Taylor's POV
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvDw9UI2Bw
Matthew makes up a fire in the stone fireplace and then joins me on the sofa with a glass of wine. I'm not pregnant and making up with him including wine is my intention; although I will be putting him through it first.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9wfg0D23F
"Taylor" he says softly, and I shiver as his hands go through my hair.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFxDVex9dP
"I want you to know that I didn't intend for any of this stress and upset. I never wanted to cause you that." He says softly. I cross one leg over the other revealing the intentional split in my new dress. His eyes dart back up to my face and I wait till I have his full attention.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyjmPNHBXE
"Matthew, it hurt more than if you'd just cheated on me, it's like it was all a lie." I tell him softly watching his eyes sink as I describe how the whole ordeal felt for me.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyOmHmGtIK
I toss my hair over one side of my chest and his eyes linger on my neck, I can see he mentally tells himself to concentrate. He recovers himself.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XORQFfTcS
"It wasn't a lie for me. I fell in love with you, and my intentions were just to keep you to myself. I didn't intend on hurting you. I can see why you would think that way and that's on me. But please just know I was at least sincere in our relationship, I meant all of the things I said" he looks at me earnestly. His green eyes boring into mine his arm going around my back.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsr4fmQlwy
"I just went along with what they were saying because if I had of protested and told them to shut up at the time I thought it would cause a bigger problem. Jen would have realised I was into you. So would Ross and he probably would have reacted to that. I also felt totally lost in the fact that you might just choose him, and not me and I was a dick about it" he admits leaning into me.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmrs6l4znO
"Why did you think I would just choose him?" I ask. I've got to be all business about this. I need the answers before I tell him how much I still love him.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iMBdPobUH
"He was the right choice okay ? For so many reasons. Plus you already liked him, he's honourable and good. You spent your whole night with him and I thought that I'd intruded on you not the other way around" he tells me, his eyes watching me carefully.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTgJgHXMqN
"I couldn't stand to see you with him. Not because he's a bad person. But because he's so good and I knew he would keep you. I've never been jealous. I've never had to get the girl. I have never looked at a girl sitting with one of my mates and been bothered by her being with them and not me" he explains.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyCCP1MFkP
I watch the fire for a few minutes and deliberate. It does make a whole lot of sense, that he would feel like I would pick Ross after that one night. I had spent most of my time with Ross.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2I1tDx1XQ
"When you took me out for the first time were you going to leave me as in break things off. When we went to the rose garden" I ask him. I'm unsure of his intentions, I told him I loved him very early on after our first date. I think about how he froze in the car when I said it, how he stopped and paused before telling me that he cared for me.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50xLG8BOnN
He looks shocked his hand embracing my shoulder softly.
"No Taylor. I never wanted to leave you at any point. That was the problem. I didn't want you to leave me either so I didn't tell you" he explains, I sip my wine.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOiqEju0Ed
"At Ross' afterwards what were you doing when you left me with him" I ask him, briefly smiling to myself feeling like a detective questioning a suspect.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CF5EQfVaO
"Jay called me. Jen had told him all about you and our relationship. She wouldn't leave it be. So I just told her the truth. I wanted to see how things could go between us and I told her that I genuinely liked you. She hated that, she stirred it all up with Jay and he called. Rachel explained that I should not tell you in order to keep you, because Jay is an animal and she didn't want you to get involved with him. It was stupid Rachel logic but I went along with it. He likes you too by the way" he says.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nJWMd2zhD
"He told me on the phone that he was interested in meeting you. Rachel told me to just keep you away" he explains and I nod.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMGb9NzdzW
"She plays about with him, actually she does like him but he treats her absurdly" Matthew explains and I just listen. Surely the Viking who helped me with the cocktails cannot be that bad.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ9BavrjJI
"He's quizzed me all night about you" he explains, and I look at him taken aback, what could Mr Jay Gilbert Scott need to know about me?
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VNzZXWfu9
"About whether we are staying together. And when I came back into Ross' dumb party that night and I realised that Ross had been trying it with you, I just wanted out of there. I mean wouldn't you babe if you came in and Rhea was trying it with me hands all over me. Like I know she wouldn't do that to you. But that's all I could think is that he's been touching you and talking to you" he says.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8ST2aE5Nk
"After that we didn't see them not because I wanted to play games with you. But maybe because I'm selfish and I didn't want to give Ross more chances to show you how nice and charming he is" he looks up at me.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJ38DVoOvl
"I mean deep down can you blame me for not wanting you around him? Every time I so much as looked away he was there. And I had to stop myself from thinking of him touching you. Not because I wanted to win some stupid game but because it made me so angry. I felt like I couldn't say anything because he would just out me and tell you." He finishes. He pushes his sleeves up. Exposing his arms, the ones that used hold me tight in the night.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj4WbzRaGl
"I get that, I wouldn't like my friends being all over you. I knew I was missing something. Because had it of been me I would have said something to Rhea, and I wondered why you didn't say anything" I say working it all out in my own head.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIzOIfEw3z
"So when Ross called that night? He was telling you to tell me ?" I ask and he holds my hand.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQWSnnP4xf
"He was but he was looking out for you. He told me that it would be better to come clean. He realised we were together. He was actually looking out for me too, come to think of it. I just didn't see it that way. He wanted what was best for you as he always does" he tells me.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMyskGhZy6
"Was it just you and Ross? Jay? did he bet on me ?" I ask and he watches me taken back.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnjS13IDr0
"He wasn't there that night. He wanted to see you so badly, I had to fend him off until he invited himself over to our place. Why do you ask?" He asks surprised.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bmzz5rU9x
