I Hate California

seventeen

"Hey, before you say anything, I just want you to know that Travis showing up here was totally unexpected, I-"

"Taylor, it's okay, you don't have to tell me, I know" He tells me through the phone.

I sigh, "I know, but I still feel like it's my fault. Even if I'm dating him, he can't just show up to my place unexpectedly".

"I understand that, thank you for keeping her safe. Are you planning on them meeting each other properly?" He asks me and I stop and think. I do want Sage to meet Travis soon and be able to get to know him, but for some reason I'm scared for what she is going to think of this whole situation. Sage is such a Daddy's girl and that makes me feel like she will push away all men in her life.

"I want them to, but I want to know how you feel about that" I tell him. Joe's input was important to me, he raised Sage all by himself, even though I am her Mother, he knows her more than I will ever. 

"I'm fine with it, he seems like a fine lad, from what you have told me about him" He tells me chuckling towards the end which has me smiling. I have always loved hearing his laugh, there was always something about it...

"I'll talk to you later, it's getting late" He tells me, we say our goodbyes and hang up.

I looked at my schedule and it looks like Travis is will be free soon so he will be able to meet Sage, I was planning on attending a game, but now that I have her that will have to wait and I'll have him come here. 

-

"Mommy, where are we going?" Sage asks me as I help tie her shoe laces. 

She needed more clothes, she definitely had just enough, but being her Mom, I needed to buy her more cute things. I scheduled a few appointments around the city at some small businesses asking if I could shop there for a few hours with her with the stores being closed, for her safety. 

"We're going shopping for more clothes! You're growing so quickly and Dad didn't pack enough" I wink at her and she throws her head back laughing.

"Oh Daddy!" She smiles.

As we arrived at the first store, I waited until my security guards went down and opened the door and by the time I had already unbuckled Sage and held her in my arms and then hurried into the building. 

"Wow", she exclaims looking around.

"Pick out what ever you like boo" I tell her giving her a little push towards the clothes and she runs to find what she wants. I'm glad that she isn't shy around me anymore and isn't shy about telling me what she wants.

I realized she really loved dresses, most of the items she picked out were dresses and almost everything was yellow so I had to go in and get additional colors so she would have many choices. 

"I'm tired, this is a lot of work" She tells me after we leave the first store. We have like six more to go...

We decided to pick out a couple new shoes and even match with Mommy, she insisted on buying heels for herself, but not on my watch. 

"Mommy, who are they?" Sage says pointed out the window while I was looking at the different sizes of shoes. I turned around and a couple of younger girls were looking in the window freaking out. Great. 

I quickly picked up Sage and tucked her head into my neck, "Don't look up baby" I tell her. I just paid for what ever we were looking at and had the car meet us out the back entrance. The world didn't know about Sage yet and I was not going to risk that today. 

My team and I were coming up with a plan on how I would announce to the world that I have a daughter and also when I was going to do it, I planned on doing it after my tour. I didn't want fans trying to find her at my concerts. 

"I didn't like that, they looked overly excited to see us" Sage tells me as we got settled into the car.

I stroke her hair, "I'm sorry baby, I didn't like it too, they were probably Mommy's fans" I tell her and she just nods and looks out the window. She mentioned earlier she was already tired, so this was expected.

-

"Baby, do you remember that boy that came over last time?" I ask Sage who is eating some fruit while watching cartoons.

She nods her head.

"Do you know who he is?" I ask again and this time she shakes her head.

"He is Mommy's boyfriend, Travis" I tell her and she looks at me.

She puts her fruit platter onto the table and sits back down on the couch, "What about him?".

I laugh, "Do you know what a boyfriend is?" I ask.

She thinks, "Is that what Daddy was for you?".

I nod my head, "Yup, and Travis is my boyfriend now".

"Oh" She says and looks back at the screen.

I sigh, "Travis really wants to meet you baby, properly this time and get to know you" I tell her and she raises an eyebrow at me.

"What if I don't want to see him?" She asks which had me shocked.

"What do you mean baby? Do you not want to meet him? I promise he is nice" I tell her reassuringly. 

"I only like Daddy" She says pouting. Well this wasn't going to be easy. 

Travis and I had already talked and planned for him to come over for dinner tomorrow to meet Sage and he even asked me what she likes so he could buy her a gift. 

"He is a nice boy baby, he is coming over for dinner tomorrow" I tell her and she looks at me with a surprised face.

"But why?" She asks again.

I didn't want to have to keep explaining this, but I was getting even more worried with them meeting each other now. 

"Because he is someone important in Mommy's life and I want you to meet him" I say.

"Am I important?" She asks pointing at herself.

I gasp, "Of course you are! The most important person in my life!" I say.

"Then I don't want to meet him, says the most important person in your life" She tells me back which has me even more shocked than before.

"Baby, please" I plead. 

She shrugs her shoulders and goes back to eating her fruit. 

I sigh and get up, I head towards the bags on the kitchen table and begin sorting out the many many clothes and shoes I bought. I guess we were just going to have to wait and see what happens tomorrow, he is coming anyway, so I hope she gives him a chance.