| "I know Jess. That's one of the reasons I happen to love you so much." I hugged her. "You know I love you, too. Lace, what is this really about?" I asked her. "Well, I don't think we mentioned the fact that Tay is Ike's best man, and I hadn't actually chosen my maid of honor, yet. My girlfriend I had always planned on is living in Europe now, she has for years and well, you've become sort of a best friend, sister and sister in law rolled into one..." she said and I looked at her my eyes wide. "I want you to be my maid of honor Jessie. Will you? Please?" she asked me. "OH my god Lacey! Are you kidding me?" I aksed incredulous. "No I'm not kidding,silly. I can't imagine anyone but you on Taylor's arm and you have become my very best friend in the last couple of months." She smiled. I squealed and hugged her. "Of course! Oh Lacey, I'd be honored.." I said. "That's the title.." she joked. I wiped the tears that came then from my eyes and hugged her again. We gathered up Jake's stuff and set it out the door, then closed it behind us. I turned to see Taylor and his brothers striding toward us as I wiped my eyes again, and Lacey had to do the same. Ike was grinning from ear to ear, but Taylor looked concerned and Zac looked confused. "Oh lord!" Lacey exclaimed. "We're fine you dummies...you're just lookin' at my maid of honor that's all." |
| Zac rolled his eyes, and Taylor smiled. He looked at Ike, "Well that's a relief. I thought I was gonna have to resign my post to this goofball." he said and shoved Zac in the shoulder. Zac just groaned, "Thank God.." and grinned. "Yeah, Tay." Lacey said with her hand on her hip, "Like I'd let you walk down that aisle with any other woman. No way, the thought of that is just so WRONG." she giggled. "I know.." he said softly, and pulled me into his arms, looking into my eyes. I smiled up at him and then laughed as Zac threw his hands in the air and exclaimed, "Oh great! Thanks alot, Lace. Get 'em started again. Blah. Just what we need...we have a plane to catch, and somebody's brother is waiting for us.." "This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain blonde bombshell by the name of WATTLEY..would it?" I teased him. "Awww come on Jess. Gimme a break.." he groaned. "Soon as you give me one, bud.." I grinned. "Ok deal...for today." he grinned back and spit in his hand and stuck it out, almost daring me. I looked right at him and did the same and then squeezed his hand. Taylor groaned. "God, Jess!" I giggled and looked Zac in the eye, "Deal, buster! You spit swore..no going back now.." I raised an eyebrow at him. Zac threw his head back and laughed. "You got it, Jess. Just for the pleasure of seeing that look on my brother's face cause of something you did.." he said. "I'm gonna go help ROBIN, with her bags.." He strode down the hallway to the elevator shking his head and still laughing. I saw him take a hankie out of his pocket and wipe his hands. I looked at Taylor and grinned, pulling a hankie out of my purse and drying my hand. He was looking at me in shock. I giggled and so did Lacey while Ike just flat out laughed. "Bet it shuts him up for the rest of the day.." I said and unlocked Jake's door went inside and washed my hands.Taylor looked at me as I reemerged and grinned. "I still can't believe you did that.." he said and put his arm around me. "He better keep quiet for the rest of the day.." |
| We went downstairs to find Zac standing in the lobby with Watts. Holy cripe we had a lot of luggage for just a couple day trip! The cab pulled up and Ike got the hotel attendants to load out things into it so we wouldn't have to stand outside. As soon as that was done I saw that a crowd had gathered around the doors. I looked at Taylor and then at Lacey and Zac. Shit! They were both white as sheets. I leaned between Taylor and Ike. "Can you guys push your way through with Lacey?" I asked. They nodded affirmative to me. "Okay, take her and go. Watts and I will get Zac out." I said. Taylor turned to me, "Jess..are you sure?" he asked. "Yes. We can get him out. Just get Lacey in that cab before she panics." I said. Ike took her around the shoulders and I grabbed her and made her look at me. "Lacey, listen to me honey." I said as her eyes met mine. "You grab on to Ike and don't you let go, FOR ANY REASON. Do you understand me?" I asked her. "Nod your head if you understand me, Lace. Don't let go of Ike, okay?" She nodded once and I shoved them. "Go! NOW!" I pushed Tay again, "Get her out..I HAVE HIM" I said firmly. Taylor looked back at me, took a deep breath, put his arm around Lacey's other shoulder and pushed their way into tha cab. I watched as they got Lacey in and then I turned to Watts, who was looking at Zac, concerned. "Ready Watts? We have to get him out of here.." She nodded and took one of his arms and I grabbed the other one. I looked Zac in the eyes. "Come on Zac, you can do this.." I told him and watched him take a deep breath. "Wattley, I'll go first, you get behind him and push, keep as many hands away from him as you can.." I told her. |
| "Gotcha Jess. Zac, she's right. You CAN do this.." she said. "Okay Zac. On three.." I looked him in the eyes. "On three..." "Okay, Jess." he said. "Okay, one... two... THREE..." I said and pushed my way out the door and through the crowd, one arm around his waist, the other out in front, elbow first. Zac kept one hand on my waist while Watts kept one hand on his back, with her other arm up, roughly shoving any one of those hair-grabbing teenies that tried to get at him.The cab door opened and I shoved Zac in ahead of me and the pulled Wattley and shoved her in too, barely making it in myself, as the door closed behind me. We were packed in tight, Ike was against the far door, holding Lacey tightly trying to calm her. Taylor had somehow managed to position Zac in between him and Ike and when I threw Watts in, she wound up basically on Zac's lap. I flopped down a little heavily on a pair of legs and heard the owner of them grunt as the door slammed shut behind me. I looked up to find myself in my fiancees lap and grinned at him. "Hmmm...fancy meetin' you here..." I joked as he scooted us as close to our door as possible to let Watts have sitting room next to Zac. He put one hand on my knee and snaked the other one behind my back, keeping me on his lap, considering that was the only seat left in the car. "Yeah, imagine that..." he smiled as I kissed him on the cheek. "You ok?" I asked. "Yeah..." |
| I looked at Lacey, she was starting to calm down as the cab pulled slowly away from the crowd. Then I turned my gaze to Zac, who also had some color back in his face. He had his arm around Wattley, and she continued to hold his hand, stroking it softly with her fingers trying to relax him. Her eyes met mine. "Thank you" I mouthed and she smiled. I reached out and squeezed Zac's shoulder. "Hey man, you did it!" I told him. "You're alot stronger than you think you are..you brute..I saw you push a few hair pullers out of your way..." I laughed, trying to get him to smile and relax. He looked back at me and I winked at him, putting my hand around Tay's neck and squeezing his shoulder. Watts closed her fingers around Zac's and smiled up at him. "She told you you could do it, Zac and you did..." Zac seemed to snap out of it. He smiled down at Watts and thanked her, then looked at me. "Oh..ok..so first you tell me to just push my way hrough and now I'm a brute...damn Jess..what does a guy gotta do to make you happy?" he teased. I laughed and reached out with my other hand to squeeze his free one. |