(Sequel) You and I | 70s Teen Dream Story

Chapter 42

"Darling, do you want to serve?" Andy asked me.

We were currently at the local tennis club like Andy wanted to. I was hella nervous because Andy was such a pro and so was his entire family for the most part.

"Uh no love you should serve," I told him as I finished my warm-up stretches.

Andy chuckled.

"It's not a scientific formula darling," Andy commented.

"I know but you are the pro here,"  I replied swinging my racket.

Andy smiled at my remark.

"I think you are a little extra darling," Andy joked.

"I know I am," I replied as we got ready to start the first round.

"Are you ready darling?" Andy asked grabbing a tennis ball.

"Not really but serve," I replied as I waited for the ball to fly over the net.

And so, the first round of tennis went off.

"Darling you are aggressive," Andy said midgame.

"I swear I'm just trying my best," I replied as we took a pause to get water.

"The way you hit the ball is just so hard," Andy remarked.

"Well, how else am I supposed to win?" I joked.

"You play mean little girl," Andy replied.

"Little girl? Who are you calling a little girl? I have literally whipped your butt in the last 3 matches," I replied as I put my water bottle down.

"I'm just teasing darling," Andy replied as we both went back to the court.

"Just for that you have to serve," I told him as I bounced the ball toward him.

"Fine darling," Andy replied as he caught the ball.

"Ready," I called out.

The tennis rounds went by pretty quickly. By the last one, I begin to lay back my technique. 

We played 6 rounds and I won 4 of the 6.

After it was all said and done, we headed out of the tennis club. Andy wasn't thrilled I kicked his butt.

"Don't be mad love it's just tennis," I told him as we walked to the car.

"I know but I feel like I lost my touch," Andy replied.

I rolled my eyes at his comment.

"You didn't lose your touch love I just had some luck today I guess," I remarked as we arrived at the car.

"We're gonna have to have a rematch soon," Andy commented as he opened my door for me.

I got into the car and felt less like a winner.

Andy settled into the car and we began the drive home. It was super quiet.

Even though he seemed mad at me, he was still holding my hand as we drove.

By the time we got home, we had not said a word to one another.

We walked up the driveway to the house and got in. I waited for him to say something but he didn't.

I went straight to the bedroom and jumped in the shower. I wasn't going to deal with Andy's sore-loser attitude. 

It was a little before 4 when I got out and I decided to just put on a sundress temporarily till bed.

I walked out of the bathroom to find my husband already changed and showered as well. Since it was summer, the California sun wasn't nice and a shower fixed that.

"Are you mad at me?" I asked Andy as I approached the bed.

Andy sighed.

"Why do you think that darling?" Andy asked me in response.

"No reason except you didn't talk to me the entire time home," I replied as I sat on the bed.

I could tell Andy was mad I had caught on to his emotions.

"I'm not mad at you I'm just," Andy begin to reply.

"You are just jealous because I beat you?" I asked.

Andy turned his full attention to me.

"You beat me in something I've always done good in. It makes me wonder what else I can't do as well," Andy replied.

I shook my head in shock.

"Love a-are you kidding me? It was just a stupid tennis match and it wasn't even for anything but fun," I commented to my husband who was now avoiding my eye contact.

"Well no I ain't kidding darling," Andy remarked.

I brought his face towards mine.

"You are talented in so many ways. This was just a fun thing and it doesn't define who you are. Just because I beat you doesn't mean you don't have talent elsewhere," I replied sweetly.

Andy was trying to process what I said. As we all know, he had confidence issues. But, I wanted him to know that he was an incredible human.

"It's just hard to I don't know," Andy tried replying.

I sighed. He needed a confidence booster.

"I don't know what to say so," I told him as I leaned in to kiss him.

I pulled away and then held his face in my hands.

"I love you and I would never want you to feel down about something," I told him as he closed his eyes and sighed.

"I'm sorry for overreacting darling," Andy replied as he stared at me.

"You have every right to explore those feelings but remember I am here for you," I told him as I kissed his forehead.

Andy sighed again.

"I ruined the vibe today and I feel bad,"  Andy commented as he glanced away.

I shook my head.

"You didn't ruin anything love. You have the right to have feelings about things and I'm glad you are willing to share them with me," I told him.

"I think I hurt my own feelings sometimes," Andy mumbled.

"We are all our biggest critics love," I reassured him.

"But making you proud to be your man is my biggest insecurity," Andy remarked.

"You don't have to be perfect for me to be proud of you or love you. I love you for you," I replied as I draped my arm across his torso.

He sort of smiled.

"I know that in my heart and I shouldn't forget that," Andy replied as he leaned down to kiss me.

You could feel it in his kiss his stress was melting away.

He rolled us over to where I was under him and he stared at me as he hovered over me.

I just looked up at him. His necklace was dangling from his neck. And, I knew he went crazy when I pulled him by the necklace to kiss him.

"You know how to drive me crazy and feel good about myself huh," Andy whispered.

I chuckled.

"I am only your wife ya know," I whispered back.

I was still holding onto his necklace gently.

Andy just smiled at me as he contently gazed into my eyes. Sometimes things were left better unsaid. 

Learning how to have confidence was something we both had to work on.