Page 25

25

Taylor

I tug my coat around me tighter, and don’t miss the way Sahara keeps one eye on me and one eye on the Bucks as they play Detroit on the ice in front of us. I didn’t want to come tonight, didn’t want to set eyes on the man I love, who just wants to ‘fix’ everything, and by fix, he means move on with his life, and definitely without me as his wife. He as much as said… I don’t want …I don’t have to be a brain surgeon, or a psychologist like our friend Melanie, to know what that means.

But now there’s a baby. Our baby.

How the hell did that happen? God, I should have guessed by the way my body was feeling so off. I’d been so stressed with school, work, theater and playing a role that felt far too real, to sit down and figure out what my body had been trying to tell me.

I don’t know how I’ll manage school and a newborn, but I doknow one thing. I want this baby. No matter what. The doctor said I’m due in the summer, which buys me time to recover before the fall semester. Logically, that should be reassuring. But logic doesn’t quiet the storm in my heart.

Elias said we weren’t done talking. He’s texted so many times. I know I should respond and I willrespond. But not yet. Not until I can face the reality that the man I love doesn’t love me back.

I shake the thought away, but memories crash over me like a tidal wave—the way he’d look at me across a crowded room, like I was the only person there. The way he held me, touched me, made me feel like I mattered. Like we mattered. How could I not fall for a man like that? And worse… how could I have believed, even for a second, that he was falling for me too?

Maybe I’m too na?ve. Too young, and too hopeful, to believe in a love that was never mine to believe in.

Now here I am at the rink, because Sahara draggedme out of the house—literally—after days of nothing but school, doctor’s appointments, and hiding out in my bedroom. She thinks she’s saving me from myself, but what she doesn’t know is that I’ve been torturing myself in a whole different way.

I’ve driven past Elias’s place more times than I care to admit, my hands gripping the wheel so tight my knuckles turned white. Every time, I told myself I wouldn’t do it again. And yet, I’d find myself there, staring at the house I once poured my heart into decorating, only to see unfamiliar vehicles parked outside. A rotation of them throughout the week.

Was he partying? Filling the place with beautiful, carefree women, bunnies? Honestly, that doesn’t sound like him. At least, not the Elias I knew.

But maybe I never really knew him at all.

The truth is, I thought I wanted freedom. A year ago, the idea of running wild, being young and unattached, sounded exhilarating. But that was before Elias. Before I knew what it felt like to have someone make even the smallest moments feel like everything . Now, I don’t want any of those things. Not without him.

A sharp pang hits my chest, and my eyes sting with unshed tears. A mix of baby hormones and heartbreak. I press my hand to my stomach, cradling the tiny life inside me, and force myself to breathe.

“It’s going to be okay,” Sahara consoles, squeezing my hand. I turn to her, wanting to believe her.

But it’s notgoing to be okay. We both know that. Unless, of course, she knows something I don’t. Which isn’t possible.

My mind once again drifts back to last week, to the conversation I’ve replayed a million times. No matter how hard I try to twist it into something else, I keep landing on the same painful conclusion.

It was all pretend.

What about the bunnies, Taylor?

The thought crashes into my mind out of nowhere, and for a second, I don’t even know where it came from. Then I remember. Kalen had told Elias he should’ve stuck to the bunnies. He didn’t agree. He didn’t laugh it off. He said my name. My name.

I sit up straighter, my stomach twisting in a way that has nothing to do with the baby.Did he say my name because of the act we were putting on… or because…

Wait.

He’d stopped seeing the bunnies long before we ever started pretending.

That was because of his parents, though. Because of his ex selling pictures to the media. Right? Oh, God.What if I’m wrong? What if he stopped seeing them…because he wanted to be with me? Is that just wishful thinking?

“Oh God,” I whisper, my fingers tightening over my stomach as my eyes blur over the rink below.

Sahara squeezes my hand tighter. “I know,” she murmurs, wincing.

That’s when I snap back to the moment—just in time to hear the buzzer and the crowd erupting in fury. I blink, refocusing. The entire arena is screaming at Kalen, and not in a good way. What the hell just happened?

My eyes dart across the rink, searching for my brother. I spot him skating toward his coach, and before I can even process what’s happening, he’s on the bench—benched. A chill runs through me, my stomach twisting into knots as I glance at Sahara.

“He’s not being a team player,” she explains quietly. “Elias was open, and Kalen wouldn’t pass to him. Detroit stole the puck and scored.”

Oh God.

My pulse pounds in my ears. “This is all my fault.” Right from the start, I swore I’d never come between friends. And now, here they are, unable to even play together.

