| "Ladies' room?" he questioned her, but looked at me. Jake's eyes were on me as all of the women at the table looked at each other, uncomfortable. After all we had all witnessed it. I took a deep breath and told Jake and Tay what she had said and how Wattley had defended me. Zac looked like he was going to burst with pride. Taylor gripped my arm, "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked angrily. "Taylor, calm down. All of us were there, she wouldn't...couldn't have done anything without having to deal with all of us. I'm not going to cower in a corner. I have a life to live. She's jealous and stupid. Think about it baby, she's got it for ERIC.." I rolled my eyes. "We were supposed to be having fun and I haven't seen you all week..I didn't want to ruin it.." I said softly and kissed him, kneading his shoulder, trying to calm him. He seemed to relax a little but I did not miss the look exchanged between him and Jake. The waitress brought our food and he moved to let her set it in front of us, thanking her. We finished eating and sat for a long time at the table just talking, as we had done the night before. Finally Abbey got up and Jake stood with her. "I hate to say it but, I have a flight to catch. I really have to go." she said. I immediately stood and hugged her."Remember, ANYTIME.." I said. She hugged me back. "We'll talk soon." Lacey and Watts even got up to hug her. "Get our numbers from Jess. Abbey." Watts told her. "No sense staying in a hotel room if you can stay with one of us when you have to travel." "Thank you so much, you guys. I'll hold you to it. This was too much fun." Abbey replied. Jake rode with her to the airport, promising to meet us in time to catch our own flights, which weren't that much later. |
| "Jeez, Jake! Don't fight traffic coming all the way back here..just give me your key and stuff and Tay and I will take care of it and meet you there.." I said and looked at Tay. "Yeah, man, don't worry about it. Least I can do for the man who takes care of my wife to be when I'm away.." he grinned. "Go ahead, bro." "Dude, there's enough of us that we can manage your stuff too..just go. We'll meet you there.." Zac chimed in. "Yeah, go.." was Ike's addition to the conversation. "It's cool." Jacob handed me the room key and his credit card, telling just to sign my own name, that I was on his account. I looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Oh knock it off, Jess. I did it that way for emergencies.." he barked at me. "Okay, okay..don't bite my head off." I grinned. I took his things, hugged Abbey again and gave Jake a shove toward the door. "GO JACOB, I'm not the wus you think I am..and I have help." I teased. We sat back down as they left, and had another cup of coffee. The waitress came and cleared some of the dishes, so we stood to leave. "Watts, what time does your flight leave?" I asked her. She dug into her purse and looked at her ticket. "Same time yours does.." she answered. I laughed. "Get your stuff together and ride to the airport with us then.." "Okay, Jessie. Thanks for taking me under your generous wing while my trainer is awol.." she joked. |
| "No problem, dahlink." I joked back putting my arm around her. She laughed with me and then turned to Zac. "Thanks again for last night Zac. I had fun." she said and kissed him on the cheek. Zac looked like he was going to do the Daffy Duck "woo hoo" all over the dining room. I covered my mouth to keep from laughing. Easy, boy, I though trying to channel it to him. He caught my eye and I saw him take a deep breath. Good, I thought, and smiled at him. He smiled back and looked back down at Watts, "I'll come help you carry your stuff down after I finish with mine, okay?" he asked her. "Oh would you? That'd be great. I can lift it all but, it's such a pain to balance all those bags." she said gratefully. "Okay see you in a bit.." he said, kissed her cheek and walked to the elevators. "Yeah.." she said as he walked away. Taylor and I exchanged glances and smiled. "Lace and I better go get packed up too.." Ike said. "We'll meet you to help with Jake's stuff in a bit." he said, and guided Lacey toward the elevators, hollering at Zac to hold them. Watts went in the other direction toward her room, leaving Taylor and I alone in the dining room. Taylor turned to me and cupped my face in his hands. "You should have told me about Liz, Jess." I covered his hand with mine. "Tay..don't baby..I would have. I just didn't want to spoil the night...please...I wasn't trying to keep anything from you. I couldn't anyway, you always know..." I said softly. He hugged me tighlty to him. "Jess, he's not through..I know it. If he comes near you again I WILL kill him." he said roughly. "And if she has anything to do with it she will be next on my list." he added. "Tay! Stop! I don't like to hear you so angry...please...we'll be fine baby. They can't touch us...we have each other, right?" |
| He smiled down at me, "Yeah.." then he turned serious again. "But I couldn't live without you, Jessie. I won't lose you. For ANY reason. If he hurts you.." "I won't let him get that close to me again Tay, neither will Jake. Please don't worry.." I stroked his cheek. "Please.." It was his turn to cover my hand with his. "Okay, baby...c'mon, we better get going if we're taking care of Jake's stuff too." He put his arm around me and led me to the counter. He paid the bill for the meal, leaving a generous tip for our waitress. We left the dining room and Taylor kept one hand on my waist, all the way back to our room. |
| When Tay and I got to our room we quickly gathered up our things and set them by the door. Tay opened the door for me, and kissed me on the cheek. "I'll be there in a sec, okay Jess?" "Yeah, I think I can have his stuff packed up by the time you get back, though." I told him and kissed him on the lips. I took Jakey's keys out of my pocket and headed for his room just as Zac and Ike came down the hallway to assist Taylor. "I'll help you if you want, Jess." Lacey told me. "Sure Lace." I told her and she follwed me down the hall. I opened the door to Jake's room and found that he had had most of his stuff already taken care of. I grinned at Lacey, "He is the most organized man I have ever met in my life, only Isaac and Taylor run a close second.." I laughed. She giggled too and sat down on the edge of the tub as I gathered up all of Jake's manly toiletries. "I really like Abbey, Jess. I hope it's not too hard for her when you guys move." she said. |
| "Ugh. I know, figures he'd find her just as he's upheaving everything in his life. He'll make it work if he really feels like that for her. That's just the kind of man he is." I said. "Yeah, kind of reminds me of Tay in some ways." she said absently. I looked at her surprised. "You know, you're right...I never gave it that much thought before but.." I said and she gave me a bright smile. I finished gathering up Jake's things and brought them out into the bedroom and unzipped Jake's carry on bag, stuffing that in there. "Can't be getting back and not have that stuff..we're stuck in another hotel until Monday," I told her. "I have that radio spot to do and then another plane to catch, then maybe I can sit down and take a breath." I joked. Lacey shook her head, "I don't know where you find the energy, Jess. But I'm glad you have it because I will definately need you when you get to Tulsa. The guys are going to be busy and I still have a wedding to get in order. And I KNOW Diana will plan some kind of family gathering to announce you engagament to Tay. I'm so happy for you guys, Jess. I wanted you to be in my wedding because the thought of anyone else on Taylor's arm is just WRONG." she grinned. I smiled back. She took a deep breath and I turned to look at her. "Whats' the matter Lace?" I asked. "Jess, I never thanked you for saving me from that MOB, yesterday." she said. "Don't be ridiculous, Lace. I wouldn't have left you standing in that mess for any reason.." I told her. |