Enjoying the Chase (Guarded Hearts 2)

Patrick frowned. “The brown haired one?”

I nodded in confirmation, wondering if I had just gone too far. He would have his invite though; it would be easily sorted out. “Yeah. Can we head in? We’re all on the guest list; this is Mr and Mrs York.” I waved a hand at Rosie’s parents. Patrick nodded, and we all headed into the, already full, church.

Almost instantly I spotted my mother; she stood up from her seat, waving excitedly with her eyes firmly latched onto DJ. She seemed to push past everyone, and my dad walked along behind her, apologising to the people she almost shoved out of the way in a bid to meet her grandson.

She stopped in front of me, pulling Rosie into a hug. “Oh, you look so beautiful! That dress, it’s just incredible, sweetheart,” she gushed, smiling affectionately. She turned to me and pinched my cheek. “Poppet, you just look so handsome in your suit!” Rosie giggled, but I didn’t look at her knowing she would tease the life out of me because of the poppet thing again. I gripped DJ’s shoulder for support as my mother’s eyes went down to him. She bit on her lip, one hand over her heart as she looked at him like he was the cutest thing in the world. “Hi, DJ,” she whispered.

I crouched down next to him and smiled reassuringly, wondering what on earth the kid was going to make of my crazy ass mother. “DJ, this is my mom, Dawn.”

He smiled at her which caused her to whimper.

“You’re Nate’s momma? You don’t looks like Nate,” he observed, shaking his head.

My mom laughed. “Nate looks like his dad,” she replied, crouching down in front of him. “I have some gifts for you in my car. I brought one in with me because it was small, but the rest of them you’ll have to wait until after, deal?”

“You boughted me a present?” he said excitedly. She nodded and reached into the bag that she had in her hand, pulling out a couple of packs of Toy Story stickers and a sticker album. DJ’s eyes lit up as he looked at it. “That’s mine?” he cried happily. She nodded as she held it out to him. He took it, grinning from ear to ear. DJ turned to me. “Nate, you have a really nice momma! Look what she boughted for me!” He held it up in example, and I smiled, faking enthusiasm.

“I’ll help you stick them in if you want,” my mom offered.

He nodded eagerly, and she sighed happily. My dad was watching, grinning too as my mom introduced him to DJ, and they opened the packs of stickers.

Ashton wandered over then. As he shook hands with George, he was afforded a warm smile. I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous, but then again, Ashton wasn’t a threat because he wasn’t the one trying to get in Rosie’s pants.

There was a commotion by the door; I could hear heated talking and a couple of seconds later Seth walked in, being escorted by two secret service agents. “I’m invited! I’m friends with Ashton!” Seth grumbled.

I choked on my laughter as Ashton quickly went over to sort it out. That’ll teach the prick for hitting on my possible future mother-in-law! I looked at DJ hopefully. “Think I could have one of those stickers, Kid? I’ll buy you another pack to make up for it,” I asked.

He nodded and handed me one. “I’ve gotted two of this one anyways,” he answered, shrugging.

I smiled and peeled the back off it, before quickly heading over to Ashton and Seth who were talking to the agents, explaining that everything was fine. I slapped Seth on the back as I got over to him.

“You just can’t help but cause a scene, can you? This is a church, Seth, show some respect,” I teased, patting my hand on his back lightly. I grinned and turned heading back to my group, leaving Seth with a Lotso Hugging Bear sticker on his back.

Payback’s a bitch, my friend!

Chapter Thirty-One

As I headed back to the group that I arrived with, I heard Rosie doing the introductions between our parents. I had no idea what George was going to think of my mother and all her craziness.

I stepped to Rosie’s side just as they all finished shaking hands. Rosie turned to me and smiled. “You’re mean to him,” she whispered, slipping her arm around my waist, nodding at Seth.

I laughed and shook my head. “No I’m not. He hit on your mom,” I replied. I looked back to my mom who was still crouched on the floor next to DJ, looking at him like he was the best thing since sliced bread. “Don’t scare him with your weirdness, Mom.”

