"Sis, like I said in the car. You and Katie can have all the vanilla ice cream you want, but there's no way I'm adding amaretto, Baileys, Fireball whiskey, Creme de Menthe…anything that's gonna push those BAC's of yours any higher than where they're at right now," Roman sighed, doing his best to guide his drunken wife and even more drunk sister through the thankfully non-revolving door entrance to the Salem Inn.
"Iss okay. We can still stick to the plan! Just gotta get to the bar before him," Kate stage whispered to Kayla, getting the blonde grinning as she turned back to Roman.
"Yeah, see, 'cause we made a plan. And we planned ahead , knowing that you wouldn't like the plan!"
"Kay, I think that all the two of you have planned is to be in a world of hurt tonight and tomorrow-"
"Noooo. Not true. Tell him why s'not true," Kate slurred, looking for the reception hall.
"See, the ice cream makes everything not hurt! Thass the secret that only the real good doctors are gonna tell you," Kayla said matter of factly as Roman nodded, did his best not to laugh until Kate spotted the reception hall door and dragged Kayla off, leaving him to chase after them and all amusement to leave his face.
"Okay, phase one's done. We beat your brother to the bar," Kate said after sauntering behind and resting her elbows on it.
"Now, where's the Salem Inn guy I talked to about the- "
"Steve!"
"No! The Salem Inn guy-"
"No. Steve!" Kayla squealed, taking off across the room towards him.
"Sweetness?"
Stumbling back when she barrelled into him, Steve reached back with one arm to brace himself on the bar while his other wrapped around his wife's waist.
"Steve ! Oh, Steve," Kayla cooed, snuggling against him.
"Baby, what the hell has gotten into-"
"I'd say about half of this," Roman said, handing the flask over to Steve.
"Hang on, wasn't this Adrienne's-"
"Mm hmm," Kayla answered, taking a stumbly step back as Steve moved to hold her steady. "Your sister gave it to Kate, and then...Kate..gave it to me 'cause... 'cause she knew that Adrienne and I were sharing it that night I wanted to talk to you and..."
"Oh, Sweetness.." Steve sighed when her lip trembled. Even not having expected in a million years to find his wife on a drunken emotional roller coaster today, at least he knew what to expect from her on the ride.
"And she...she thought she'd be nice and give it to me at the cemetery, and I just thought that was just so nice!" Kayla squeaked out with a sniffle.
"It was nice, baby," Steve soothed, kissing the top of his wife's head, then shooting Kate a look as Kayla used his tie as a Kleenex.
"Okay, okay, enough playing nice," Kate scoffed. "We gotta give our toast, so here's what you're toasting with," she said, handing Kayla a pint glass topped with a scoop of vanilla.
"Your toast?" Steve asked.
"Our toast to Victor! We wrote it in the car," Kayla answered, then frowned curiously at the mug in her hand.
"Hey! This doesn't look like-"
"What do you want me to say?" Kate scoffed. "They were outta amaretto so I had to use what they had on tap," she slurred, clinking her glass against Kayla's before Steve intercepted and then studied it.
"Guinness? Are you kidding?" he snorted.
"And ice cream! Can't forget about the ice cream," Kayla said, grabbing a spoon off the bar and some ice cream from the top of the glass.
Taking Kate's glass from her, Roman took a cautious sip.
"So, what's the verdict?" Steve asked.
"Well, there are definitely worse combos out there."
"Wooo!" Kate cheered. "C'mon now, time to give the toast."
"No, no, no, we can't!" Kayla protested. "I didn't get to the beer yet!"
"I know, baby. And we're gonna keep it that way," Steve said, setting the pint glass on the bar while Roman ran to catch up to Kate, who'd crossed the room in search of a microphone.
"You know you're right, mixing.. mixing wouldn't be good," Kayla concluded, taking the flask from Steve and taking a swig from it.
"Kayla-"
"Oh, don't worry, big boy. See, I saved some for you!" she grinned, handing it back to Steve who capped it up.
"No, no, no. None for me, baby," he said, putting the flask in the inside pocket of his coat.
"Someone's gotta get us home."
"No, Steve!" Kayla whined. "We gotta stay for Kate's toast!" she protested, only for Steve to point out that Roman was giving it, much to Kate's annoyance, who was standing behind the bar and booing her husband between sips of her Guinness and ice cream float.
"See, baby."
His arm at the small of his wife's back, Steve led Kayla away from the bar and towards the reception hall doors.
"Your big brother's up there giving a nice sendoff to the Big Greek, Kate's over there giving one from us," he pointed out, stifling a laugh as Kate flipped Roman off.
"But I was s'posed to help her, Steve. She's my sister in law and she got us a suite so we could talk and-"
"She did what, baby?" Steve asked once they reached the lobby.
Eyeing him when he went to grab the car keys from his back pocket, taking the opportunity to reach there first and cop a feel, Kayla giggled.
"Hey!" Steve yelped when she pinched him, giggled some more, and kept her hand in place as she stood in front of him, snaking her other arm up around his neck.
"C'mon, baby. What are you trying to- "
"Trying to tell you we don't need the car key. Just one from over here!" Kayla said with a grin. Leading them to and then leaning over the reception desk, she smiled at the concierge, who had a slightly confused and semi-amused look on her face.
"Ma'am, can I help you?"
"Actually," Steve interrupted. "We're just-"
"She said ma'am, Steve. Meaning me," Kayla said firmly, prodding Steve in the shoulder with the tip of her finger before turning back to the concierge and asking if Kate had actually managed to reserve the biggest room with the biggest bed.
After she stepped away to confirm, shaking his head, Steve took Kayla by the shoulders and gently turned her towards him.
"Sweetness..."
"Steve..."
"Baby, whatever plan Kate cooked up with you when you were half in the bag-"
"Was a good idea or I wouldn't have gone along with it, mister," she insisted, stepping closer to him.
"See 'cause you're always the one who gets the hotel rooms for us with the yellow roses and champagne."
"Sweetness, I don't really think that bubbly's the best thing for you right now," Steve said as Kayla shrugged and leaned close enough to whisper in his ear.
"An extra bubbly bath might be though," she purred, getting a smirk out of her husband as the concierge confirmed the room and handed the key card to Steve.
"Maybe some room service, too, baby. Get some pancakes, dry toast..." he hinted as the young woman nodded.
"Kitchen's open til eight, sir," the concierge said as Steve nodded and smiled, guiding Kayla to the elevator. Trying his best to ignore the provocative things she was whispering in his ear and that her hand was still in extremely close proximity to his ass.
"Sweetness..." he groaned, feeling frustrated in more ways than one but amused at the same time, at the situation and how even still his wife was able to keep him on his damn toes.
"At least wait til we get into the elevator, baby."
"We've got a better shot of having the stairwell all to ourselves," Kayla teased, ready to drag him into it until the elevator chimed.
Shuffling her feet, still leaning against Steve and waiting impatiently for the doors to open before her buzz began fading, she took a staggered step back to let everyone in the car out, only to stop short after she heard a familiar nickname and was pulled into a fierce hug.
"Steve. Kay! How nice to see you!" Shane greeted, shaking Steve's hand while Kim, still embracing Kayla, was sniffling against her shoulder and effectively sobering her up.
"He's right! It is so good to see you, baby sister."
Nodding, Kayla let out a slow breath, patting Kim's back before she managed a small smile over her shoulder at Shane.
"Yeah. It's good to see you, too."