"Who? Mika?"
"Yeah. The show will be over in like ten minutes." He said, his face set.
"Cool." Chris said, turning his attention to the Wayans brothers on the stage as they said their closing statements before the show ended. The ten minutes seemed to tick by slowly, and he groaned in frustration when it was time to leave because it seemed that everyone was flooding towards the exits. He tried to side-step people, crowding into the big sea of celebrities.
"That was an interesting show," Mikayla said, trying not to laugh.
"Okay, okay," Brian said, "so I did oogle Cindy Jones, so what?" He rolled his eyes when she started to laugh. She recognized the look in Brian's face, and was glad that he'd finally found someone he was drawn to. It'd been hard on him to get on with his life after he'd broken up with his long-time girlfriend around the time he'd met Mikayla. Maybe the model was exactly what he needed.
"You like her," She accused.
"Even if I did, she wouldn't like me back 'cuz everyone thinks that we're together because I took you here."
"Whatever, go ahead and blame your shyness on me," Mikayla retorted under her breath, grinning as Brian rolled his eyes again.
"Mikayla!" JC yelled, trying not to draw attention to himself by anyone except her. She was talking to Littrell, and he was shaking his head as if something she had said annoyed him.
"Do you hear my name?" Mikayla asked, confused as she turned around. JC ran up to her, putting a hand onto her arm as he tried to regain his composure. "Can I talk to you for a second?" He breathed.
"Brian?" Mikayla asked.
"Sure, if you want I'll just meet you two at the after-party." Brian said, kissing Mika on the cheek and sauntered off.
"What is it you wanted to talk to me about?" She asked him pleasantly.
"Listen, I'm really sorry about what happened between us," He said, shifting from one foot to another uneasily, "but, Babe, I love you and I shouldn't have been jealous of you and Littrell, you have a right to have anyone you want as your friend and I should be a good boyfriend and trust you enough to let you have your freedom."
"That's all real nice and everything," She began, "but how do I know this is true?"
"Because I love you," He shifted closer to her, starting to take her into his arms and silently shouting triumph when she didn't resist.
"I love you too," She said softly, "I was miserable without you."
"Me too." He replied, kissing her.
"I have one thing to tell you," She said, knowing from the look in his eyes that this would be the right moment, if there was ever really a right moment, to tell him.
"Yes?" He asked cautiously, knowing that phrases that began with those words weren't always good.
"I'm pregnant." She answered, watching his eyes with a guarded look.
His jaw dropped. "Oh my God." Was all he could say, and his hands fell down to his side.
"That wasn't quite the reaction I was expecting," She said sadly, "but don't feel obligated. I'm not poor, I don't need your money." She lifted her chin proudly and turned on her heel, knowing from her burning face that she was blushing like mad.
"Mika, no!" He said, catching her again by the arm and turning her around, "Jesus, I just found out the news I'm going to be a dad! What did you expect me to do?" He looked down at her stomach, a look of tenderness and awe filling his face as he put his hands onto her stomach.
"It's going to be JC Jr. if it's a boy," She told him, smiling.
"Do you think they've made up already?" Taylor asked Justin as the two of them came from the dance floor, sweating after dancing to a really uptempo song.
"Well, they haven't shown up yet and the party's already halfway done," Justin answered. "God, JC with a kid." He said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Yeah, technically I'm an aunt," Taylor said proudly. "But what they have is special. It was only a matter of time until they were blessed with a baby."
"Yeah," Justin agreed.
"Many people don't find their significant others," Taylor added.
"I know. That's why I'm lucky," he replied, taking her hand in his.