She beamed up at me happily. “I’m not scaring him, we’re doing stickers. Right, sweetpea?” She nudged DJ gently.

He grinned and nodded, pulling out more of them. Ashton wandered back with Seth next to him. I stifled my laughter at Seth’s disgruntled face as he complained about the security. “What was that about?” I asked, nodding back to the door.

Seth frowned, straightening his suit jacket. “No freaking idea. I should put in a complaint. Did you see the death grip they had on my arms? I’m an invited guest, and they thought I was some sort of terrorist!”

“That might have something to do with your friend telling them that you weren’t invited,” George chimed in, nodding in my direction.

What an asshole!

Seth’s accusing eyes snapped to mine. “What the fu-”

“Fudge!” Rosie interjected loudly, just as Seth was about to curse in front of DJ.

Seth’s frown deepened as he looked at her like she was crazy, until she motioned at DJ. Understanding crossed his face as he nodded slightly. “Okay, so what the fudge did you do that for? That wasn’t funny, dude! You’re an ass…teroid,” he stated, frowning as he tried to come up with an insult without cussing.

“An asteroid?” I repeated.

“You know what I’m trying to say, don’t make me say it in front of the frog.” He laughed as DJ shot him a ‘I’m not a frog’ face. His expression clearly said that he thought Seth was crazy.

“I was just kidding around with the guys outside, I didn’t realise they would take me seriously,” I lied. I turned to Ashton, wanting to change the subject. “You all set up? You’ll tell me what I have to say, right? Do I have to make a speech or…” I trailed off, wincing at the thought of it.

He laughed and shook his head. “No, the guy will call us up to the front at some point. They’ll give you a card to read from. Then he’ll dunk Cameron’s head in the water, we sing some hymn that Anna’s chosen, then we’re done. You are then free to get wasted at the after party at the hotel,” he answered.

Rosie looked at me, a small horrified expression on her face. I frowned, slipping my arm around her waist to comfort her. “What’s up, Stripes?”

She winced. “You’re going to mime the hymn, aren’t you?”

“I’m an awesome singer,” I protested jokingly.

Ashton choked on his laughter. “Dude, you sound like a bag of drowning cats when you sing,” he corrected, shaking his head, still laughing. George laughed too and patted Ashton on the shoulder in congratulations; he obviously liked me being insulted. Jerk.

DJ frowned. “What does a bag of drowning cats sound like?” he asked, looking a little confused as he sorted through his stickers again.

Ashton grinned at him. “Just listen to Nate sing and then you’ll know,” he answered, winking at him and slapping Seth a high five.

I groaned and closed my eyes. “Shall we go find a seat before they’re all taken?” I suggested, wanting to change the subject.

“I saved some seats for us, Poppet,” my mom said, standing upright and then smiling at DJ. “You want to sit next to me, sweetpea?” she offered.

“Okay. Nanna Tracy can sit with us too; she can help with the stickers. Right, Nanna?” he asked, smiling at Rosie’s mom lovingly. She nodded in agreement. “Did you getted to see Toy Story 3, Nanna? I have it at my house; Nate boughted it for me. We can watch it after the party if you want.”

George looked at me curiously, and I waited to see if that made any difference to him accepting me. His jaw tightened, and he looked away without saying anything. Again, apparently nothing is going to help me win this guy over, I was doomed to be hated by him forever. Perfect.

“I’d love to watch it, DJ,” Tracy answered. “Maybe tomorrow though, we won’t get back from the party until around your bed time.”

He frowned and looked back to my mom. “Want to watch it with us? We could get popcorn!” he enthused.

She looked like her insides melted into a puddle as she put her hand over her heart, looking like a proper woman in love with her grandchild. “I’d love to, sweetpea, but Evan and I live a little way away so we’ll be going home after the party. Maybe you could bring it to my house when you come for a visit,” she suggested.

He nodded enthusiastically and let her lead him off to the pew that she had saved for us. Rosie and I sat on the end because we would be getting out to go up the front during the service anyway. My parents and Rosie’s both scooted down the pew, talking easily amongst themselves, chatting about where they were from and the ride into LA.

