Honey on Your Mind Part 37

"I guess so."

"Why didn't you just ask me about it?"

I shrugged and half-smiled. "Have you ever noticed that when it comes to love I tend to a.s.sume the worst?"

He touched my cheek. "We'll work on that. So what did you say on the show last night that made my mom think I'd already told you about the Nets job?"

I swallowed. "I, um, I had a bit of a Waverly moment."

"A what?"

"Let's just say I acted like an idiot, and we can leave it at that." I wiped the remaining tears from my face. "To be honest, I don't really remember what I said, which is funny, because I think it was something about not forgetting. I thought you were going to break up with me, so I freaked out and over-shared, just like those people I hate on Facebook and Twitter."

He smiled and tucked another loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"Waverly, I'm not going anywhere, OK?"

"Promise?"

"Promise."

We stood there for a moment, just staring at each other. Then he slowly smiled and scratched his eyebrow. "So, I guess...I'm moving to Brooklyn?"

I grinned. "Apparently so." I pressed my palms against my forehead. "I can't believe I jumped to such a big conclusion. I was so...I was so...upset..." My voice trailed off again.

He leaned down and whispered into my ear. "Shhh, don't be upset anymore."

"I'm not upset anymore," I whispered back. "I'm not afraid anymore."

Then I hugged him tightly, determined not to let go.

I never realized how many people get married on Valentine's Day.

Jake and I were sitting on a wooden bench in a hallway at Sacramento City Hall, surrounded by couples waiting to make it official. My dad and Betty were next in line, and Jake and I were the witnesses. They wanted to do something simple for the ceremony, so we were the only ones there. A few friends, mine included, were meeting us afterward for a late lunch and a small reception.

I leaned over and whispered in his ear. "Can you believe how many people are in here? I feel like we're at a chapel in Las Vegas."

"You think any of these people just met today?" He laughed and looked around. "I bet that's how a lot of people end up getting married in Vegas."

I nodded. "You've got to wonder what the average blood-alcohol level is at a twenty-four hour chapel."

A moment later, my dad approached us. He cleared his throat and clasped his hands together.

"Looks like we're up next. You kids ready? Betty's touching up her makeup."

I stood up and smoothed the skirt of my dress, then took a step toward my dad to adjust his tie. "Are we ready? Shouldn't we be asking you that?"

He grinned. "Can you believe your old man is getting hitched?"

"Yes, I can, and it's going to be great." I finished his tie and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks, baby, I appreciate that." He turned to Jake and held out his hand. "Thanks for making the trip out here. Mighty kind of you to come."

Jake smiled. "I'm just happy I got the invite, Mr. Bryson. Your daughter's a tough nut to crack."

"Oh believe me, I know," my dad said.

I pointed at both of them. "Hey now, no ganging up on me."

Just then, Betty appeared from the ladies' room. She was wearing a knee-length, cream-colored dress with a square neck and three-quarter-length sleeves, her blonde hair secured into a cla.s.sic low bun. She could have been pulled straight from a Jackie-O photo collection.

I smiled at her. "Betty, you're glowing."

She smiled back. "That's because I'm happy." Then she looked at my dad.

"Babe, you look beautiful," he said.

She winked at him. "So what do you think? Ready to go tie the knot?"

He held out his arm. "Sweetheart, you can't get me there fast enough."

a a a After the ceremony, Jake and I drove back to our hotel to drop off the car, and then walked to a restaurant called The Firehouse for the reception. The moment we stepped inside, I spotted Andie and Nick sitting at the bar. They were playing rock-paper-scissors.

"Well, h.e.l.lo there, strangers." I approached them with my arms open wide.

"Hey, Waverly!" Andie stood up to embrace me.

"Bryson!" Nick followed with his own bear hug. "Welcome back to the left coast! We've missed you. Not as much as you've probably missed us, but we've missed you."

"Yes, I've missed you." I hugged him back, and when I could breathe again, I took a step away and gestured to Jake. "Nick Prodromou, this is Jake McIntyre. Jake, Nick and I used to work together at the San Francisco Sun."

Jake extended his hand. "You're the one who likes to wear T-s.h.i.+rts with clever sayings, right?"

Nick grinned and nodded as he shook Jake's hand. "I see my reputation of awesomeness precedes me."

"Are you wearing one under that dress s.h.i.+rt?" I asked.

