The Little Things | Jared "Donny" Donalson

Birthday Trip

Donny

I'm currently driving on 75 headed South towards Jacksonville. Why you may ask, honestly, I'm not sure I thought doing something for my birthday would be fun. Plus since Noah, Tanner, Dalton, and Kaylee are all busy my parents suggested taking a trip to Jacksonville for the weekend. That I got is how I ended up here cruising on 75 roughly an hour left in my drive. My parents are driving separately so I'll be meeting them tonight for dinner once they get into town. Part of me was hoping I would be spending this weekend in Nashville, but the past few days Kaylee has been acting a bit off. She has written it off as just being busy with classes, student teaching, and the holidays. Which I fully get, but she has been pretty distant like she has basically stopped Snapchatting me and only texts me now. Once again I get it she's busy probably but it kinda feels like she is trying to push me away which I don't get. I'm hoping to go visit her in the next few weeks hopefully by then we will be good.

When I reach the hotel I text my parents as I walk in the hotel lobby to check.
Me: Made it. Checking in the hotel now.
Momma: Great! So I don't think we are going to be able to make it. Something popped up with work. I'm so sorry honey. However, we have gotten you a tour guide lined up.
Me: Tour guide?
Momma: Yes, they should be there in a few minutes.

I stare at my phone so confused. A tour guide? How did she manage to get a tour guide lined up so quickly? Before I go too deep into thought on this I enter the lobby of the hotel and head to the front desk. The desk worker looks up at me and smiles, "Hello, are you checking in?" "Yes, it should be under Donalson. Possibly Jared or Lisa." The woman nods and starts typing away on the computer for a minute before she hands me a set of keycards, "You are in room 1007." I nod and I take the key cards in my hand, "Thank you." The woman nods, "I hope you enjoy your stay." I nod and start walking towards the elevator. Just as I am about to push the elevator button my phone starts vibrating. I reach into my pocket and pull it out. I see that Kaylee is Facetiming me. I answer it and wait for a moment until she appears on the screen. "Hey, what's up?" "Oh nothing, I was just bored. Are you busy?  I can call back later if so." "No no, it's fine I just got to my hotel in Jacksonville." She nods and smiles, "Are your parents there? Tell them I said hi." "No, they aren't here actually. Something came up so  I'm going to explore Jacksonville solo this weekend." I decide against mentioning my mysterious tour guide because I'm still trying to figure that out. I see Kaylee frown, "I'm sorry." I chuckle, "Don't be I'm serious it's fine. It will be fun getting to see the city and explore by myself." "So you don't need a tour guide or anything like that?" I know for a fact at this moment I have a confused look on my face. Kaylee on the other hand is trying to stop herself from grinning. That is when it all clicks as I hear the main doors open to the hotel lobby.  I turn to see Kaylee smiling at me as she enters the doors close back behind her, "Suprise!" I leave my suitcase by the elevator and go straight to her and pick her up hugging her. Kaylee laughs and hugs me back. After a minute I set her back down and look down at her. "So are you surprised?" I nod and put my arm around her as we walk towards the elevator together.  "I would have never guessed that. So you are my tour guide?" Kaylee nods and smiles up at me. I hit the elevator button and as we step in with our suitcases I realize something else. "Wait is this why you have been avoiding me for the past week?" I watch as her face starts turning red, "maybe...Maia says I'm not a great liar. She might be right about that slightly." I breathe a breath of relief hearing her say that, "I thought you were avoiding me because you like one of your other boyfriends more." Kaylee hugs me, "No silly, I don't play favorites, and if I have crossed state lines for you twice now, but who is keeping track?" I smile, "Well I am happy you are here." "I'm happy I'm here too." The elevator dings as we reach the 10th floor and then we head to what will be our room this weekend.

After hanging out at the hotel for a bit Kaylee went full tour guide mode and informed we that we were going to a hockey game. So that is where we are currently are now. Kaylee is snacking on pop corn next to me watching the game. I however feel like my attention is split between the game and her. I have never had anyone go through so much to surprise me. Now she is just sitting next to me at a hockey gym after flying from Nashville to Jacksonville and acting like it was no big deal. She must have felt me  looking at her because she looks up and holds to popcorn buck out to me offering me some. I take a handfu full and eat it before I put my arm around her. The period ends and the players clear off the ice and the clock starts counting down to the start of the next period. "So is there anything you wanna do tomorrow?" I think for a minute, ""Hhonestly I'm down for anything." Kaylee nods and smiles at me then something on the big screen catches her attention, "Oh a kiss camn how fun." I watch her clap and watch each couple kiss as they come on camera that is until we are looking at ourselves on the screen. Kaylee's eyes are looked on the screen and she is frozen so I take this moment to cup her cheek carefully as I turn her face to look at me then I kiss her. The crowd cheers and after a moment I feel Kaylee kisses back before we pull apart. Her face starts to turn red and she hides her face in my chest which I don't mind one bit. I lean down and whisper in her ear, "okay I think I know what I want to do tomorrow and maybe even Sunday." She looks up at me slightly but her face is mostly being covered by her red hair. I reach down and move her hair out of her face. "What are you think of wanting to do?" "Kiss you and maybe other things." She buries her face back in my chest and I realize my wording wasn't the best. "Kay, wait I didn't mean it like that." It only takes a matter of seconds to realize she is laughing as she sits up moving her hair out of her face as she does so, "I know you didn't mean it that way."

Once the game ends I gets a text from Noah as we're walking to the Bronco.
Noah: Hey man I hope Jacksonville is fun so far. Wish I could have been there.
Me: Thanks, it's been god some far. There has been a few surprises so far.
Noah: what kind of surprises?
I realize that no one aside from Philly has figured out about Kaylee and I. It not that I'm trying o hide it or anything like that. We are just enjoy each other's time and I don't want to take away from that.
Me: Oh nothing major my parents weren't able to make it.
Noah: Wait you're there alone??
Me: I wouldn't say I'm alone
Noah: 😏 Oh really?
Me: Yeah 😂
Noah: what's her name?
Me: Kay
I watch the texting bubble appear and disappear several times before he finally replies.
Noah: Kay as in Kaylee? Like the girl you met at the rodeo??
Me: yeah
Noah immediately FaceTimes me and Kaylee looks at me as I debt answering it or not. "Donny? You in there?" "Huh...yeah," I continue staring at my phone. "Are you gonna answer him or just stare at the screen?" I pause for another moment before I answer. I continue walking with Kaylee and hold her hand as I see Noah appear on the screen. "Is she there?" Before I can answer Kaylee leans over and waves, "Hey Noah long time no see." Noah starts chuckling, "Wow i don't know what to say I wasn't expecting this. You had more luck at the rodeo." This comment makes Kaylee laugh, "What did you expect going after the headstrong brunette." "What did she say?" Kaylee motions for me to give her the phone and I pass her my phone so she can talk to Noah. "Okay lesson one Maia is my best friend so I say this from a place of love. She is very headstrong and stubborn. I could have told you the way you approached getting to know her you had no shot." " What did I do that was so wrong?" "Nothing, it didn't matter she just got out of a crappy relationship in the past few months so she isn't looking for anything. You didn't stand a fighting chance, and while I think she is crazy for not giving you a shot that's just how she came be." " so if I were to ever cross paths with her again how would you recommend getting a shot?" " I don't know currently but since I know you are a good guy I'll see what I can do if that ever happens." I watch Noah nod and once we get to the Bronco we sit on FaceTime with Noah for a bit before he gets off to go to bed.