The ceremony went without a hitch. We stood up the front with the little candle and made the vows to look after Cameron and guide him through life. I held Rosie’s hand tightly as we did our thing. It was nice. I felt immensely proud to be included in such an important thing in my best friend’s life. I, of course, mimed the song as I always did at things like this. Very few people got to hear me actually sing; friends and family only.

When it was over, we all split up into our respective cars and headed to the posh hotel that had been booked for the after celebration. Again, I ignored George nit-picking about my driving on the way there. He was seriously getting on my last nerve. When we got there, we headed into the function room at the back. Both sets of our parents decided it would be fun to get a table together so I reluctantly sat down, trying to ignore George who was still regarding me as if I’d stepped in something awful. I silently wished that I wasn’t driving so that I could just get drunk and block him out.

I glanced at the bar longingly. “Anyone want a drink?” I offered, standing up, wanting to be away from here already. After they reeled off their orders, I headed to the bar, leaning on it heavily as I frowned down at the counter.

A hand touched my back. I tilted my head up, seeing Anna smiling at me sympathetically. “He’s a nice guy. Don’t write him off, okay. He’s just being hard on you because of Josh, just push past it,” she advised, rubbing my back affectionately.

“He hates me,” I whined. Other people were now coming up to the bar, so I leaned in closer so we could talk privately.

She smiled. “Just give him time to know you. You’ll win him over. You’re Nate Peters for goodness’ sake. Name me one person who you couldn’t charm,” she replied, smiling at me confidently.

“George York, apparently,” I grumbled. Glancing back at the table, I saw my mom producing gift after gift for DJ. There looked to be everything on the table, everything was Toy Story or Disney, it looked like she’d been on a shopping spree and kept Toys R Us in profit for this year. DJ was practically bouncing with excitement as he looked at them all.

Ashton walked over then. “Is it pep talk time?” he asked Anna. She nodded sadly. “I’ll take over,” he told her, winking at her.

She patted my back. “I’m leaving you in expert hands, Ashton is a professional at charming the parents,” she teased, slapping his ass as she walked off.

Ashton gripped my shoulder, squeezing supportively. “I don’t have any advice for you. Just be yourself, and if he hates you then that’s his loss,” he instructed, shrugging.

“Wow, you’re helpful! At least your wife was trying to make me feel better about myself,” I grumbled, waving for the barman to come over.

He laughed. “Okay, so I’ll tell you what I know about him and you might be able to use something.”

I nodded eagerly.

“He’s very family orientated. When Josh left Rosie, he became really overprotective of her, so you need to convince him you’re not going to hurt her.” He looked at me sternly, obviously checking I was listening. “He’s a huge Cubs fan, so don’t say anything bad about them. He works as a plumber, so maybe you could use that somehow, I mean, your dad’s a builder so…” he trailed off and frowned. “Not sure how you’d use that to help, but anyway, whatever. That’s about all I got really.”

“I got more than that from Rosie. You’re useless. Some best friend you are!” I complained. I nodded back to the table where they were all laughing and setting up board games with DJ. “Go big me up to him, tell him I’m a nice guy and stuff,” I instructed.

Ashton laughed and nodded. “Order me a beer, will ya?” He didn’t wait for an answer, just headed off to the table to, hopefully, help me out with the possible future father-in-law problem that I had. I sighed and resumed scowling at the countertop, willing the weekend to be over with already.

A couple of hours later and the celebrations were slowly dwindling down. Rosie and I were off talking to Anna and Ashton.

Seth walked up and shook his head, sipping on his beer. “Why in the hell is everyone laughing at me today?” he asked, frowning and glancing at some lady from Anna’s family, who pointed at his back and giggled.

I shrugged, trying to look innocent as Ashton smirked at him. “No idea, buddy,” I lied, knowing it was because of the sticker that he still had on his back.

Suddenly, he elbowed me in the arm a lot harder than necessary to gain my attention. I frowned and rubbed my stinging arm, looking at him like he was crazy. “Hotties, four o’clock,” he stated, nodding off to my right.