“We have to do something. I need to talk to Kalen.”

“Yeah, you do.” Sahara pats my hand, her voice gentle but firm. “And you also need to talk to Elias.”

I swallow hard, my throat tight. “I…” The words stick in my throat, tangled with fear. Then, finally, I force them out. “You’re right.”

Relief floods her face. “I’m so glad to hear that.”

I exhale shakily, trying to gather my thoughts, but my eyes betray me. They drift back to the ice, and land on Elias. My heart jumps into my throat. He’s looking at me. The air around me seems to still as our gazes lock. His expression is unreadable, but there’s something there, something raw. Hurt.And beneath it, something that looks dangerously close to love .

I’ve seen that look before.

A sharp pang cuts through my chest.When I told him to leave, I was an emotional wreck—overwhelmed, reeling from the pregnancy news, and then Kalen lost it, making everything worse. It all happened so fast. Did I even give Elias a chance? Have I made a terrible mistake?

I stay frozen in place as the game plays out, my hands clenched in my lap. Kalen never leaves the bench. By the time the final buzzer sounds, we’ve lost. Most of the guys clear out quickly, and for once, I’m relieved. The last place I want to go to is Kilting Around for a post-game drink—non-alcoholic, of course. I need to talk to Kalen, and that’s not going to happen in a loud bar filled with distractions. As we make our way out of the stadium, movement in my peripheral vision makes my breath hitch.

Elias’s parents.

My stomach clenches. I lower my head, my pulse hammering in my ears. If they were here watching the game, they hadto notice something was wrong. They had to see the way Kalen played—how he didn’tplay. They’re going to know something happened between Elias and me.

How do I tell them that I’m carrying their first grandchild? That Elias and I are… divorcing? A fresh wave of nausea rolls through me.

Wait.

Maybe they alreadyknow. Maybe Elias told themeverything . He’s close with his grandma.

I gulp, and my brain stalls.

G randma.

I don’t get to call her that anymore.

Sahara must sense the ache in my soul, but she doesn’t say a word, she just puts her arm around me and guides me outside to her car. My body moves on autopilot as I climb into the passenger side and she stands outside the car, her phone in her hand. She spends a few minutes texting and then slides in beside me. I stare out the window as she negotiates the busy parking lot, but when she takes a left instead of a right, I sit up.

“Where are we going?”

“Kalen wants to go to Kilting Around,” she tells me, her eyes locked on the road.

“Really?” That doesn’t sound like Kalen. After a loss, he usually just wants to go home, watch games in replay until he can’t keep his eyes open.

“You guys can talk there,” she says, still not looking at me.

“Sahara, I don’t want to go there if Elias is there. I’m not ready and while I know we need to talk, I don’t want to do it in a busy pub.”

She casts me a fast, nervous glance, and I can’t help but think something is going on with her. Heck, how would I know? I’ve been wallowing in self-pity so long that I haven’t looked up long enough to see how my friend is doing.

“Saha—” I begin, but she cuts me off.

“It’ll be okay. From what I heard, his parents are in town, so he’s with them.”

I sink a little in my seat. I can’t imagine his grandmother would want to go to a pub so I relax a bit. Not that I ever truly believed he spent the past week filling his house with bunnies, but one of those unfamiliar vehicles in his driveway suddenly make sense. It was his family.

God, I miss them.

A little while later, she finds us a parking spot on the quiet street. If the guys had won, the streets would be busy. They didn’t so I’m assuming they’ve all gone straight home. I tug my hat on as I step from the car and a cold breeze blows down the street. When we reach Kilting Around, there’s a sign outside indicating that it’s closed for a private event. I’m a little relieved.

“That’s too bad,” I say, faking it.

“Let me just check inside.”

“We can’t go in, Sahara. It’s closed.” She pulls the doors open anyway, and the place is completely empty. She hurries up to one of the servers, has a talk with him, and he waves me over. I can’t help but think something is off as I cross the room.

Sahara takes my hand. “He says the event isn’t starting for a bit, so we can have a drink.” She guides me to our favorite booth, and as I sit, my heart clenches. How many times did I sit next to Elias in this booth?

I order a ginger ale, and Sahara orders wings and a pitcher of beer for the table, for when Kalen arrives. Wings do tend to cheer him up, but he’s going to be upset when I ask him not to take my mistakes out on Elias.

She texts Kalen, to let him know we’re inside and it’s okay to come in, despite the private event sign. The server comes back with our order, and Sahara keeps glancing at the door. I check my watch. It’s been a while. I’m sure Kalen will be here soon, but he’d better hurry before the private event starts.

