***Jays POV***
~past tense~
March
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All things considered, I didn't blame Taylor for not joining me on our date the following evening, after that bust up at the party. However insistent as I am we rescheduled. Having finally removed Matthew from the party, as he insisted to drink himself into oblivion following their argument. I drove us home, having only had one brandy poured by Taylor and no drugs. I've finally managed to remove him from my sofa, and back to his own place. It took patience, but I was there for him even if I was planning dates with his ex whilst he sobbed on my sofa.
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Shaking off the negativity from the past few days I shower and focus on myself and my own objective. Taylor is single, let's be honest telling somebody that you're not right for them is end game. She practically ending things with Matthew on the spot, and even though I'm unsure of her involvement with the big blonde bear Ross, I know for sure that I can out do him in almost every damn respect.
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Striding our of my bathroom, a towel wrapped around my waist I pull on a white shirt and my Armani suit. Fiddling with my hair a bit in the mirror, I sigh resigned on leaving it styled in its usual way. Glancing out over the lake, I think about Taylor, standing before this large window gazing out at the pier. Putting all of my hopes on this one evening is a bad idea, however I have already informed my mother that I will be seeing Taylor.
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Walking down the steps to the indoor garage, I decide upon the Royce. I will not be drunk around her tonight. I'm picking her up, that should piss Ross off. Starting up a Rolls Royce always makes me feel all man, and quite frankly that's the vibe I'm trying to channel right now.
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The drive from the lake house is pretty, the sights are always illuminated even in the dark and the water shimmers as you pass the inky lake, making you wish that you were sailing instead of driving.
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Eventually after the one hour drive I arrive parking up on the drive and sending her a quick message. Seeing that his car is not here, I step out of mine and walk up to the porch as she opens the door and locks up. Taking her arm in my own I guide her over to the car and she looks up at me gasping at the traditional Rolls Royce. It's a phantom, gloss black in colour and she slides into the passenger side elegantly in her dress and heels.
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"Where are we going, Jay" she asks as I fire up the car.
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"You said you liked champagne, we're going somewhere I know that sells champagne" I say smiling over at her.
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"Wonderful" she smiles back at me and I yearn to make her mine.
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"I'm going to drop you back though so I won't drink loads, however you feel free to get smashed" I laugh as the car smoothly cruises us through the lanes.
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Taylor genuinely laughs back and I smile. I never really thought about dating in this way before. Usually I would just approach a girl and she would just reciprocate. I wouldn't take her places, I wouldn't worry about what I'm saying to her. I wouldn't try to make her laugh or like me. Because I wouldn't need that from any girl. Apart from Taylor.
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"I like that dress a lot on you" I tell her. Her hair is flowing down her back in loose curls. The evening dress hits the spot perfectly, she knew that I would take her somewhere fancy. Cut with a low back, in a classic black colour which skins down her body all the way to her stilettos.
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"Thanks Jay, I love you in a shirt" she says smiling at me with red lipstick on that I would quite like to mess up.
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***
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Upon arrival of our destination, I idle at the front of the building and the valet takes the car to park it for us. I hold onto her forearm and guide her up the steps to the entrance. It's lit up, the stone building can seem domineering however Taylor looks up at it smiling. Grandeur doesn't phase her, she doesn't gush over the finer things in life yet she appreciates them. And that is exactly why she is the one for me.
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"Who knew I would make a gent out of you" she says smiling standing at the top of the steps and holding onto my arms. I stand in front of her and her eyes linger on my lips. Thinking and deliberating. Next she looks into my eyes, I know I'm having a moment staring into hers. Her lashes and blue eyes, they make me feel like I'm drowning in the best way. I don't ignore moments like this. I place my hand on her lower back, and I plant a soft kiss on her lips, there's so much heat behind it. She wants me, but I'm doing this right this time. Gentlemanly behaviour.
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I walk in with her, her arm in mine. The grande hall is lined with white roses, planted inside against the gold walls.
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“A rose for the lady” the young man says standing behind the entrance table, he plucks a white rose and Taylor holds onto it graciously dipping her head to smell it.
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“Thankyou” she says graciously before I guide her through the main dining room. Tables covered in white table cloths with upholstered chairs surrounding them. We are seated looking out over the lake and I smile to myself just knowing that this could be her view every morning in the future. Unaware as of yet of my lake house, she smiles and eyes the lake in awe.
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The live band strikes up a tune and she beams at me. I thought there might be live music due to it being a Saturday evening but I wasn't sure. It’s a live jazz band, with a male vocalist singing along their own rendition of kiss from a rose. She eyes the large grande piano her eyes going wide before she focused on me again.
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"Thank you Jay" she says once we have two glasses of champagne set down before us.
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“You’re more than welcome” I say to her staring into her blue eyes.
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"I feel like we see each other alot but only in situations where we kind of have to be around each other like university" I add and she smiles.
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"And I want to be around you, I want to get to know you more" I add and she nods happily.
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"Yeah you're right we do only see each other at university" she agrees sipping champagne and wearing the earrings I bought her.
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"Actually I have to thank you for being so supportive when.." she begins and then cuts herself short embarrassed.
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Interesting.
"I just mean at the end of last year" she recovers and I place my hands on the table, open body language. There was just something I couldn’t put my finger on when Matthew reacted in the way he did at the party, the obvious heartbreak but mixed in with some kind of tragedy.
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"Last year, I don't know whether you realised but you helped me a lot through some difficult stuff" she begins and I keep my eyes on her to show her that I’m listening.
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"You wanna share" I propose and she leans into me.
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"You. Are. Irresistible" she says shocking me imagining we would be going down a torrent of conversations about Matthew which actually I wouldn’t mind but she merely smiles enchanted watching me.
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"I don't know how you don't see that Jay, you could be with any woman right now. Three women have clocked you already." She laughs looking over her shoulder briefly.
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“You were there for me the whole time” she smiles and I just listen to her a small smile growing over my lips.
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"I keep thinking one day I'm going to talk to you and you're going to knock me back uninterested" she explains and I watch her eyes realising she’s being utterly honest.
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"Taylor" I say clearing my throat after her little speech.
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"You. Are. Beautiful" I tell her, pausing to watch her smile. Confidently topping up her glass with more champagne, she smiles and I exhale finally seeing the bigger picture.
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"I get you, finally" I say and she smiles resting her head in her hands as she gazes at me over the table from her.
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"So I was thinking all this time a lot of different things. You didn't like me back, you didn't think I was good enough, I couldn't make you happy or I wasn't worth your time." I explain going through the thoughts I’ve had for years surrounding our tumultuous friendship which morphed into a full blown love affair.
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"But instead you thought I would grow out of this feeling, which I can assure you I will not ever." I explain, giving her some time to process my words before I continue.
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"Taylor" I say again as she looks up at me.
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"I can see why you wouldn't trust me, I get why you would think I would act that way around you" I explain softly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
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"But I've known you for, what over a year now, and I haven't been able to not think about you in that way. I promise you that I've actually tried to rid you from my life, I've tried to stop feeling anything. And actually I've caused people pain in trying to do that, and I managed to make you think I was some womaniser" I half laugh and she smiles at me.
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"But I really feel like now I can show you myself, I can show you how much I love you" I say and my voice breaks a little. She notices and places her hand in my own.
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"I trust you" she says simply and that’s enough for me, I hold onto her small hand seeing everything I’ve wanted in my whole entire life encapsulated in her eyes.
