Chapter 7- Clumsy

The minute we walked through the door of my house I was met with the scent of barbeque, definitely not something that you often smell in my house. I sent Brian a questioning glance and he gave me the same look, wandering farther into the house. I followed him, quickly noting the beer bottles tossed aimlessly around the living room and kitchen, only one person could be behind this and it didn't take a brain surgeon to figure it out...Johnny!

"I will kill your bass player," I said, looking at Brian and pointing my finger up in his general direction. "Don't think I won't."

"Then Matt might have to kill you." He laughed.

"Bri, my house is trashed," I said, serious for the first time since I walked in. "And the little shit is outside having a cookout!" I said, catching a glimpse of my brother standing outside by the grill; drinking yet another beer.

"Yea, not good."

I shook my head as I kicked a few empty cans to the side and started towards the kitchen to survey the damage. There were empty dishes piled high in the sink and empty as well as full cans scattered around the counters and table.

"Ah, that's gross!"

I turned around and Brian had stuck his hand into what looked like an old sandwich, or at least I had hoped that's what it was.

"He's a dead man, I'm telling you."

Brian nodded and followed me into the backyard, where Johnny was standing at the grill with a beer and was cooking something. Sitting around in all the chairs were the rest of the band, Val and Leanna.

"You are so dead." I heard Val say, when she saw me standing in the doorway.

"What are you talking about Val?"

"Johnny, you're in deep shit!" I practically yelled.

"Gina! When did you get home?"

"Um well I'd say about ten minutes ago but it took me a while cause I had to travel through the disgusting mess in my house."

"I'm sorry?" He managed to squeak out.

"Oh you're more than sorry," I laughed. "For now we can finish the little fiesta but tomorrow morning you my dear brother, are cleaning this house."

"But-"

"No but's Johnny, you made this mess you're cleaning it up."

He looked at me with a sheepish expression for a few seconds before answering me, and almost sending me over on my ass from laughing so hard.

"Ok mom, I'm sure you heard that from Amy a few times last week."

"I did, mostly from talking about you." I laughed.

We sat around the rest of the day drinking beer and just relaxing in the warm California sun, and enjoying each other's company. In the back of my mind I knew I would have to give all this up in a few weeks and go back to my routine life of working out, doing shows and cashing in random hotels; all in that order. I was gonna miss my random girl days with Val and Leanna, and constantly being around my brother, as much as it pained me to think that. It took a lot out of me when I thought about leaving Brian, almost like someone had pushed me down and knocked all the air out of me.

By the time it was two in the morning everyone was staggering slowly up the stairs of the house and disappearing into the guest rooms. Matt was carrying my brother upstairs over his shoulder, while Johnny was mumbling something about moving into my house while I was away. I could only shake my head and laugh at him.

"You ready for bed?" Brian asked, coming up behind me and snaking his arms around my waist.

"I guess." I replied, shrugging my shoulders and turning to face him.

"You alright? I'm a little worried about you babe."

"Yea, it just feels like every night we go to bed is a step closer to me going back to work, and I don't like it."

"Babe, don't kid yourself, you love your job."

"No, it's not that," I shook my head. "I don't wanna go back on the road and leave you. Bri it kills me anytime I have to think of something work related because it means I'm a step closer to leaving you here."

"You're really that upset about it, aren't you?"

"I don't wanna go." I said, a few tears escaping my eyes and cascading down my cheeks.

Brian didn't say anything; he just pulled me into a hug and held me there, in the safe confines of his colorful arms. I quietly sobbed into his chest, turning his syn gates shirt into my own personal hankie while he silently held me there, running his hands up and down my back.

"I don't want you to go either." He said after a few minutes.

I carefully moved my head and looked up at him, and saw that he was silently letting a few tears escape his eyes too.

"Brian don't cry, I'm the one that's supposed to do all the crying." I laughed half heartedly.

"I love you Gina," He said after a few more seconds of silence. "I love you so much."

It had taken us five months into our relationship for one of us to say those words, and now that he finally had it was making me want to stay even more than I already did.

"I love you too Brian," I said placing a kiss on his lips. "More than you could even know."

Brian swiftly picked me up and carried me through the living room and up the stairs. Once we reached the top he pushed my bedroom door open and quickly shut it with his foot. He carried me over to the bed and put me down, before lying down with me and continuing the kiss I had started in the living room.

"What are you doing?" I said, smiling into the kiss.

"Showing you how much I love you." He smiled back.

He leaned in and captured my lips in another kiss and proceeded to lay me down on the bed, and move over me. Our hands could be felt roaming over each other's bodies as if we had never seen or touched another human before. When it came down to just me and Brian the electricity seemed to be flowing through the both of us, making the room warmer than it had seemed a few seconds ago.

"Brian…"

He continued his assault on my lips as his hands moved from my waist to my chest, and he began teasing my breasts; giving them both equal attention.

"I've never meant anything more in my entire life."

"I love you, regardless of where I am or where we're traveling you have my heart Brian Haner; you always will."

With that he pressed his lips to mine and took my body with his, sealing the fate that was our love.