"Something he said at the party." I say thinking of how he was asking me what it would take to get with me. How he tired so hard to charm me every opportunity he had.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uKeu8pjlz
"Can I ask what he said to you " he asks me softly stroking my hand.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vndeTpWVF
"He asked me at the party what it would take to get a girl like me. I told him I already have all that I could ever want and that I wasn't available. He laughed and said I don't have everything with you, like I think I do. I was a little confused at the time but I think he meant that I didn't know everything about you. Then he just came onto me. He called me last night too" I tell him, and his eyes darken.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡra0wieoYxb
"I didn't answer my phone was off" I clarify as he watches me.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzPmErowGf
"Did he touch you" he asks seriously.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqcSd2bcCv
"He just got in my space." I tell him and he pushes his hair back as I look out into garden. The trees rustling in the distance as the sun goes down.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsE0ZvIrwWi
"He's a flirt, sorry if it made you uncomfortable. He's very into the idea of getting with you" he explains and I sigh. He pulls my face to his own looking into my eyes. He strokes up my arm, flirting up a storm with me as he gazes into my eyes. However my reserve is strong, I will not let him purely flirt his way back into my life.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaRIEvPLAW
"I was a little bit let down last night that you just sat with Jen. She’s gotten under my skin a little. Like the way she acts around you and the continuous verbal attacks" I tell him.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkT9xj7vWM
"You most definitely got under hers. It's clear she wanted to hurt you and I'm sorry about that. But you also definitely do not need me fighting any battles for you" he smirks.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WgWpxGL4Y
"What?" I ask smirking slightly facing him.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84HjT2dp8N
"It was really ballsy that's all, I mean what you said to her. That was badass" he laughs.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYjLUDWVQA
"Taylor you called her a lonely whore" he laughs and I smirk.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsp7mpPpzy
I sip my wine smiling remembering the moment well. I take a few quiet moments to think it all through, and he doesn't interrupt me as I look into the fire. It's clear that Matthew acted out of stupidity and I think he just tried to run away from it all. I cannot imagine him being deceitful or malicious towards me. I think he was out of his depth and he acted impulsively. I remind myself of the good times we had, the love we shared. Of all the moments where he supported me. The moments where we fell in love with one another. I gaze back into the green eyes I know so well and sip my wine.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl70EWs9bg
"Before you say anything else, I need to tell you that I would never ever risk getting you pregnant if I was playing games with you. I would not move you into my place and introduce you to my whole family. Okay? I wouldn't meet your mum if I just wanted to prove I could get you. I should have told you about that night, I didn't realise it would impact all of my nights to come, And I regret not telling you beyond belief" he pleads with me knowing that I've reached my conclusion. He scrapes his hair back and I commit the action to memory, I want to remember it.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSNLvCtGGA
I stare at him; his lips, angular jaw and brunette hair. I want him so completely.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RbxMRwgtD
"I believe you Matthew, I do. I don't think you can fake the things you said when we were together. I believe you were genuine, and that what we had was real. However despite feeling that way for me you couldn't be honest with me when I asked you at least three times if there was anything you needed to tell me. Despite loving me and promising me forever you lied and kept things from me. I want you to know now that is not okay" I say willing myself not to cry.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAgMkFcgIj
"And I am in love with you. In spite of your actions I want you and only you. And maybe I'm wrong for that. Maybe I am really fucking stupid for wanting you." I say to him tearing up.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynyce2kRnK
"You're not wrong. I can prove to you that I'm honourable just give me some time" he pleads lightly squeezing my hands.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsjjCS7UPX
He stands up, suddenly filled with purpose, searching through his pockets. Kneeling in front of me, he indicates for my hand and I give it to him.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWK8dE9DV9
"I love you Taylor Elena Harris. This whole entire time I knew that this was different for me. This was an exception." he says remaining on his knee.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprifo6I9dF
"I need you in the rest of my forever. The thought of losing you haunts me, and after last night I cannot imagine a life where you are not in it." He adds as I wipe my eyes anticipating my eternity ring to be presented back to me.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq8s6Eosrk
"So Taylor Elena Harris" he says softly pulling a ring from behind his back. A gold set ring with a large diamond sitting proudly in the centre. A ring that glistens in the light of the fire, a ring that promises me eternity and more. A proposal that at eighteen years old is brave for any man to undertake.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpcBbd3rHc
"Will you do me the absolute honour of placing this ring on your finger and marrying me" he asks as I stare at him stunned.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvPZ81a0hN
"Yes Matthew" I say collapsing into tears, as we both end up hugging on the fluffy carpet.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZhQkGeZJK
"I've got the eternity ring too" he laughs between tears.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mWb91J1Ko
"When did you get this?!" I say looking at my new diamond ring. I've never worn diamonds, it's stunningly clear. The gold band holding the diamond perfectly, so that it sits perfectly on my finger.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rblIpuh5S
"After the night we went out with my mother for the first time. I wanted to do it sooner. Because I am that sure of us and our future" he explains as he places the ring on my wedding finger.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXa7CTLs7u
"Can I please kiss you again yet" he asks flashing me his brilliant smile. How can I refuse that, I've chosen not to be without him. I raise my head to meet his lips, that I've missed. A kiss that deepens and lasts as he holds onto my hands. Forever.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH8oDMLxmz
Picking up my phone, through blurry vision I message Rhea.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyQ11odeZb
Not pregnant, womb uninhabited. But we've got news!
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBFMPYEtFd
I send the message and he smiles as I place my phone down and we gaze into each other's eyes intending on keeping each other for the rest of our lives.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
