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Chapter Forty Four

"Did I ever mention that I love you for your brains?" dad asked mom as we pulled into the VIP garage at the hotel. Mom laughed.

"You might have mentioned it once. Or twice," she replied teasingly.

While everyone else waited for a spot in the hotel parking lot, we, as guests, got right in. One short elevator ride later, we were at the hall.

"Wow," Trevor said. His eyes widened as he looked around.

As much as Kay complained, there was no denying that Aunt LeighLeigh was born with an eye for the elegant. I wasn't even in the wedding, yet I felt like a princess just walking in the room.

"That cake does not look tasty," Peyton said.

All of us looked over at it. Dad laughed.

"It looks a lot like the one Leigh and Bri had for their reception. Trust me, it's good. It's probably cheesecake."

"I DON'T LIKE CHEESE IN MY CAKE!" Landon screamed. Mom took his flailing hands and knelt down by him.

"Landon, you need to stop screaming," she explained to him patiently. "This is a fancy event and you have to use your quiet fancy voice okay?"

Landon stared at mom. For a split second I seriously thought he was going to yell again.

"Okay," he whispered.

I smiled. Mom could have twenty kids and still be able to handle us all.

"Are you thirsty?" Trevor asked. I smiled.

"A little."

"I am," Noah said. He slapped Trevor's back. "Let's find the bar."

Dad's head swiveled. "You better only try to get non-alcoholic drinks," he warned. Noah grinned.

"What else? A night of Pepsi or Coke is wild and crazy fun! Or maybe I'll really live dangerously and go with some Mountain Dew."

Dad whispered something that sounded like 'smartass.' Noah nudged him good-naturedly and the two guys walked off.

While the guys were gone, I spotted Kay. I tapped mom's arm.

"Kay's here," I said. Mom smiled.

"Okay hun. We're going to go grab a table."

As I walked up to Kay, I had to laugh. She was looking around in utter distaste.

"Did you ditch the shoes?" I asked.

She turned around in surprise.

"Where'd you come from?" she asked with a laugh.

"We're staying at the hotel so we got VIP parking," I explained. Kay nodded. Then she smirked. She lifted her dress and wiggled her bare toes. I grinned.

"BWOOKE, WHERE'S THAT GIWL?"

All of a sudden, I had Landon tugging on the hem of my dress. I looked down at him.

"What girl?"

Landon sighed as if I was just being stubborn. He clung to the fabric of my skirt and swung back and forth. I was just about ready to stop him when on his fifth swing, he paused.

"I SEE HEW!" Landon yelled. I watched as he ran in Brenna's direction.

"HEY GIWL!"

"He's such a pimp," I said with a laugh. I could somehow imagine my dad at that age doing the exact same thing.

"Where's Trevor?" Kay asked.

"Getting drinks with Noah," I said.

No sooner had I said that, when the guys tracked us down.

"One diet Coke," Trevor said. I smiled so hard my face hurt. I took the glass. It was cold and sweaty. It felt heavenly.

"Thank you."

"Diet Coke, Kay?"

Kay looked up at Noah. He held out a cup.

"Thanks," she said.

"KAY!"

Kayleigh turned. Her mom was waving at her.

"Baylee and Claudia just arrived! The wedding party has to line up to get introduced."

"You've got to be shitting me," she mumbled. Noah and I both laughed. Kay handed me her glass.

"Nice seeing ya," she said grumpily.

"It will get better after dinner," I promised. Kay didn't look like she believed a word I said.

Trevor, Noah, and I made our way to the table. I couldn't help but smile when I saw the other guests at our table.

"Uncle AJ!" I said happily. He stood up and we hugged.

"How you doing superstar?" he asked. i laughed.

"Not too bad."

I introduced the whole table to Trevor. Joe gave him a little staredown.

"You haven't seen my band yet," he reminded me. I smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry. I've been busy. You need to e-mail me your dates."

"He plays at the bowling alleys," Tristan announced. Joe gave him a sharp jab in the side.

"He's not bad," Ally said defensively. She turned around and started to talk to Stefie at the next table. It looked like the McLeans and Carters had one table and the Richardsons and Doroughs had the other.

"So how's life grandpa?" dad teased. AJ smirked.

"I'm waiting for a call about getting back into the studio fuckhead," AJ said. Dad grinned. Landon opened his mouth and mom seemed to sense disaster. She covered his mouth.

"Never repeat anything Uncle AJ says," she explained.

We all laughed.

At that moment, the DJ told everyone to find a seat. A few minutes later the wedding party was announced.

Trevor was on my right and Noah was on my left. I heard a little sigh from NoNo as Kayleigh walked by.

We all stood when Claudia and Baylee walked into the room. I seriously couldn't help but laugh when they released the doves. After months of hearing Kay complain about the things, they were gone in like a second.

Claudia and Baylee made their way to their seats and dinner was served. Landon got really excited when he saw our steaks and lobsters. The server set down a plate of chicken fingers for him.

"I want claws!" he wailed. From the next table over I heard his female counterpart.

"I WANT RICH PEOPLE'S FOOD!"

Uncle AJ was in mid-sip of his water. He covered his mouth quickly and started to cough. Molly slapped his back. Once he stopped choking, he turned around.

"Want some of mine Brenners?"

A second later she was sitting on AJ's lap with a huge white bib around her neck. Landon was sitting on dad's lap. Two happy kids started to dunk lobster meat in butter.

"So Liv, do you think you can top this for Brooke's wedding?" Molly asked. I looked up in surprise. So did Dad.

"She's not getting married until she's fifty," dad said. I laughed.

"Dad."

"Oh, I don't know," mom said. She winked at me. "Sometimes I think it's better if the bride gets to call the shots. I'll just be there for advice."

"There's always Vegas," Uncle AJ said.

"NO!" mom and dad said in unison.

The conversation split up after that. Mom started asking Molly and AJ about Shelby and Mason's December wedding. Peyton and Noah were eating as if they had never eaten before. I was trying my best not to spill any food on me.

I had one hand under the table, keeping hold of my napkin. All of a sudden, I felt Trevor's warm hand on mine. My fork paused mid-air and I looked at him.

"Think I'll be invited to your wedding?" he whispered. I smiled.

"I'll make sure of it," I said. "But if my dad has anything to say about it, that's another thirty-four years away."

Trevor's eyes sparkled. "I have a feeling it won't take that long."

I shook my head. "No. But maybe another ten," I admitted. I didn't want to get married right away. There was way too much of the world to see.

Trevor opened his mouth to say something else, but before he could, I saw something fly up into the air. We all looked up. It was a lobster claw.

"Oops!" Landon said.

It landed right in the middle of the table. Brenna clapped.

I glanced up at Kay. She was greedily drinking down what looked like champagne.

I was going to have to keep my eye on that girl tonight. But even as I said that, I felt Trevor's hand squeeze my knee. Pleasant butterflies began in my stomach.

Something told me that I was going to be easily distracted as the night wore on.