Chicago (GXG)

Part 27

Cuddling up with Val is a wonderful feeling, especially after all this stress.
Even if she wants to talk about serious things now and that kind of scares me.

What if she has changed her mind about what she wants to happen between us? What if she doesn't want to be my girlfriend or if she just wants to stay as friends for a while first?
I would understand wanting a little stability and alone time after Xavier and having to gather evidence of his abuse, but I wouldn't know what to do with myself if she rejected me now.

I've stayed quiet for a bit now, just all in my head. I'm trying to figure out all these outcomes by myself even though I could just ask her. Stupid me.

"So..." I start. "There are a few things we should probably talk about, right?" I admitted.

She reaches forward to get a share of the snacks and plops back onto the couch. "Yup." She says and shoves a chip into her mouth.

I laugh a little because I'm a bit scared and she looks at me amusedly. She chews her snack and finishes, starting the conversation.

"So, we did say something about making it official after the hearing." She continues while switching to a more comfy position.

I've wanted to do this for a long time but I'm still so excited, my heart is beating so fast and I can feel my cheeks getting hotter. I mean it's not like a label is going to change much but still, getting to call her my girlfriend is like a huge reward in a way.

"Well, yeah." I squeeked out. Why the hell is this suddenly so hard? "That is the biggest thing we need to agree on, plus some other stuff." I said.

She thought for a moment and then replied.
"Soooo..." She dragged out, trying to encourage me. When I didn't take the bait she decided to go for it herself.

"Well, will you be my girlfriend? Officially?" She asked.

My pulse must be through the roof right now, and I'm having a difficult time formulating my sentences. "Yes, yes!" I choked out and smiled at her.
She took me in by wrapping her arms around my neck and we both laughed.
We silently held each other until the excitement of it dwindled and we were able to talk normally again.

She then remembered something I said before. "You said we had some other stuff to talk about too, like smaller stuff?" She moved and continued. "What's that? I can't come up with anything else." She asked.
"Well, my dad wants to meet you. He's had to hear so much about this court stuff and he knows that you're much older than me." I laughed.

"So, in other words he needs to interrogate me and see about whether or not I'm some sort of groomer?" She laughed too.

"Uhh, well. Not in THOSE words but interrogation probably, sure." I confessed.
"I mean, it's not every day that you hear about your nineteen year old daughter dating someone eleven years older." I said.
She nodded understandingly. "I know, I know. I respect him for caring about you like that, really. I think I would have a difficult time with it if Jonathan introduced me to a similar situation in the future."

"So, is that all?" She clarified. I thought about it for a bit. Do I have anything else? I mean yeah like stuff for further down the road like moving in and all, but I won't bring up that kind of talk yet.
"Yeah, can't think of anything else." I said somewhat truthfully. "What about you? Do you need to ask or say anything?" I asked her.

She twirled around an empty chip bag with her hands and then a certain look came over her face. Uh oh.
She put down the package and leaned back next to me after adjusting her shirt to reveal more cleavage. This lady, I swear.