Starting Over

Chatper 36: One, Four, Three

Hayden dropped me off at a boutique, while he went to play basketball. That's how we spent our day together.

So here we are now pulling back down that long driveway. It's now filled with cars. I'm nervous. It looks like all of his family is here. "They're really nice." Hayden tells me.

"You're not coming in?"

"No. I have to get back we're having a family dinner."

"So I have to walk in by myself?" I asks

"Yes. You'll be fine. Chase is probably inside."

I started my walk up the driveway. I really wish I dressed nicer and put more makeup on and not just mascara. They're gonna hate me.

When I open the door there is a lot of people. He never told me he has this much relatives.

Melanie spots me first and links my arm with hers. "Don't worry I've been assigned to be your wingwoman. Chase is held up with rowdy groomsmen. Him and Jake are trying to get away and over here." She tells me as she leads me to an older woman sitting down on a couch.

"Grandma. This is Taylor. She's Chase's girlfriend. Taylor this is our grandma Robyn."

"Hi nice to meet you." I say as she pulls me into a hug. "How long have you two been together?"

"He asked me last night to be his girlfriend, but we've been on a couple of dates." I tell her. She looks skeptical.

Melanie notices that so she speaks up, "Grandma he told her she could drive his truck."

A smile appears on her face. "You're a keeper then."

"Come on let's go see Uncle Barry and Aunt Martha."
Melanie is now leading me towards the kitchen. "They have two kids. Cousin Ryan and Cousin Quinn. Quinn is pregnant with her first child. Her husband didn't come. Ryan is somewhere around here." Melanie explains as we approach them.

As I'm lost in a conversation with Uncle Barry, Aunt Martha, and Cousin Quinn, I catch the eyes of Chase. He's talking to some older lady and Aunt Rhonda. Melanie left me when I and Quinn assured her I would be fine.

Chase holds up his hands and holds up one finger, then four, and then three.

One, Four, Three

I Love You

Did he just tell me he loves me?

The biggest smile has now appeared on my face. No. He didn't say he loved me. One, four, three. I like you.

Since it means I like you, I will do it back.

"I would do anything for a shot right now?" Quinn says as she takes the seat next to me on the patio.

"What are you having?"

"A girl. Like this family needs anymore. Chase wanted me to have a boy. My husband is not the athletic type. Ryan, my brother, isn't either. Chase and I we were very close growing up, so he wanted to teach the boy how to play sports." She explains

"He can teach a girl sports."

"I know I told him that. Anyways I need to get to bed. It was nice meeting you."

"You too."

When I make my way back inside the house is silent. I guess everyone went to bed. So, I make my way up to my room.

When I walk in the room Chase is on the bed with a textbook.

"What are you studying?"

"Oh, you know just that business degree my dad wants me to get."

"Right. The one your dad wants. Not you."

"How was your day with my best friend?" He asks as he puts away his book.

"Let's just say I learned a lot about Loren."

"I've learned a lot about you while we were here." He says opening the covers up for and I climb in. "You were put in my life for a reason. Before you got here, to North Carolina. I think I was losing myself to basketball. I was becoming a basketball jerk. You witnessed a few accounts of me losing myself. Coach Carson told me and thanked me for bringing the old you back. But I think I need to thank you for bringing me back."

Butterflies. He's opening up to me now. Everyday I fall more and more for Chase Bradley Jackson.

Yes, I just learned his middle name from Quinn.

"I've been dreading the future for the longest time. You told me you were running from the past. I was stuck in the past. I didn't want to leave the past or the present, but the future. The future was going to be the death of me. I didn't know what I wanted. My dad has put so much pressure on me that I lost myself in basketball. I had so many ideas in my head of what my future needed to look like, for me to be happy. I know now. I don't need basketball. Seeing you socialize with my family. Hearing my grandma tell me she loves you makes me happy. I need you. I could care less if basketball is in my life as long as you are. I love you Taylor Rae Lawson."

Speechless. Im speechless right now. Chase Jackson loves me. I want to cry. He wants me in his future. His grandma loves me.

I love him.

"You don't have to say anything. I just had to tell you because if I didn't I don't know how the rest of the weekend would have gone."

Say something Taylor.

You can do it.

Tell him the truth.

Tell him you love him.

"I love you too." I confess. "I really do. I'm not saying that because you said it. Im saying it because I love you and I love your family. You keep me afloat. I don't know what i would've done or where I would be if I hadn't meant you."

I just said that.

I just told him that I loved him too.

Chase Bradley Jackson is my future. He's my home. He's mine. All mine.

"One, four, three." He says looking over at me.

"One, four, three."

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Published: 4/1/22 at 11:02pm

Not edited!