The door bangs open and in walks Kalen, a scowl on his face. My heart lurches as he crosses the room and slides in beside his fiancée, his jaw tight.

“Hi,” I greet him nervously. He grumbles under his breath and I brace my hands on the table. “Kalen, we need to talk.” His head lifts, but then all three of us turn when the door bangs open again. My heart jumps into my throat and my entire body goes weak, when a large, familiar figure enters.

Elias.

Three more figures follow him in. His family.

My gaze flies to Sahara. “What’s going on?”

She holds her hands up and Kalen pushes to his feet, like he’s about to shove Elias and his family right back out the door. I follow him up.

“Kalen, stop,” she orders in a loud, demanding voice I’ve never heard before. She points to our seats. “Sit, both of you.” We hesitate and she adds, “Taylor, you helped me when I was having trouble with the man I love.” She glances at Kalen. “Now I need you both to sit down and listen, so I can help with the man you both love.”

I nod, and I don’t know why I’m suddenly thinking about this, but I blurt out, “What about the private event?”

“This is the private event. I helped Elias arrange this.”

“Oh.” I gulp and sit, so does Kalen and that’s when Elias and his family start toward us.

His family sits quietly at the table to my right, and Elias stands in between us. I catch a quick glimpse of Grandma, who offers me a warm, understanding smile. I fight back the tears and work to smile back.

“Thank you, Sahara,” Elias begins, his voice strained. He looks pointedly at me and I can’t fight the tears when I see how tired he is. No matter how much I’m hurting, I’ll always love and care about his well-being.

“Taylor. I should have told you this a long time ago. I love you.”

My heart skips a beat as I clutch the edge of the table, my mind racing. Did he really just say that? Does he truly mean it? My thoughts swirl, trying to find a way to make sense of what’s happening. And as if reading the doubt written across my face, he steps closer, his voice steady and full of raw emotion.

“I love you,” he repeats, a quiet certainty in his eyes. “I think I’ve loved you since the first moment I saw you.”

My breath catches, and just as my knees start to feel weak, he takes another step toward me.

“I didn’t do anything about it, because you’re my best friend’s sister.” Kalen shifts uncomfortably, but doesn’t interrupt. “You were in college, with your whole life ahead of you, and I never wanted to stand in the way of that. I thought if we stayed married, I’d be holding you back... and then…now, well, you’re pregnant.”

His voice drops softly on the word ‘pregnant,’ and the way he says it—full of awe and something deeper—makes me dizzy with emotion. I don’t know what to do with myself anymore, so I stand, and step toward him, my chest tight with everything I’m feeling.

“Elias,” I whisper softly, my mind struggling to find the right words, but before I can speak again, he’s already reached for my hand, pulling me closer.

“I love you so much, Taylor. So damn much.” His voice cracks slightly as he presses his hand to his chest, his eyes searching mine. He looks so vulnerable, so heartbroken yet hopeful, that I nearly collapse back into my seat, overwhelmed by the love in his gaze.

“I fought this feeling for so long,” he continues, his voice breaking in places, “But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t run from it. I love you. I always have.”

His words are a soothing balm to my soul, and yet he isn’t done. He turns to Kalen, his expression filled with remorse. “Kalen, I owe you the biggest apology of my life. I am so sorry, and while I don’t deserve it, I’m asking for your forgiveness.”

Kalen looks ready to say something, but Elias stops him with a raised hand. “I never meant to hurt you. You trusted me with your sister, and I’m asking you to trust me again. I’ve always wanted what’s best for her, and that’s why I’m here because I want to do right by her, by both of you. I should’ve been honest with you all, from the beginning. I should’ve been braver. I messed up, and I’m asking for forgiveness from you, Kalen, and from you, Taylor.”

“Elias,” I whisper, my heart swelling as I see the fight drain from my brother’s face. They’re going to be okay. And for the first time in a long while, I feel like everything might just be falling into place.

“T,” Elias says softly, his voice full of tenderness. “I know you’re young, and there’s so much you still want to experience in life. But I hope… I hope you’ll let me be the one to experience it with you. I thought I was keeping you from your dreams, from your freedom, but the truth is, I just want to be by your side. I want you to fly. And if you’ll have me, I want to soar with you, every step of the way.”

“Elias,” I breathe, my heart racing, as my mind spins with emotion, trying to process it all. “You stopped seeing the bunnies… because you loved me.”

His voice is a soft, tender whisper, so full of warmth when he says, “Of course I did.” He gently cups my face in his hands, and the love in his eyes—love that I’ve seen a thousand times but couldn’t fully understand until Grandma explained it—wraps around my soul, filling me with warmth, comfort and happiness.

