Bam flipped through the pictures and came to a picture that his dad had taken. April and Jess were on the end with Bam and Katie in the center. Katie had her head on Bam's shoulder and looked tired. Bam had a huge smile on his face and was looking down at Katie. It was two months after that day at the beach that he asked her out. They had gone to a scary movie. Bam knew Katie hated scary movies and would hide in his side the entire time, like she did when they had movie night at his house.
April walked in the front door with the cake. She walked down the stairs to the pirate bar and set the cake on the counter. Missy walked in and helped her put the rest of the food away. Ape looked over at Missy and Missy shook her head. Bam had spent every day in his room, doing only God knows what, and the day of his party wasn't any different. April had been gone three hours and he had stayed in the room.
Katie walked off the plane and grabbed her bags. She rented a car, since she didn't tell Jess when she was coming in, and drove to her hotel. After she had checked in and got to her room she tossed her bag on the bed and stared to dig clothes out. She pulled out a pair of skinny jeans and a red and black corset top, she was going to regret wearing it but it was for Bam's birthday. She grabbed her red thong and walked into the bathroom to shower.
Katie jumped out of the shower and ran a brush through her hair before she took the blow dryer to it. She pulled it back into a ponytail, slightly wet, and put on her make up. Once she finished her makeup she sat on the bed and sighed.
"What am I doing?" said Katie.
Katie leaned back and laid on the bed looking up at the ceiling. She laid there for an hour before she decided that since she was already in Pennsylvania that she might as well go to the party. She grabbed her purse and the keys to the rental and walked out of her hotel room. She typed in the address that Jess had given her into the GPS and started the car.
Jess kept looking at his watch. The party had been in full swing for over two hours and Katie still hadn't shown up. She never gave him her cell number so he couldn't call that. He looked at his watch again when his phone rang. He excused himself from the party and walked outside.
"Hello?" he said.
"I don't think I am going to go," said Katie.
"What are you talking about! You've already flown up here!" said Jess.
"I know, but I just don't think I can do it," said Katie.
"Do you at least want me to tell him you said 'happy birthday'?" asked Jess.
"No. You don't mention that you've even talked to me," said Katie.
"Okay," said Jess.
Jess hung up the phone and walked back into the party. Missy saw him walk back in and gave him a questioning look. Jess shook his head no and Missy frowned. Missy leaned over and kissed Bam's cheek while he talked with Novak.
Katie pulled up the driveway and found a place to park the car. She turned it off and sat there for a minute. She slowly climbed out of the car and made her way to the door. There were a few people sitting outside that she didn't know. She walked past them and into the house. A guy tried to hit on her as she walked in, but she ignored him and kept going.
"Okay babe," said Missy. "Time for your presents."
"I said I didn't want anything," said Bam.
"You can't have a birthday without getting something," said Missy.
Katie could here the conversation that was going on since the music had been turned down. She made her way as quietly as possible through the hall.
"Take it all back. I don't want anything," said Bam.
Katie took a deep breath before she spoke, "Just so you know, I'm not refundable."
Everyone in the room turned to face Katie. The music had been turned off completely at that point. Bam looked over to the person who had spoken. He furrowed his brow in concentration. He knew he was supposed to know who this was, it bugging him that he couldn't. Missy looked up and had a shocked look on her face. She turned to look at Jess who was just as awe stricken as she was.
"Who…" started Missy.
"Jess called me," said Katie.
"Bug?" questioned Bam.
Katie didn't say anything; she just nodded her head. Bam jumped up from his chair and ran across the room and picked her up. He spun her around in a bone-crushing hug and sat her back down. Without thinking Bam kissed her. Katie immediately pushed him away and stepped back. Missy looked pissed as hell, but Katie wasn't quite sure at whom.
Bam looked taken aback as she turned around and walked out of the house. Bam started to follow her but Jess stopped him and pointed him in the direction of his very pissed off wife. Jess followed Katie out the door and caught her as she started to close the door.
"Katie, wait," said Jess grabbing the door.
"No. I'm uncomfortable, I'm leaving," said Kate pulling on the door.
