First Crush, My Forever

Chapter 5

  As we continue eating, I notice Taytum constantly glancing at me and sometimes it appears she is biting the inside of her cheek to keep from saying something. Once she notices that I caught her looking at me she just focuses on her food. I shake my head and break the silence between us. "Is there something you want to say Taytum?" As soon as I ask that, her eyes lock with mine.

  Taytum sighs then takes a sip of her milkshake. "I in no way want to overstep or seem nosy but if you don't mind, there's a couple things I am curious about."

  I playfully roll my eyes at Taytum because most people would just ask what they want to know but not her. She has always been so respectful and considerate of other people. "A couple things, huh? Okay, you can ask two questions about anything you want. However, I get to ask you two questions as well. Deal?"

  Taytum smiles as she leans forward and rests her arms on the table. "Deal and you can ask first."

  I shake my head as I lean forward as well, resting my arms on the table too. "Oh no, you wanted to ask something first so ask away. You better make it good because you might not get another chance." I playfully joke.

  Taytum smiles, "okay. What is your middle name?"

  I can't help but laugh at Taytum's first question. "Out of all the things you could possibly ask, that's your first question?" She just smiles and nods her head yes. "Fine, my middle name is Renae."

  Taytum smiles big showing off her dimples as she grabs one of the few fries left and pops it in her mouth. As soon as she swallows it she says, "Danielle Renae, I like it. It's beautiful and very fitting for you."

  "Thank you sweetheart. What do you mean my name is fitting for me?"

  Taytum shakes her head no. "Is that your first question Dani?"

  I roll my eyes, "no, that is not my first question but you will have to tell me one day what you mean by that." Taytum just shrugs her shoulders as she takes a sip of her milkshake. "Okay now for my actual first question. Which of your moms is your biological mom? You are a perfect blend of both of them."

  "Mama, well Lauren as you know her, is my birth mom but I consider both of them my biological moms. Yes, mama was the one pregnant with me and my twin brother but we have moms genes too. That's why I favor both of them."

  I take in this new information because I never knew Taytum had a twin. I'm not quite sure how she has both of her parent's genes though. Now I have to decide on what I want my second question to be. Taytum suddenly says, "Okay, my turn. My second question is a rather personal question. If you don't want to answer it, that's fine. Just wanted to put that out there."

  "Oh my. Must be some question then. Go ahead and ask away and I will answer it regardless. After all, I asked a personal question and you answered it so it's only fair for me to do the same."

  Taytum clears her throat. "What is the deal with you and Chris? I know he is KK's father and you were married to him when you first moved in. You don't wear your wedding ring anymore and he moved out nearly a year after y'all moved in. Again, if you don't want to answer, I understand."

  That definitely was not the question I was expecting but if I'm being honest, I'm surprised it hasn't been asked before now. If not by Taytum then my Lauren or Kyler. "Umm... this is a lot so please bear with me." I take a deep breath and release it. I know I will more than likely get emotional and probably cry because just thinking about the whole situation just gets to me. "Chris was my best friend. We had been best friends since second grade. Stayed friends all through elementary, middle school, high school, college and afterwards. I never saw him as anything other than my best friend. Never had any romantic feelings towards him whatsoever."

  "We went to the Bahamas for a friend's wedding and apparently got completely drunk after the wedding and ended up sleeping together. I don't remember anything other than drinking at the resort bar then waking up the next morning completely naked in bed beside a completely naked Chris in his hotel room. He said he didn't remember anything either and we never spoke about it again. It definitely changed our dynamic and friendship for me at least, knowing that I did something so stupid. Three months later I found out I was pregnant with Kadence."

  "Chris pushed for us to be together for the sake of our child and finally I stupidly agreed when I was eight months pregnant, extremely hormonal and scared to raise a child by myself. After we moved in next door to y'all I realized I was just miserable. Chris and I argued all the time because I could not bring myself to have sex with him when I had no feelings like that for him. I didn't love Chris like that and honestly didn't even love him as a friend anymore. Most days I couldn't even stand to look at him for some reason. I had no feelings whatsoever for him so I checked on having our marriage annulled due to the circumstances of our marriage. Chris wasn't happy when I told him what I wanted to do. I met with the judge anyway, explained everything and thanks to Texas laws and the circumstances, he voided the marriage like it had never happened since we had not even been married a full year yet."

  I put my face in my hands and close my eyes as I take a deep breath and release it trying to keep from crying. Suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder and I hear Taytum, "Dani, scoot over for me, please."

  I lower my hands away from my face and Taytum is right there, squatting down beside me. I scoot over and she quickly slides in the booth right beside me. She pulls me into her and holds me in a tight hug that I didn't realize I needed until now. I breathe in a fresh scent that's a perfect blend of feminine and masculine and I really like the scent. "I can't imagine how you feel and I hate that you went through something like that. You are an amazing woman and mother Dani and I truly mean that. You have done an amazing job with KK so you had nothing to worry about for being a single mom. I love that little girl and she is amazing too, which is all thanks to you. You did that Dani."

  I sniffle and wipe a tear away. "I'm sorry for asking that question and invading your privacy. Sorry for not asking if I could hug you as well. I know some people don't like hugs but I just really wanted to give you one and let you know I'm here for you. Again, I'm sorry for asking and you didn't have to answer. You could have told me to keep my nosy question to myself."

  That makes me chuckle and before I can respond, Taytum releases me and moves back to the other side of the booth. I scoot back down and quickly reach over, grabbing both of her hands. "Thank you Taytum and it's okay, I think I needed that hug. I chose to answer your question and it actually felt good to get that off my chest. The whole ordeal is not anything I talk about. Besides Chris, for obvious reasons, the only other people that know besides that judge are my parents, my sister and now you. Thank you for listening, and thank you for not giving me a look full of pity. But more importantly thank you for not saying you're sorry it happened."

  I release Taytum's hands and she smiles at me as she leans back in her seat. "Of course Dani. I don't pity you, if anything it shows me how even more amazing you truly are. Also, thank you for bringing me here. I will definitely have to come here again. The food is delicious, I loved it."

  I smile at Taytum right before motioning for our waitress since we are both done. "I'm glad you like it, I was hoping you would."

  As soon as those words leave my mouth, the waitress stops at our booth. "One ticket or separately?" The waitress asks as she looks at Taytum with a smile when she says the word separately. I laugh internally because she is trying so hard and Taytum doesn't even give the girl the time of day.

  Taytum and I speak at the same time, both saying "together." As soon as the waitress puts the ticket on the table, Taytum quickly reaches for it but I cover her hand before she pulls away with the ticket. "I'm paying, my treat" I tell Taytum and she shakes her head no. "I mean it, so give me the ticket. You can pay next time."

  Taytum reluctantly lets go of the ticket with a pout. "Woman, I wanted to pay for us."

  "Not this time, sweetie."