“I want you,” he says, his touch drifting to my stomach, his hand resting there so delicately. “I want our baby.” Tears fall freely, uncontrollably, as his words sink into me. “I need to know you want all that too,” he murmurs, his voice trembling slightly, and I can barely speak through the tears, overwhelmed by everything that’s happening. Gently, he brushes his thumb over my cheek, wiping away my tears, as if assuring me that everything will be okay.

My gaze shifts to Grandma, my heart wobbling when I think about the lie we’ve kept. I manage to whisper, “What…what do they know?” Grandma and Cheryl blink tears from their eyes as Randall, sitting beside them, tugs at his shirt collar, clearly fighting to hold himself together.

“I told them everything,” Elias continues, his words steady but soft. “No one cares that you don’t want to be a Hollywood actress, Taylor. They love you for who you are, just like I do. All they want is for you—us—to be happy, no matter what the future brings.” The thought of that gives me pause. Does he really know what I want? Could he? I’ve never told him.

“In fact, Grandma knew you were pregnant before we did,” Elias adds, a small smile playing on his lips.

A soft, garbled laugh escapes me. “Oh, Grandma,” I murmur, the fullness in my chest making me giddy. “How do you know everything?”

Elias grins and looks over at his grandmother. “According to her, you love me and want a future with me.”

I shake my head, the tension in my body easing. “I was wrong. Grandma isn’t right about everything.”

Elias’s eyes widen, and the room fills with a collective gasp. Without hesitation, I rise onto my toes, my lips meeting his in a kiss full of love, joy, and promise. “But she’s right about this,” I whisper against his lips. “I want it all, with you, Elias. I love you.”

“I love you, Taylor, but did you have to scare me like that?” I laugh, a new lightness in my chest.

I grin and wink at Grandma. “Actually, who am I kidding? She does know everything. She just didn’t know Rip could officiate a wedding. Right, Grandma?” I tease.

She stares at me with wide-eyed innocence. “It was just luck.”

“Luck, yes. I’m the luckiest girl in the world,” I whisper to Elias.

Elias lifts me up and spins me around, pure joy filling my soul. When he sets me down, he turns to Kalen, his expression sincere. “You’ve been there for Taylor her whole life, and you’ve always been there for me. I want to ask you, Kalen, for your permission to marry your sister.”

Kalen’s eyes glisten with emotion, and his voice is thick, when he says, “I wouldn’t want her with any other man, Elias.” My heart swells as the two of them embrace, a bond of love and brotherhood reaffirmed. And then, in the blink of an eye, Elias is down on one knee, Grandma’s ring shining in his hand.

“Taylor Coolidge, my beautiful, sweet wife who I love so much,” he says, his voice cracking slightly. “Would you please marry me?”

A joyous, laughter-filled breath escapes me as I answer without hesitation. “Yes, my amazing husband who I love so much. I will marry you.”

He slides the ring onto my finger, and I gasp in awe. “It fits,” I whisper.

“I had it sized,” he explains, his smile full of tenderness.

I grin, a soft laugh escaping me. “Of course you did.”

As I admire the ring, loving it back on my finger, the room bursts into movement as everyone jumps to their feet to hug us. The air is full of laughter and joy, and it feels so good to see Kalen and Elias back to being friends again. For the next half hour, we celebrate, basking in the warmth of the moment. But soon, exhaustion begins to tug at me, and though I try to hide it, I know I can’t hide anything from my husband.

Husband.

I let the word roll around in my mind, the weight of it making my heart flutter. God, will I ever get used to that?

Elias pulls me into his arms, his presence a calm anchor. “Let’s get you home,” he says softly, and the word home fills my heart with a warmth.

My smile widens as I nod. “I’d like that. But we’d better gather up your family first.”

I glance over at Grandma, who’s still thoroughly enjoying herself, and ask, “Ready to go?”

She waves me off, her laughter ringing through the air. “Nope, I’m having too much fun!” She winks. “Did you see those hot Scots in kilts?” I laugh and she grins. “You youngins go ahead without us.”

Sahara, ever thoughtful, offers, “I’ll drive them home.” I catch a glance between her and Elias, and I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something else going on behind the scenes.

Elias helps me into my coat, and soon we’re on our way. A short while later, we pull up in front of his house, and the sight of the empty driveway catches my attention. The cars that had been here all week are gone, and I’m about to ask why his family needed three cars, but Elias pulls me to him and silences my questions with a kiss that’s deep, and full of longing.

Once inside, we shed our coats, and Elias takes my hand, his grip firm but gentle. “There’s something I want to show you,” he says, his voice full of promise.

