go say hi to AJ. I find him standing alone on the edge of the pool, staring into the water.
“Don’t jump,” I say lightly and he looks round at me before chuckling.
“Things get that bad, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Promise?”
“Promise,” he says and then smiles. “Cool place you got here.”
“Thanks,” I smile and feel awkward. There are so many things I want to say to him. “Are you ok?”
“Sure. This break is doin’ me good. You?”
“Ditto.”
“And Brian’s heart is really ok?” he asks.
“Yeah, it really is.”
“Good. I was a little scared he wouldn’t tell me if somethin’ was wrong,” he confesses.
“I would’ve,” I say quietly and we stand in silence for a while. “Well, I guess I better go mingle,” I say and he nods. “Catch ya later,” I walk away.
AJ watches Jade walk away. She joins a group of people he doesn’t recognise. He turns away from her to stare back into the pool water. He’s not ok but he’s trying. He’s in love with somebody he knows he can never have. It was hard enough when she was just dating his friend but now she’s married to him. And here he is, standing outside the house she’s to share with Brian. And it makes him feel like crap. He didn’t exactly HAVE to come to this party he reminds himself. Somehow just imagining this place would’ve been worse than the reality. He looks over at Jade and sees that she’s laughing, her hand on a guy’s arm. He is gazing at her with a wide smile, delighted at her response to his words. AJ looks away quickly. He loves the way her face is so expressive. She can’t hide her emotions at all. He groans quietly and clenches his fists by his side. ‘You have GOT to stop this Alexander,’ he tells himself. ‘She belongs to somebody else. Just get over it and move on already.’ He knows he deserves better than this life in limbo but he doesn’t know how to get past it.
After mingling for a while, I decide to go find Brian. I haven’t seen him since the first guests started arriving. I find him in the kitchen with Howie.
“Hey guys,” I greet as I join them and get myself a glass of water.
“Hey honey,” Brian smiles.
“Good to see you Howie,” I give him a hug.
“You too. I bought you guys a housewarming present,” he grins and hands his bag over to me.
“Wow, thanks Howie,” I grin and Brian walks over to look with me as I open the bag.
“It’s kinda a funny, cute sorta thing,” he adds as I pull out a door plaque from the bag. It’s black and shaped like a circle. Inside it is written ‘Chez Littrell’ in Kentucky blue.
“Aw Howie. It’s CUTE! Thank you,” I hug him again and he grins.
“Thanks bro,” Brian says. “And it’s even a circle!”
“Yeah, I remembered what you always say – if you love someone, write their name in a circle cos a heart can get broken and a circle…”
“Is never-ending,” Brian finishes with a big grin. “Ya actually listen to me dude! I’m honoured.”
“Of course,” Howie laughs. “I mean, I know ya can’t exactly put it on the front door but…”
“Why not?” I say and the two guys just look at me until I realise. “Oh yeah.”
“We’ll put it on the back door,” Brian tells Howie.
“Cool,” he grins. “Well I’m gonna go get me a burger before Kevin burns ‘em all,” he chuckles and walks back outside.
“Everyone seems to like the house,” Brian tells me, putting the plaque down on the counter and then pulling me into his arms.
“What’s not to like?” I grin. “We finally have a place together.”
“Yeah,” he smiles and kisses me softly. “I opened the door a few minutes back to Trey and he was all ‘is this the Littrells’?’ It sounded so good.”
“It does,” I agree with a big smile. “We’re finally here.”