He nodded. "Of course I am. Would I disappoint? Want to see it before this party gets started?" He unb.u.t.toned his dark blue dress s.h.i.+rt to reveal a light blue T-s.h.i.+rt that said WORLD'S GREATEST...YOUR MOM'S NEW BOYFRIEND on the front.

I put my hand over my mouth. "Oh, good lord."

He b.u.t.toned his s.h.i.+rt and laughed. "Admit it. You miss me even more than you thought you did."

I laughed. "OK, I admit it. I miss you even more than I thought I did. Nice decision to wear that s.h.i.+rt to a wedding reception, by the way. And was that a giggle I just heard make its dainty way out of your manly throat?"

"Please, it was a hearty laugh. And what can I say? I'm a romantic."

"Giggle," I coughed under my breath.

"Hearty laugh," he coughed under his, then added, "Now what can I get you two to drink?" at a normal decibel.

"What are you having?" Jake said.

Nick held up his drink. "Scotch and soda. It's amazing."

"Vodka soda for me." Andie held up her gla.s.s and clinked it against Nick's.

I put my hand on her shoulder. "Thank G.o.d you're drinking. I was afraid you were going to announce that you're pregnant too."

She waved a hand in front of her face. "Oh, G.o.d no. Are you kidding?"

"Andie's anti-nugget," Nick said to Jake.

I looked at Nick. "Nugget?"

He nodded. "That's my new term for little people."

Jake raised his eyebrows. "Little people?"

I put my hand on Jake's arm. "That's his old term for children."

"I see," Jake said, nodding.

I laughed. "My friends take some getting used to."

"I don't have a problem with nuggets, I just don't want to have nuggets," Andie said. "Big difference."

Jake looked at Nick and nodded toward the bar. "Let me buy this round."

"Sounds amazing," Nick said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to use the facilities." He left to find the restroom, and Jake went to order the drinks.

Once they were both out of earshot, I leaned toward Andie and lowered my voice.

"So how is it, living in sin?" I whispered.

She shrugged. "So far, so good."

I laughed. "You enthusiasm is overwhelming."

"Hey now, for me, this is enthusiasm."

"This is true. So it's going well?"

She lowered her voice and pointed downward. "I've had to remind him about my one-V policy a couple times, but for the most part, yes, it's going well." She wasn't saying it aloud, but the bright look in her eyes told me everything I needed to know.

I laughed and hugged her. "I've really missed you, Andrea Barnett. Can I just tell you that?"

She hugged me back. "I've missed you too."

Jake returned and handed us our drinks. "What's with all the hugging? Did I miss something?"

"Just a little girl talk," I said, smiling.

Nick reappeared, and as Jake handed him a drink I pointed to the front door.

"Hey, speaking of nuggets, there's Mackie and the baby!" McKenna and Hunter had just entered the room. Hunter was holding little Elizabeth, who was dressed in a tiny, flower-print dress and wearing miniature, white, patent-leather shoes.

I waved my arm. "Hey, Mackie, over here."

She and Hunter joined us by the bar, and I gave them each a hug. "It's so great to see you guys. Hunter, you remember my boyfriend, Jake?"

Hunter nodded and extended his hand. "Of course. From our wedding. How are you?"

Jake shook Hunter's hand, and then put one arm around my shoulders. "I can't complain. In a couple weeks, I'm moving to Brooklyn."

"So we've heard," Hunter said. "You'll be working for the Nets?"

Jake gave me a squeeze. "That, and trying to keep this one out of trouble."

I laughed and looked up at him. "You be nice."

"Are you guys shacking up?" Nick asked.

I shook my head. "Jake's getting a place in Cobble Hill."

"Cobble what?"

"Cobble Hill. It's a super cute neighborhood in between where I live and the new Nets stadium. He'll be able to walk to work."

Andie pointed to me and then to Jake and back again. "I bet one of you does the walk of shame nearly every morning."

I glanced at her drink. "How many of those have you had?"

She shrugged. "G.o.d knows. We checked into the hotel early."

Nick put his arm around her. "That's my girl."

"Have you ever noticed that you two are amazing?" I said.

"Every day," Nick said. "We're like the royal couple of amazing."

Jake pointed to little Elizabeth. "Cute nugget," he said to McKenna.

"Huh?" she said.

Nick laughed and held his hand up to Jake for a high five. "I like you already."

Just then, my dad and Betty approached us. They were arm in arm and smiling ear to ear.