Chapter 27
Jessica awoke the next morning to find Brian sleeping peacefully. She sat up and moved his head to her lap. She played with his hair as he continued to sleep like a baby.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you, too," he said with a smile as his blue eyes snapped open.
"Brian!" she squealed as he threw her down on the bed and tickled her. "Stop!" she pleaded. He finally stopped but stayed on top of her. He was on his knees and straddling her body. He leaned down and gave her a slow, tender kiss that grew in intensity. She ran her fingers through his soft hair, playing with his curls. As they kissed, the thought entered his mind more than once to just go ahead and propose despite the conversation they'd had the night before. He continually talked himself out of it. Just as he was becoming absorbed in her, the door opened. Even before he looked up, he knew it was Nick and he vowed to himself to have a talk with him about knocking before entering.
"Sorry," Nick said with a sly smile. "I just wanted to see if ya wanted to go shoot some hoops." Brian looked down at the beautiful girl in his arms. "Go" she mouthed to him.
"Are you sure?" he asked as he kissed her again.
"Yeah. I've gotta go pick out some new stage costumes for tonight. I want to look good for your family tonight."
"They're gonna love you anyway," Brian said with a killer smile. Nick cleared his throat loudly and impatiently. "Alright. I'm comin'. Bye, baby." He kissed her gently as he left with Nick. Jessica got up and just as she finished getting dressed, Brian stuck his head in the door.
"I thought you and Nick were already gone," she mused.
"Not yet," he said. "I just came back to tell you that my brother and sister-in-law just called and they want to meet us for lunch. Is that okay with you?"
"Of course," she answered. "In fact, why don't you call your sister-in-law and have her meet me and Vanessa at the arena. She can help us pick out costumes."
"Sounds great," he replied as he picked up her phone and dialed the number. "Hey, bro. Is Tracy around?" He smiled as he handed Jessica the phone. "Harry's putting her on."
"Hello?" Jessica said into the phone.
"Jessica?" Tracy asked. "Hi, my name's Tracy; I'm Brian sister-in-law."
"I won't hold that against you," Jessica said as they both laughed.
"Listen, I was wondering if you'd like to meet me and my friend at the arena. We're gonna pick out some stage costumes and then we're going to meet the guys for lunch."
"Sounds great," Tracy said excitedly. Brian listened as the two girls worked out the rest of the details. Jessica kissed him warmly after she hung up the phone.
"We'll meet you, Nick, and your brother at that café near the arena at 1:00, okay?"
"Yeah, I know the one," he said with a grin. "We'll be there."
"I guess I'd better go so me and Nessa can meet Tracy on time. Bye, baby." She gave him a sweet smile followed by a short kiss.
"Bye, angel." He returned her kiss and then watched her walk out of the room.
Half and hour later, Jessica, Vanessa, and Tracy walked into the vast wardrobe room. Their mouths dropped in awe.
"Wow," Vanessa whispered.
"This is awesome," Tracy agreed.
"We've got to try everything on!" Jessica squealed as she ran to the first rack of clothes. The other two followed and they each picked out several outfits to try on.
"How do you think Brian would like this?" Jessica said with a laugh as she stepped out of the dressing room wearing a mini skirt and tube top.
"I think if you wear it on your honeymoon then he'll like it just fine," Vanessa said.
"You and Bri are engaged?" Tracy asked. "He didn't even tell me!"
"No, we're not engaged," Jessica told her.
"Not yet," Vanessa added. "I wish you guys would get engaged, though," she continued. "It's driving the rest of us crazy. The way you guys look at each other it's obvious that you want one another."
"Not my fault," Jessica protested. "If it were up to me, we'd be engaged already."
"Awww," Vanessa and Tracy chorused.
"Oh my gosh!" Jessica exclaimed as she looked at her watch. "We're gonna be late. Let's change clothes, take my costumes to my dressing room, and get going." The girls rushed around and 15 minutes later were on their way to the café.
"Hi, guys," Jessica said as she, Vanessa, and Tracy sat down with Brian, Nick, and Harold.
"Hey, girls," the guys chorused as they greeted each one with a hug or a kiss.
"Little bro, is this your girl?" Harold asked once they were all settled in.
"Yep," Brian said proudly. As he put his arm around Jessica. "This is Jessica Simpson. Jess, this is my much older brother Harold."
"Watch it," Harold warned. "You're not that much younger than me."
