Adore me- the fourth novel

Chapter 52- every step of the way

Jays POV

Of all the things I expected to do in my twenties, it's safe to say that this is not one of them. Marriage, house and baby. All at once. Somehow walking down the steps in the lake house, like I've done for the majority of my life, this time feels different. I feel different, older and hopefully wiser. As old and wise as any twenty something can feel.

Nobody has ever come before my own wants and needs before, apart from my own mother. Before now I have been used to thinking of myself, and only myself. Taylor came along and weaved a path through my life, that at first I trampled all over with no idea of how to behave around her, how to treat her. Eventually, though I began stepping in time with her. Now everyday is a walk closer to our futures. Nobody that I have met has taken over my whole being and changed my future like Taylor has done.

I glance into each of the rooms as we walk past; closing up the lake house for the last time. Memories of myself as a child, my mum and dad together either smiling and deeply in love or arguing. Remembering the first time I brought Taylor here and her stunned face at the size of the place, lying in the jacuzzi with her and cooking in the kitchen together.

"One sec" I say smiling at her. She stops and stares at me and I laugh. I'm sentimental, I just don't show it all of the time.

"Let's take one last picture together" I say.
"We can show our kids one day" I add softly.

She chuckles and kisses my lips.

"How about by the window looking over the lake" she says.

Opening up her phone she swipes away notifications which I desperately try not to look at but I see them anyways. I'm beyond jealous that Matthew messages her still. But I'm not in anyway going to question her on it. We're engaged she's having my child. He just sends her messages.

She holds her phone up at an angle getting in the backdrop of the serene lake and snaps a few of us together. I look at her in the pictures and I'm stunned by her natural beauty. She has barely any makeup on and she looks incredible. Her skin glowing, plump lips and gorgeous eyes.

"Would you like me to take one for you" a male voice enquires breaking my trance of looking at her.

I glance over at the door to see one of the delivery men. It would be the one that's been staring at her. I swallow my exasperation as she dashes over with her phone handing it to him and explaining how to work the camera. To which he smiles and I'm sure I can read his mind. He's thinking; she's beautiful and cute and even though he knows how to work the camera he's happy to listen to her voice.

He takes a few pics watching her and not me. With a smile he hands the phone to her and she rewards him by telling him that they are perfect shots.

"The boss says everything has been loaded and it's ready to go, he sent me in to confirm the address sir" he says to me finally.

I thank him and confirm the address. He raises his eyebrows, he's made deliveries to this sort of neighbourhood before. It's exclusive and I hate to say it but it's rich and way beyond him. He'd love to lift a few items out of the truck and make some money on them all while chatting up my fiancée. I look at him and realise he could never give Taylor the life that I can and will, in his overalls with his cheap watch on. It's the first time I've felt it, and any other time I would reprimand myself. But my superiority complex shines through and I have to have the upper hand.

"Will that be all" I say as he's still staring at Tay.

"Yes sir" he clears his throat embarrassed and leaves. Thank fuck I think.

"What was that" Taylor says eyeing me up.

"What? He was staring at you" I say defiantly.

"He was not, he was merely helping us take a picture. Jay chill I'm yours I'm not about to run off with anybody" Taylor laughs

"You're right" I say softly and I cup my hands around her jaw. She melts when I do that. I kiss her slow. I need her lips on mine. She's mine. All mine. I don't like men looking at her.

"Okay so we need to leave our keys" I say once I've broken the kiss. Conversation about errand boy closed.

I place my keys on the bowl nearest the door. Take a look around as Taylor does the same. I sigh a little suddenly sentimental about the lake house and its memories. I feel her hands around my waist. Instantly the way I feel changes, I need her. Every step of the way.

"Come on then" I say looking down into her eyes.

"Jay" she smiles.
"I love you" she says and kisses my lips. Turning on her heel she takes my hand and leads me out of the house. We climb into the Audi, I'm driving. The other cars have already been moved. I'm sure errand boy has had a good look at the Audi, and I follow the truck down the long winding roads to our new home.

Something nags at me, even as I watch Taylor stroking her tummy next to me in the car. I focus my mental thoughts and stare out of the windscreen.
Matthew, messaging Taylor. It's eating me up and I need to know what he's been saying. I resolve to speak with him.

"Boy or girl" Taylor says interrupting my thoughts.

I smile.

"Boy" I laugh.

"Shall we find out on the next scan" she smiles.

"Would you like to?" I enquire.

"Yes, I wanna paint the nursery and buy clothes" she laughs.

"Then we will. I think boy. He'll have curly blonde hair, and your eyes." I say smiling over at her.

"I'm so happy" she says catching my eye, it's like a mountain of relief has been taken off of her shoulders now that we have left the lake house.

"I'm so happy" I repeat rubbing her thigh with my free hand.

"I think girl." She smirks.

"You do?" I say.

"Yes. A little girl that is going to wrap you around her little fingers" she says and her hand rubs my own.

I smile looking out of the windshield, thoughts of Matthew long gone. Thinking of a little baby girl with Taylor's eyes and smile.