One True Love

Chapter 15

After sitting there in silence for a little while longer, I decided I couldn't take it any more. I had to say something or else I was going to drive myself crazy. What had just happened? Had I just saw this man I love go from angry and upset to caring and loving and then into protection mode in all a matter of twenty to thirty minutes? It was just a magazine article, and we probably both shouldn't have reacted in the way that we did. He was a famous singer with a huge fan base and this was a result of that, that was all.

Sitting up straighter in my seat, I looked towards him...."Did we just have our first real fight?"

He shrugged his shoulders, not looking at me...."I don't know, maybe we did."

Reaching for his hand, I caused him to look at me..."Scotty," I paused...."Scotty, I've never seen you get so worked up like that. Honestly, it's not something that I like about you."

Without expression, he said, "Come with me."

"Where are we going?," I asked

Still, without expression, he asked...."Do you trust me?"

I smiled, "You know I do."

He smiled in return, "Then you shouldn't have to ask questions."

Stepping out of the truck, I met him at the front where he slipped his hand in mine. To my surprise, I tensed up a little and he squeezed my hand, not releasing it. Walking further into the park, his hand in mine, we found a wrought iron bench and he motioned for me to sit down.

Wrapping his right arm around me, he took my left hand with his, twisting my ring around with his finger. As we sat there, we watched the two women in their mid 20's run by, smiling as they passed. We watched a young father push his daughter in the swing, and the trees blowing slightly in the wind, causing a cool breeze.

After a few minutes, he leaned closer to me and whispered...."Do you know where we are?"

Looking confused, I said, "Ummm, the park?"

He laughed, "No silly, try again."

Looking around, I thought back to what he had asked when we got out of the truck a few minutes ago,"Do you trust me?" He had only asked me that one other time in the past few months. It was when he had blindfolded me in my bedroom at my parents' house and whispered those same words in my ear. It was only when we got to the park that he released my blindfold and said those three words that would change everything.

Looking up at him, I asked, "This is where you brought me this summer when you told me you loved me for the first time, isn't it?"

He smiled and pulled me closer, "That's right and I still love you just as much now if not more than I did that night. I always have and I always will,"

He paused and lifted my chin with his forefingers, causing me to look directly at him. His eyes began to fill with tears, and I could tell that he was trying to keep his composure. Still, in all the years I had known him, I had never seen him cry.

Going on, he said, "Gabs, I'm so sorry. Please know that I never wanted to draw this much attention to either one of us. Please don't give up on me, please don't let me lose you, please tell me that you're okay with all of this."

Smiling, I couldn't help but to kiss him on the cheek...."Scotty, it's not going to be easy. It's probably going to be really hard, but I want you to know I'm not going anywhere. Whatever happens will happen, but we both know the truth, we both know how we feel. If you think I'm gonna let a few reporters break us up, well then I must question whether you know exactly how strong our relationship is. For five months, I watched you on Idol with Lauren and I must admit I was jealous, but I had no reason to be, you weren't even mine. We survived the Idol tour as a couple and the first few months of the weekend roadtrip tour. Baby, we can make it through anything."

He smiled and squeezed my hand..."So you were jealous huh? Because I wasn't yours?"

Feeling my cheeks flush, I looked away, "Maybe, you can just forget I said that."

He laughed and wrapped both arms around me, pulling me closer...."No, no, no....You aren't getting off that easy. Gabi, exactly how long have you liked me?"

I smiled, "Ahh you know, just about five months," I said, in a teasing tone.

Again he laughed, "Something is telling me it has been longer than that."

Shrugging my shoulders, I said, "You caught me. I suppose it was around the time when we were in 7th or 8th grade and you were "dating" Taylor."

Sitting up, he said, "Uh huh I see, so I'm seeing a pattern here. You were jealous when I was around other girls, is that right?"

I shrugged, "Maybe."

He laughed, "One more question, why didn't you tell me? Why did you wait til our Senior trip to tell me how you felt?"

Leaning in closer to him, I felt his arm wrap around me once more, feeling his warmth radiate through my body. Not looking at him, I softly ran my fingers along his chest...."Scotty, you were my best friend. You have always been my best friend, I feel like I could talk to you about more things than I can my girls. You know everything about me, and I know everything about you. I've always been told to never date your best friend because it will ruin the friendship. I didn't want to lose you as my friend, I didn't want to lose you from my life."

Squeezing me closer to him, he kissed the top of my forehead and whispered, the heat from his lips being felt against my skin...."Gabi, it's always been you."

Feeling those butterflies in my stomach, he knew exactly what to say to make my heart melt. Deciding to change the subject, I asked..."Have you decided who you want to ask to be in the wedding? I mean, I know we still have a year, but we need to start planning."

Reaching in his shirt pocket, he pulled out a folded piece of paper...." I'm glad you brought that up. Here, I wanted to see what you thought of this," he said, handing me the paper.

Unfolding it in my hands, I looked up at him and back at the paper. Silently, I began reading what was hand written on the paper in Scotty's hand writing:

"You were there for me when I took my training wheels off my bicycle. You were there for me when I got my first baseball glove. You were there for me when I started school. You were there for me when I wanted to quit school because I thought it was too hard. You were there to encourage me and tell me to chase my dreams. You were there for me when I attended my first Red Sox game. You were there for me when I went to Graceland for the first time. You were there for me in Milwaukee when I auditioned for Idol, to be honest if it wasn't for you, I'm not sure it would have happened. You were there when I came to you and told you that I thought I had met the girl of my dreams. You didn't judge me because I was young, but instead gave me advice and told me that if I really wanted something that I should never give up. You were there when I told you I was scared I was going to lose this girl to another guy and calmed me down on several nights. I'm writing you this letter to thank you for always being there for me and supporting me in all my endeavors. You have always been my biggest fan, but I'm also writing to tell you that I got the girl Dad! Would you mind being there for me once more to stand beside me as my best man on October 13th, 2012?

Folding the paper, I handed it back to him...."He will be honored to be your best man."