"C'mon, Harry, don't lie in front of the ladies. You're as old as Kevin," Nick teased. Brian and Harold couldn't help laughing.
"And this is my lady," Nick told Harold. "Harry, this is Vanessa. Nessa, this is Harry."
"You two are engaged, right?" Harold asked.
"Yeah," Vanessa answered. "We haven't sent out invitations yet, but we would be honored if you'd come."
"When is it?" Tracy asked.
"Christmas Day- well, night actually. 6:00 pm on December 25th," Nick answered happily.
"We decided to get married on Christmas Day that way Nick can't forget our anniversary," Vanessa said with a laugh.
"We'll be there," Tracy promised.
"Are you leaving after the concert tonight?" Jessica asked Nessa, knowing that she still had tons of planning to do.
"Yeah. I've gotta go finish making the arrangements, pick out bridesmaid gowns, things like that. This way, when you guys come home next week, we'll be ready for you to try on your dresses."
"I'm not wearing a dress!" Brian protested. Everyone laughed at him.
"Oh, c'mon, Frick," Nick playfully pleaded. "I was thinking you'd look good in pink." Brian gave him a don't-go-there look as everyone else continued laughing.
After lunch, Jessica and Brian headed back to the arena. It was early but Jessica insisted that she needed the extra time for hair and makeup so she could look her best that night. After she was finished she went looking for Brian; she found him lounging in his dressing room.
"Jess, I've got an idea I want to run by you," he said. "I was talking to some fans outside and they absolutely love you."
"That good," Jessica said, not sure of where he was going.
"I want to announce our relationship tonight. They like you and I think they'll support us."
"Okay, Bri," she said. She had heard the firmness in his voice and knew that there was no point in arguing.
When Jessica came off the stage after her performance, she went straight to Brian and held him tightly. She knew that once her announced their relationship to the crowd that there would scarcely be a detail or moment that they could keep for themselves. She just wanted to hold him and forget that there was anyone else in the world.
"Brian, our song," she whispered.
"Hmm? What about it?" he asked as she pulled her closer to him.
"Save it," she insisted. "Don't sing it for me tonight on stage. I want it to be just ours. No one else needs to know."
"All right," he agreed.
"C'mon, Bri," Howie called as the rest of the guys headed for the stage. Brian followed them but turned back to Jessica just before taking the stage.
"Are you okay with this? Me telling everybody, I mean." His blue eyes searched her beautiful face. She wanted to tell him 'no' but she knew how much he wanted to tell the whole world that he was in love and who was she to deny him that?
"Do it," she told him. She couldn't help but laugh at his childish excitement.
"Thank you, he mouthed to her as she blew her a kiss and then ran on stage.
True to his word, Brian didn't sing their song, but he did announce their relationship and both he and Jessica were surprised at how well the fans took it. They were so relieved that Brian insisted on taking Jessica, his family, and all the guys out to dinner to celebrate.
"Jessica! How wonderful to see you!" Jackie exclaimed as she gave Jessica a hug before climbing into the limo next to her.
"Great to see you, too, Mrs. Littrell," Jessica responded with a genuine smile.
"Jessica, honey, didn't I tell you to call me Jackie?" she smiled warmly. "After all, you are my future daughter-in-law." Jessica blushed.
"Besides, it makes her feel old," Mr. Littrell added with a laugh.
"Mom, Dad, are you harrassing my little Angel?" Brian asked as he climbed in the limo." If you keep that up she'll never marry me." Jessica sighed peacefully as she laid her head on Brian's shoulder. She felt more in love with him at that moment than she ever had before. She looked at him and knew he felt it too.
'I love you,' she mouthed to him.
"I love you, too," he whispered.
"C'mon, Lovers," Nick said as he opened their door when they reached the restaurant. "You'll have plenty of time for that stuff later."
"Like you have room to talk, Frack. Not the way you and Nessa carry on. You guys keep us up all night." Brian smiled at Nick as he helped Jessica and his parents out of the limo.
"Nickolas, is there something you and my best friend have been up to that you need to tell me about?" Jessica asked sternly.
"No, I swear we haven't done anything! I'm a virgin!" (okay, I know this is highly unlikely, but humor me.)
"Okay, Nicky, that was a little loud," Jessica said with a laugh as people began to stare.
"Yeah, now all of Lexington knows you're a virgin." Brian laughed as he tousled his friend's hair.
"Okay, knock it off you two," Mr. Littrell ordered with a smile. "Let's go eat."