Taylor's POV
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzjRNZ8ssk
So here I am surrounded by my ex’s, one to my right and the other opposite, staring at me occasionally even though he should be focusing on his date. I look up at him and he catches my eye briefly. Dark green eyes that keep stealing my own.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e1WUaDhi9
I've deliberately been all over my husband in front of him, it seems to spur him on further. Unsure of how I can further deter him, I fear that telling everybody that we're sort of moving will set him off. I eye him again, and he catches my stare. Smiling to himself.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnvddosIJV
"Do you need more pain meds" I ask Ross checking in with him.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbrONRj8mt
"No I think we've got another hour till I can have one" he responds, looking up at the clock.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVECNENQ4T
"How's it feeling" Olivia asks and I glance over at her. Her dark green dress that matches Matty's eyes. She looks up at Ross, and she professional nurse Olivia once again.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdxj1uMifP
"It's around a seven out of ten" he indicates on the pain scale.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqn9aafsnH
"Have you thought about how you're going to manage at home" she asks him and he looks over to me instantly.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8xeU4BUGW
"I'm going to stay here initially with Jay and Taylor" he comments and Matthew looks up at him.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15Skkhr1tv
"Yeah man, I just thought it would be beneficial. Having the en-suite and Taylor insisted" he says and I nod.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6t36rGDKiJ
"Let's see how it all goes" I say looking down at my food.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFC140tAe9
"That sounds like a good plan" Matthew says agreeing with me.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbEJ0IPViW
"But you're pregnant" Olivia says stating the obvious. She never lets sleeping dogs lie.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfAUVautoZ
"I know but I'll be fine; as you can see Jay is an exceptional cook" I laugh.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRZRHGpZK3
"If I get too much, please Taylor tell me" Ross says suddenly concerned and worried.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtMtyH7paP
I tut and face him.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHukj89imUN
"Lord no" I say softly.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaIgN6QUwm
"Ross you're all good. Honestly" Jay says smiling.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu67jv8Kkp
"Honest" I say softly reassuring him.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEeQFXQ1uu
"Hey water is really good for recovery" Olivia chimes in.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyklC2Zz5aU
"Actually the pool may be helpful" she says and I nod to her. I grasp my wine glass with juice in and sip it.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3aHjNuU5m
"This is definitely something we should look into" I say to Ross. He nods agreeing, concern etched on his face.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8DM8OcTD3
"These are wonderful" Christopher says changing the conversation and moving it along. I smile at him warmly.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJECtxnrxe
"Thankyou I'm glad you like them" I say to him.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZyog993lw
"Please have some more" I say to him and he makes up another fajita. I go and grab another bottle of Prosecco for Rachel and Olivia. I pick up the whiskey on the way.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sUanDK2My
"Oh Jay" I say pouring him another.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMmOI04mas
"You deserve to get absolutely smashed by the way as it's probably one of the last times apart from the baby shower" I laugh and he chuckles.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuwYlBzaew
"Believe me" I say looking up as I take a seat.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCFtUtSRy1
"If I could drink I'd be on par with Rachel by now" I say laughing and she chuckles at me.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJlGnwsbPM
"I feel great" she laughs Christopher draped around her shoulders.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzT0uj4OXr
"I'm sure you do" I smirk.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOOZNSF3kc
"Be careful in the pool later" I say laughing.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU47eE7LMqI
"You will be joining me won't you" she looks at me with puppy dog eyes.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYW6CmEmtUQ
I glance at Jay and he just laughs.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqg1eetGBHN
"I'll be joining you" I say laughing.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sGCBhi0Fi
"For a swim" I add and she smiles wickedly.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpNtSLr4Ma
"We went to an antenatal class the other day, and the pool is an option for birth" I begin and Olivia nods to me.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8jPtBTGk2
"They're supposed to be really good" she says and I smile at her.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo0nSK9HYX
"I really like the idea of just lying there" I laugh and Rachel scoffs.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQFqb62RAh
"I'm sure you'll still be doing all the pushing" Rachel snarks.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAKDlcBB0T
"Right yeah but I just think the water will help" I say looking up at Jay.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pSoJM2xHE
"And then when babies arrived, I will be whipping my ass back into shape" I smirk at him.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUn4yyscWLA
"Ohh Taylor I'll be putting another baby in you" Jay laughs and I smirk at him.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJs7PVxVKB