I can’t help but tease, “I bet there is,” feeling lighter than I have in a week. He grins and guides me upstairs, stopping outside one of the spare rooms. He pushes the door open, and my breath catches.

I instinctively place my hand on my chest, overwhelmed by the sight before me. My eyes meet his, searching for something in his gaze. “Elias…”

“I hope you love it,” he says, his voice filled with a tenderness that makes my heart race.

I step into the nursery, my fingers brushing over the crib, the soft wood cool beneath my touch. “It’s beautiful,” I whisper, feeling the emotions bubble up inside me.

“I didn’t want to do too much,” he says. “I know you’ll want to add your own touches, but I just wanted to show you how much I love you... and our baby.”

I glance at him, my heart full, knowing that decorating isn’t his thing at all. This gesture, this sweet, thoughtful surprise, means so much to me. “One more thing,” he says, his eyes serious now, full of something deeper.

“Isn’t this enough?” I ask.

“No,” he replies softly.

I take in the excitement on his face, and my curiosity piques. “Come with me,” he says, guiding me from the room. At the end of the hall, he pushes open the door and I gasp in disbelief. Before me is a dance studio.

“Elias,” I whisper, my heart tightening. “You made me a dance studio.”

I step into the room, overwhelmed by the beauty of it all. It’s perfect—everything I could have ever wanted—and it answers the lingering question I had about the strange vehicles parked outside. But even in the face of this incredible gesture, there’s a tiny flutter of something else inside me. Elias must think I want to become a professional dancer or pursue a career in theater. Why wouldn’t he?

I’ve been doing theater at Boston College, and I perform in dance and acting at the local community theater. But I’ve never told anyone the truth about what I really want, not even myself. Deep down, I know the idea of a dance studio for children isn’t something most people would consider viable, and yet, it’s a dream that has always lived quietly in my heart. But a career in theater has always felt inevitable.

Elias comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around me in a tight, comforting embrace. His breath is warm against my ear as he asks softly, “You don’t like it?”

I turn to face him, putting every ounce of excitement I have into my voice. “I do,” I say.

He glances over my head, his eyes thoughtful. “I thought it would be perfect for a dance studio… for kids.”

The air catches in my chest as his words hit me, and I stop breathing for a moment, trying to process. I turn to him, my gaze searching. “What?”

He gestures with a slight nod, and I follow his hand to the corner of the room, where I see tiny little lockers and a little bench. “For the kids,” he says with a grin that stretches across his face. “Isn’t a dance studio for kids your dream, Taylor?”

My jaw drops in shock, and I can’t find words at first. “How… how did you know?” I manage, and then, the realization hits. “Wait, did Grandma tell you?”

He laughs, a soft, warm sound that fills the room. “There are some things I’m able to figure out on my own.”

My heart nearly bursts open. “Elias, this is incredible. And while I absolutely love it…” I hesitate, my joy dimming just a little as reality sets in. “It’s not feasible. There are so many studios in Boston already. I’ll never get any students.”

He steps closer, his hand resting gently on my stomach. “Hey, babe…” His voice is steady, calm. “Well, we already have one student. And for now, maybe that’s all we need.”

A small seed of hope starts to grow within me and I bite my lip, a smile tugging at my face. “You think I can do this?”

“I know you can.” He gives me a knowing smile.

I laugh. “This is way better than a pony.”

He laughs with me. “Oh, there’s going to be a pony.” With his hand back on my stomach, he says, “I’ve been eyeing a ranch in California. A place where we can spend our summers, and yes, it has a pool,” he jokes. “We can all escape to California in the winter when Boston gets too cold.”

“Oh, Elias. I can’t believe this.” I go up on my toes to kiss the man I love, my heart thundering in my chest. I break the kiss and glance around again. “Do you really think this is feasible?”

“Of course I do, and don’t forget. Many of our friends have growing kids and many are pregnant. You’ll have your own built-in class.” He grins, his eyes lighting up with mischief. “And if that’s not enough, we’ll just have to keep having our own babies until we fill up this room.”

I laugh, a warmth spreading through me as I throw my arms around the man of my dreams. “You know, I once joked that you didn’t know women. I was wrong. You doknow women.”

He brushes a strand of hair from my face, his touch soft and affectionate as he leans in to kiss me lightly. “No, Taylor,” he murmurs against my lips. “I know you.”

I sag against him, my body melting into his embrace, warmth spreading through me from head to toe. “Yeah, you do.”

“That’s right.” He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, a smoldering intensity there. “Now, why don’t we head to our bed so I can show you how much?”