| TAYLOR: Jess and I were standing out on the deck in the warm August air, which was also thick with humidity. I was extremely glad that Jake offered the upstairs club area of the gym for the reception, it was a really nice social area and perfect for the small reception we were having, well, small compared to Ike and Lacey's. But at least it was air conditioned and private. I stood with my arms around Jessie's waist and kissed her forehead. "I dunno if I'll be able to sleep tonight, Jess." I told her, drowing in her chocolate colored gaze. "Me either, Tay." she whispered back and smiled her warm smile that she saved just for me. I leaned down and kissed her sweet lips, maoning softly as she sunk her hands into my hair and pressed her body close to mine. She parted her lips to let me taste her as I slipped my hands over her strong back and shoulders. I closed my eyes and relaxed toward her and then felt myself being pulled roughly away from her. "What the fuck?..." I gasped and tried to struggle out of the grip of more than one pair of hands. Jess squealed and then giggled as we both realized what was happening. Jake had his arms around my chest and Ike and Zac each had one of my legs, hauling me over the rail of the deck, while the girls were holding Jessie, not much less roughly than I was being handled. |
| "What the hell are you guys doing?" I laughed, wiggling, trying to struggle out of the hold they had on me. "No more of that shit till you actually MARRY my baby sister..so stop fighting it dude.." Jake joked. "Yeah..and what the hell? No fucking bachelor party?" Zac joked. "Where's your sense of TRADITION?" Ike added, as they dragged me away from my bride and toward the driveway. "Not only that.." Lacey piped up, "It's BAD luck for you to see your bride before the wedding..so you're spending the night at Jake's..so just SHOO!" Jess was laughing so hard she was crying by then, so I just gave up the struggle. "See you tomorrow Tay.." she wiped her eyes. "I love you, baby.." "Night Jess.." I grinned as my brothers hauled me out of my own yard, "I love you too.." "Oh stop the mush already.." Zac whined as he shoved me into Jake's truck. |
| By the time we got to Jake's I had relaxed some and was having a pretty good time. I liked hangin' with Jake anyway, he was cool and becoming as close a friend to me as my own brothers were. Zac broke out the beer and we hung out, basically just shootin' the breeze. Of course the conversation eventually turned to our 'women', but Jake was in the mood to complain about Jess. "Dude..she stays on my case about asking Abbey to marry me. I plan on it, but shit..there's so much else going on in all our lives right now.." he said. "Well, so what? Ask her and set a date later.." I told him. "If you know than you know..go for it.." "Yeah man.." Ike added, "I hadda wait for Lace to grow up and basically get hit in the head before she finally said yes...don't think you'll have that problem with Abbey." "Leave him alone.." Zac piped up. "He'll ask when HE'S ready. But don't wait too long, Jakeman...she might change her mind." he grinned. "Uh- huh, Zac...and you know so much because.." I joked. "Because.." he slurred and I realized that he'd already had too many beers, "I'm not too dumb to know that I better get on the stick and get Leigh to marry me before that creepy Keith guy steals her from me." "Oh shit, Zac. You can't believe she'd actually GO for him do you?" I asked, knowing there was no way in hell she would. "Bah..she's always goin' on about how he's so fucking sweet and he keeps her company when I'm gone.." he swigged off his beer again. "Tell her to go talk to ERIC..would ya?' he said disgusted. Jake and I looked at each other over his head. "He's GONE.." Jake mouthed and I nodded. "Well, dude..if she's what you want then Ike and I are happy for you. Mom loves her.." I tried to make him feel better. "So does Jess..funny how Jess is the personality barometer in this family all of a sudden huh?" he said. "She's been buggin' Dave to fire Keith for weeks." "We will Zac..." Jake said and then he quickly changed the subject. |
| JESSIE: I wiped my eyes and rubbed my stomach as we went into the house. "Hey Jess..you gonna survive that little escapade?" Wattley teased. "I dunno, Watts.." I chuckled, "That was too damn funny. Poor Tay.." "Hell..you should have seen the look on YOUR face.." Abbey laughed. "I bet." I grinned and wiped my eyes again. "Anyhow, we figured if the boys could have a party..so could we. So we're staying here with you tonight." Lacey smiled. "Oh... sweet! Hey do you guys wanna use the guest rooms, or should I haul out Jakey's camping gear so we can camp out in here?" I asked. "Get the gear Jess!" Wattley giggled, "Woo hoo! Slumber party! I'm gonna go start the popcorn.." she headed off to my kitchen making herself completely at home, which was pefrectly fine with me. "You find all the pillows, Ab..." Lacey grinned, "I'll go get our stuff.." We went in our separate directions, then met back in the family room. We spread the sleeping bags and pillows out and Watts brought in the humongous bowl of popcorn she made, a bottle of wine and glasses and a botle of water for me. We all slipped into our PJ's and flopped down on the floor to gab. Lacey and Abbey fell asleep before Wattley and I did, so we switched off the lights and talked in the dark. |