"You're planning another" Rachel says shocked.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2cIOd8oBY
"Of course" he says.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkUi0FBss8
"We want more than one but I feel it's important we wait a little bit" I say reining him in.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdRfPezhWH
"Six months is usually minimum recovery time" nurse Olivia says and I smile at her graciously. Thank you I mouth to her. She smiles.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUGv6W5Ao4
"See six months" I tell him and he chuckles.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNO9fj8yYk
"You take all the time you need darling" he says softly.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO8TD8JiXV
I glance up and meet Matthews eyes immediately, his stare baring down into me. I look away from the sheer intensity of it. Making up another fajita for myself and daring not to look at him again. What does he expect, I'm married and starting a family.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tduoLNG5a
"We went to a plant kitchen yesterday" Olivia says and I smile openly.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9cucvZhZJ
"Wow what did you eat" I ask eagerly and she laughs.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGHMhXekPR
"See I knew you would be interested" she smirks sipping her wine.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhcfZazc9T
"We had faux fillet steaks" she informs me.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1Rxf2bwW0
Rachel looks horrified and Ross laughs slightly. I jab him and he winces.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYwBYvqP1K
"Shit sorry" I say and he laughs.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZ6xWuW04X
"What did it taste like? Matty did you like it? What did they serve with them?" I ask unable to contain myself.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7RwjaIIKl
She laughs and shows me a snap of the food. If you hadn't of known it was plant based, you would have thought it was a rump steak cooked medium rare, served alongside onion rings and potatoes.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzX8tlIXTqM
"That looks wonderful" I say.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhQBWwC0yB
"What were the dips" I ask her and she tells me the different ingredients in each item. I listen interested and it's the first proper conversation we've had. Matthew looks at me amused.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbe4povxuEI
"How was it mate" Jay asks smirking.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDLEqXN3k8
"You know it was oddly like meat" Matthew comments and I laugh.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEhPIUeO2E
"Fascinating" I say.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixNNBSdsiR
"Oh I wanna go" I gush looking at the snap again.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKSWBCFxqv
"Hey I'll take you" Olivia says, chuckling.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHAZuiDnfN
"I'm being honest I wanna try please take me" I say laughing again and she nods.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlQM2BImT3
"Sure" she says laughing.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTPMklTCtN
"Just please don't make her a plant eater" Jay whispers and Olivia snorts.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadplSbfCvJ
"I won't" she says whispering back.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLZkQqhNcP
"Taylor you would like it" Matthew says.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc61kPYhZ5Z
"There's lots of cool street art in the surrounding area and live music and stuff" he comments.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcj7sizVGn
"Taylor can play guitar and sing" he informs Olivia and she nods understanding coming over her face.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpjbSWAK7H
"I didn't know you could play that's amazing and creative" Christopher says.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJ0kP8pkJM
"I can play the drums" he says.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLgig9xZOe
"Oh that's cool" Ross says and I smile over at Rachel.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewOCiyDbwE
"You'll have to show us your skills" I say to him and he laughs.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ82PhC7qlZ
"I'd love to" he says. Whenever Christopher contributes to conversation he always makes everybody smile, there's nothing about him that is deceptive, rude or controversial.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQRFSjzPlt
Once we all finish our fajitas, I stand to grab the lemon cakes.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfhKGqslit
"I'm on it" Jay says smiling at me and going over to the cake tin.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7s8l9Ml5R
"Darling the custard too and the cream" I say to him over my shoulder and he smiles.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusmPgn1fxX
"I baked these" I say to Olivia and she nods interested.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3vtfCe4RF
"I think you've all tried my lemon cake before, but this time I've added in drizzle sauce too" I say to her and she smiles.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0na6ofQbE
"You really love food" she smiles.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLE35dpaWl
"I love making it, having people try it and sharing it" I say softly and she nods, this time with no condescension.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSUtBGJwsg
Jay places the cake on the table and bowls for everybody. He comes back with fresh cream and custard.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbuHqSfWBf
"So as you can see, it's easy to put on weight when your wife continually cooks and bakes" Jay laughs.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqZPBDrbOc
"Baby you still look wonderful" I say looking up at him.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPanBtPFtL
He kisses my lips before sitting down and waiting for me to cut my cake.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxQmehpGlp
I cut it into equal slices and share it out equally.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8ZeWnITZf
"Cream or custard" I ask Jay and he smirks.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFH3Jioo4E
"Cream please" he smirks and I pass him the bowl and spoon.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsO3bhmgpNN
"Mmm this is great" Ross smiles next to me eating it on its own, no cream or custard.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWorgzIesIE
"It's made with Italian lemons" I comment.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAoPeoHRKs
Olivia nods asking where we visited in Italy. I explain that we started at the Amalfi coast, alluding to its wonderful beaches and Italian restaurants. I detail the Mazda/ Maserati incident and she laughs.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZlifj0k3m
"Mazda's and Maseratis are not all that different are they" Rachel smiles and I laugh along with her at Christopher's utter shock.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0cKVVeU9M
"They're a fair bit different babe" he smirks and I just chuckle.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhulAbNWSmU
"Where did you go after the Amalfi coast" Olivia asks interested.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jk1VfJ0a1
"We decided to visit Tuscany, the Umbrian countryside" I begin taking a deep breath.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSScplZcvx
I look over at Jay and he nods, smiling slightly. Grasping my hand in his own.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhMGnRr6kt
"My nan lived in Tuscany, so Italy is sort of in my blood. I guess you could say" he says and Matthew looks up at him curiously.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GbVaezojg
"We looked into Italian farmhouses, and homes there." He says softly looking into my eyes.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnATxgNptFk
Rachel shifts in her chair and Ross holds my other hand under the table. I should brush him off, but of all of the times that I need to hold his hand, this is one of them.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkEZvTMTVA
"So we closed in on the perfect farmhouse, in the countryside there. It's where these lemons are from" he says glancing down at the cake.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZe9pHwGUI6
"You bought a farmhouse" Rachel says abashed.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeV8N3U4FC6
"I bought us a family farmhouse there; yeah with a grapevine, wine cellar, lemon grove, tennis courts" he says looking at me.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzSq0s1Alc
"And of course a pool Rachel for you to come and dip in" he laughs.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZwjb5qPCn
"So we were planning on having the baby there." I say softly and I look up at Ross. He wipes his eyes and it breaks me. He knows what this means. I think of all of the Italian sunshine, the memories we can make with our children and I make myself say the rest.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwQ3GHadRp
"And seeing what life could offer us there" I say finally.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30pa6FseLm
"We're still keeping this place" Jay says softening the blow.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRj277nAtg5
"I felt it was important to have this place too, Taylor's family lives here. Her mum and dad. And I didn't want her to not have that option" he says deliberately looking at Matthew.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Md55xDZQw
"Wow" Rachel says taken aback. She wipes her eyes and I smile over at her.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU9vTK3KAG
"Honestly this is not me saying goodbye you should know me better than that" I laugh.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWCcn2JlWN
"It's me saying that you'll be coming over to stay in Italy a lot" I say to her and she smiles nodding. Rachel is speechless and it's a first. I haven't dared to look at Matthew.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruYShf2hh6
He gave up London for me, although I told him not too. He gave up a scholarship and pursuing his dreams telling me that he would stay where I was in the world because he believed so fervently that we were supposed to be.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXfygoyclL
"Honestly guys, it's all good" Jay chuckles.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bwLQCqBVx
"We'll still be here." He says softly and I look up at Jay smiling.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75HcE6zVjh
"We'll be here, and there, and all will be good. You'll have lots of original Italian wine" I say to Olivia, still not looking at Matty.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmD7NBR2tj
"And lemon cake" I tell Ross and he wipes his face smiling.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI4dCEjtca
"Don't cry" I say to him and he laughs slightly.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHy2G4KW7Z
"Mmm excuse me when will we get to meet little Gilbert Scott" Rachel asks.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp73sr3jeR
"Don't worry once he's safely born we'll arrange stuff" I tell her.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqLsJYlFCD
"Come on then let's see this farmhouse" Christopher says smirking.
24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpE65yTHeJ8
Jay pulls out his phone and shows him the snaps we took, Rachel gasps and I love her overreaction to every single picture.
I finally glance up at Matthew, and he's absolutely in shock. I can tell from his resignation. His arm around Olivia as she looks at the pictures. Jay is tidying up and he stares directly into my eyes. Imploring me to consider him, begging me not to leave. It's exactly the reaction I had feared and I mouth to him that I'm sorry. I am sorry, for the way he feels, but I know that he will move on far more easily without me continually being the reason that his new girlfriends don't work out.
ns 15.158.61.53da2