Jess didn't let go, "Just wait. You haven't even see mom or dad."
"I will see them another time," said Katie.
"Bug!" said Dunn walking over to where Jess was standing.
"You know, that name is getting really old, really quick," said Katie.
"Sorry. But you're here? You're really here?" said Dunn. "I thought Novak was kidding."
"No," said Katie getting out of her car since Jess wasn't letting go of the door. "Jess called me and said that Bam was going into a fit of depression about his birthday."
"Basically he guilt tripped you into coming up here?" said Dunn.
"Basically," said Katie.
"Well forget that for five seconds and give me a hug," said Dunn.
Katie smirked as she walked over to Ryan and gave him a hug.
"So what happened?" asked Dunn.
"He kissed me," said Katie.
"So," said Dunn.
"On the lips, in front of Missy," said Katie. "Missy doesn't know that Bam and I were 'engaged'."
"Really? I could've swore she knew, even back then," said Dunn.
"Nope. Surprisingly everyone kept the secret," said Katie nodding over to Novak who had just walked out the front door.
"Yeah, that's a shocker," said Dunn chuckling.
"Just keep him away from me. He was a creeper then, he is a creeper now," said Katie.
"No problem," smiled Dunn. "So are you going to disappear again or are you going to come back and party?"
"Going back to my hotel," said Katie nodding to the car.
"Really? Well, are you at least going to come back by tomorrow. You know how Bam gets when he drinks," said Dunn.
"Here. Why don't we meet up for lunch tomorrow since you obviously want to catch up with me? Meet me at Antonio's and one o'clock," said Katie.
"That works," said Dunn.
"Just you, no Bam, no Raab, no nobody," said Katie.
"Deal, just Dunn," he smiled.
"Okay. Bye," said Katie.
Katie hugged Dunn and he walked back into the house. Jess turned and looked at Katie.
"What?" asked Katie.
"You will hang out with Dunn, but not Bam?" asked Jess.
"A) Dunn is just that, he's Dunn. B) Bam kissed me. And C) He did it, not only in front of about a hundred people, but Missy," said Katie. "So yeah, I'm going to hang out with Dunn and not Bam."
Katie turned around and climbed in her car and left the property and headed back to the hotel.
Missy stormed off up the stairs after Katie ran out of the house. Bam ran up the stairs after her. She slammed the door in his face. He leaned his head on the door and sighed before he opened the door. Missy was sitting on the bed, arms folded across her chest, trying not to cry. Bam walked over to her and knelt down in front of her.
"It's because of her, isn't it? She is the reason you have been so depressed, isn't she?" said Missy.
Bam didn't answer.
"Answer me, dammit!" shouted Missy. "Say something!"
Bam sighed again before he spoke. "Yeah, I've been thinking about her a lot lately."
"Why?" said Missy. "Do you still love her?"
"Yeah, I guess I do," said Bam looking at the floor. "But I guess I always will."
"Why! Why her?" asked Missy.
"Is it really that hard to understand?" asked Bam. "I've always loved her! Hell, I was gonna marry her!"
"What?" said Missy looking up at Bam.
"We were gonna get married, as soon as we were out of high school. Then she said that she was moving, I wanted to elope but she said no," said Bam.
"In all the years we've known each other, you never thought to tell me that!" shouted Missy.
"Do you know how long ago that was?" shouted Bam.
"It doesn't matter! I knew about Jenn, why couldn't I know about Katie! I begged Jess to get her out here for you because I thought you were feeling nostalgic, I didn't know you were gonna jump her bones when she walked in the door!" shouted Missy.
"I'm sorry about that! I wasn't thinking!" shouted Bam. "It shocked me that she was here and it was like she never left."
"But she did, and she moved on. It's quite obvious that she did, Bam," said Missy. "And you have too, remember? You married me. Or am I poor man's Katie?"
"You are not a poor man's Katie," said Bam. "You an Katie are nothing alike. And I married you; remember. Can we please go back to the party before everyone breaks everything."
Missy nodded her head and wiped the tears from her face and eyes. Bam pulled her into a kiss and they walked back down to the party.
