Roles Reversed

36

Marley Simone Jacobs was born on June 10th, at 9:47 in the morning.

She was beautiful.

The way Angie held and talked to her made my heart swell.

We were back at the house now. After the scare at the hospital, we had gone in to see Angie and Marley.

Jay and I cried. Shay just stood by my side the entire time. It made me love him even more.

"Hey kid," Jay said. We were all standing in the kitchen eating.

"What's up?" I asked.

"I want you and Shay to go out tonight. Have some fun," he said.

I was instantly suspicious.

"Not that I wouldn't want to, but why are you of all people suggesting this?" I asked curiously.

He and Shay exchanged a look.

What's going on? I looked at Angie but she just shrugged.

I stomped my foot immaturely. "What aren't you telling me?" I whined.

"Nothing, chickadee," Shay said, leaning over to kiss my cheek.

"Liars."

Jay smiled. "Since it's almost four, you guys should head out for dinner or something tonight," he persisted.

"What if I don't want to go anywhere?" I said, crossing my arms.

"You'd pass up an opportunity to spend your night with me," Shay said, emphasizing "me."

"It wouldn't be any different than the past three days now would it," I retorted.

My eyes widened when I realized what I had said and how bad that sounded. I clapped my hand over my mouth. I swear I saw steam coming out if Jay's ears.

"What?" Jay asked with clenched teeth.

"No, that's not what I meant at all," I stumbled over my words, "There's a sleeping bag, and he's not-I mean we're not-Jay I meant that-" Shay stopped me.

"We aren't having sex Jay. End of discussion. Go get dressed, baby," he said, nudging me towards the stairs. When I turned around to look at Shay, he winked at me and patted my backside.

"Ahem. I'm still here," Jay said.

"I know," I said happily, skipping up the stairs.

~

"Shay!" I called.

I was standing in our conjoined bathroom. One hand was holding my dress to my body, the other was keeping my hair on my head.

I turned when I heard footsteps.

"What's up, chickadee?" he asked.

"Can you zip this please?" I answered. When I had asked where we would be eating, he said "somewhere nice so wear the blue dress" so that's what I did. It was the same dress I had worn to Gabriel's wedding.

"Sure thing." He brushed the escaping hair from my back and slowly ran the zipper up my back.

I noticed how his hands shook a little bit.

"Shay?" I asked, quietly this time.

"Yeah, baby?"

"You're shaking," I commented.

He took a deep breath.

He spun me around so I was pressed up against his chest and his arms were tight around my back.

"I love you so, so much. You know that, don't you?" he asked.

"Yes, but-" he cut me off my kissing me.

I would never get tired of being interrupted like this.

"Good. Don't forget it," he said with a smile.

Okay, that was weird. I shook it off and finished curling my hair.

Around fifteen minutes later, he came back into the bathroom wearing a white button down and some dark wash jeans.

He leaned up against the countertop as I applied my mascara.

We stood in silence, him watching me, me glancing his direction every few seconds.

"Whatcha looking at," I teased.

He took my hand and pulled me out of the bathroom.

"My beautiful, incredible, amazing girlfriend," he grinned goofily.

"I do love you so, Shay Riley," I said.

We walked down the stairs.

"I'll be right back, I need to tell Angie we're leaving," he said.

I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion but just nodded.

"I'll be in the car," I said.

I walked outside and started Shay's pickup. I climbed into the passenger side and waited patiently for my boyfriend.

Moments later, I saw the front door open. Both Shay and my brother stepped out. They shook hands and Jay patted him on the back.

Okay, something was definitely up.

Shay climbed into the driver's seat.

"Ready?"

I nodded.

"Let's go then."

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