all the stars aligned

begin again

Taylor POV: Late July, 2023

ding!

A notification pops up on my screen and I can't help but grin as I read it.

Travis: Thank you so much for letting me take you out to dinner last night. I had a lot of fun 😊

I feel my face redden. I type: I had a lot of fun as well, can't wait to see you again.

but then immediately delete it. Can't wait to see you again????? Am I actually stupid? If you send that to him, he's not going to want to see you again. You need to say something cool, something he will like. I wonder what the other girls he's been with talk like? Probably cool and flirty, right? Maybe I need to talk more like that.

I type up another sentence: If you're lucky, maybe next time I'll let you take me out for dessert ;)

No, no, no. That's too flirty. He'll think your weird. Ugh, this is so hard! You'd think that at 33 I would have figured out how to talk to guys by now, but apparently not. Maybe I just need to say something normal. Just thank him for dinner or something. Pull yourself together, Taylor!

The chaotic thoughts in my head are brought to a stop by another ding! from my phone.

Travis: You know I can see you typing things and then deleting them, right?

OH SHIT OH SHIT OH SHIT OH MY GOD OH LORD OH NO HOLY CRAP HE WAS WATCHING THE CHAT THE ENTIRE TIME AND HE SAW MY TYPING BUBBLE KEEP POPPING UP OH GOD OH SHIT OH NO THIS IS NOT A DRILL I REPEAT THIS IS NOT A DRILL

I take a deep breath and pick up my phone, typing into the text box: Crap, I forgot that you can see that. I hit send without second guessing.

Travis: Don't worry about it, it's cute.

He thinks I'm cute?

Me: Thanks for taking me out to dinner, by the way. I had a great time.

My heart beats faster than ever as the typing bubble pops up.

Travis: I hope I'm not coming on to strong or anything, but would you like to go out with me again sometime?

My heart does somersaults in my stomach. Holy crap he just asked me out again!!! Yes Travis of course I do yes I do yes yes yes yes I always do I do I do yes I want to go out again yes yes yes yes oh my god oh my god I feel alive

Travis: Don't worry about it if you'd rather we didn't. I get it.

Oh my god I was to busy celebrating that I waited to long and now he thinks I'm not interested! Stupid, Taylor. Stupid.

Me: Of course I want to go out with you again!

Travis: That's what I was hoping! Where do you want to go?

I smile so wide that my jaw aches.

Me: Anywhere. Surprise me.

Travis: Alright. Can I pick you up at your house at 8 oclock, Friday?

Me: Can't wait :)

I lay back on my couch, my heart pounding and my mouth shaped in a permanent grin.

I am breathless.

I haven't felt this way for years.

Alright guys I'm sorry it's so short but I just want a short introduction to the story. Thanks so much for reading!!