Young & Wild & Free

Blake moved about Lily’s nursery, bouncing the baby in her arms and periodically dropping a kiss down on top of her white-blonde head. Lily was two weeks old and Shawn had insisted upon taking Phoebe out of the house for a few hours. When Lily was finally asleep, she tucked her down into her crib before cranking up the baby monitor and taking it with her down to the kitchen. Popping a bagel in the toaster, she grabbed the ingredients for her morning protein shake and blended it together before sitting down for her breakfast.

Taylor would be over later that morning and she knew she had to say something. She had come to terms with herself and knew that she did what she did for all the right reasons. Telling Taylor was another thing.

From: Hall
Bringing you a muffin :)

Blake smiled sadly at his thoughtfulness and reminded herself to eat it anyway and dispose of the evidence of her bagel. It wasn’t another half an hour before she heard the engine of Taylor’s SUV in the driveway.

“Hey babe.” He called from the doorway, quietly shutting the door and slipping off his shoes. He walked into the kitchen and she realized upon seeing him with a faint thump in her chest that he really made her happy and she was at risk of breaking his heart.

“Hey you.” She smiled, tilting her head up for a kiss as he engulfed her for a squeeze of a hug. “You smell good.” She complimented, closing her eyes and inhaling softly.

“Blueberry cream cheese muffin.” He held up the unmarked brown bag from the Positively 3rd Street Bakery.

“My favorite.” She grinned, setting it on the counter, looping her arms around his neck and kissing him gently.

Taylor could tell right away that Blake was nervous. Sure, she had been a little off for a few weeks, but she looked tense, and tense was the very opposite of Blake’s personality.

“Thank you for that,” she patted the bag on the counter, “but I really think that the best thing we can do is just talk for a moment… before either of us gets too comfortable.” Because you’re probably going to want to leave the second I tell you… She thought to herself. She led him to the formal family room, sitting down on the one person arm chair as he sat as close as possible on the closest corner of the loveseat.

“Tell me what’s wrong, B.” He frowned softly as she crossed her legs, gathering her hair to one side of her shoulder.

“I’m just gonna get this all out at once, so please, if you can, just let me say it all the way through.” She sighed, feeling her face heat up as she anxiously twisted a ring around her finger. Taylor nodded, knowing that she really needed his undivided attention. “It’s just… a few weeks ago I wasn’t feeling good and I was cranky and sensitive and I really wanted nothing to do with you,” she paused for a short, cynical scoff. “And then I noticed that I was… late.” She forced herself not to look at his face. “I went back to those few times at your place in your bed and shower that we weren’t careful so I snuck into Phoebe’s room and I took a test she had under her sink.” She began to wrench the ring around her finger as she shook her head softly. She collected herself, remembering that she was strong. “It was positive.” She exhaled, being able to hear a pin drop in the room was an understatement. “And I think that if we had been together longer or maybe if we had been a little older or a little more serious, that could have worked out – in a different life, ya know?” She still refused to look at his face. “So I went to the clinic… and I had it taken care of.” She finished her story, feeling as though her mouth were still full of words left unsaid. “I’m sorry that I didn’t say something sooner, but now it isn’t a problem and it’s over… it’s all over.” A few minutes of silence passed before she could finally bring herself to look up from the hands folded in her lap.

Taylor’s face was white, more white than usual, but his eyes were soft. Either he wasn’t upset or he was good at hiding it.

“I don’t blame you.” He said quietly, reaching across and taking her hands in his. “I’m not mad,” he continued, “and I understand why you did it.” He let out a breath of his own. “I wish you would have told me sooner, but what’s done is done and… and I don’t want this to tear us apart.” He looked up into her eyes. “I care about you so much, and I don’t want this to be what breaks us, I want this to bring us even closer together.” He couldn’t believe how much bigger his hands were than hers at the moment. “I’m in love with you, Blake. I know it sounds… silly because we’re so young and we haven’t been together long and now with this… but I love you.” He gave her a watery smile as silent tears traced down her soft cheeks.

“You do? You’d love me? Even after?” She asked, teardrops rolling down her long lashes.

“Even after.” He nodded, catching her as she all but flung herself into his arms, burying her face in his neck and holding her there as she collected herself.

“Thank you for not being mad.” She whispered against his skin.

“It wouldn’t be fair of me to be mad.” He shrugged. “I can’t say that if given the decision, I wouldn’t have done the same thing.” He sighed, “I do wish you would have told me, but I know that in the future when we have problems, you’ll come to me.” He stroked her hair gently.

“I love you too, Taylor.” She looked up at him. In his opinion, she never looked more beautiful.

“Good.”

•••

“Well, someone looks happy.” Jordan commented as he looked up to Blake who sat in the stands during the Oiler’s closed practice. “You two back to normal?” He asked, skating around Taylor as they collected pucks near the bench.

“Better than ever.” Taylor grinned. It had been two weeks since she told him about the abortion and they were finally back on track and even better than before.

“I’m trying to think of something good to get her for Christmas.” He shrugged his shoulders, taking his voice down a notch even though they both knew she wouldn’t be able to hear him from the seats anyways.

“You should get her Patrick Kane.” Jordan suggested, making Taylor frown deeply as his eyebrows furrowed together.

“Slavery is illegal. Besides, I don’t like the idea of her being in the same room as him.” He continued. “I was thinking maybe going on a trip or something?” He suggested.

“When the fuck are you ever going to have the time to take that girl on a trip? Merry Christmas, Blake, we can go to Florida in six months!” Jordan teased. Taylor hated to admit that his friend was right.

“Fuck you.” He mumbled, “What are you getting Ashley?” He asked.

“That’s different, Ash and I have been together for three years, not three months.” He added. “Jewelry and tickets out here again to visit a few times.” He elaborated.

“Jewelry, that’s a good idea.” Taylor thought about it. “How about like a weekend get away?” He asked, like go find a cabin north of here for three days or so?” He asked.

“That actually isn’t a horrible idea.” Jordan looked mildly impressed at his friend’s idea. “That and jewelry.” He nodded knowingly. “Because then if she doesn’t like one thing, she’ll like the other.” He suggested.

“Smart.” Taylor nodded.

“Hey butt buddies, are we going to get something to eat or should I start walking home?” Blake pounded on the glass.

“Wow, that’s one classy woman.” Jordan rolled his eyes before Taylor could deck him in the shoulder.

Half an hour later, the three of them were pulling up to Osaka in Jordan’s SUV, hopping out and heading right to their usual table for afternoon sushi. To change things up, Blake scooted in beside Jordan, making Taylor sit all alone on his side of the booth.

“Well this bites.” He frowned, pouting out his giant lips. Blake wove her arm under Jordan’s and rest her head against his shoulder, looking up at him and pretending to bat her eyelashes, which both made Jordan blush and roll his eyes.

“Jordan is my date for lunch, sorry Hallsy.” She stuck out her tongue as he grabbed his iPhone from his pocket and snapped a photo of them.

@hallsy04: Thirdwheelin’ at lunch. #getoffmygirl #notouchy twitpic.com/qu7skd9

Blake giggled as she read the tweet off of her own cell, saving off the image and sending it to Ashley.

Looking at Taylor, Blake couldn’t help but realize how in deep she was with him.

To: Hall
take me out tonight

Taylor grinned at the text. He was always down for a night out with his girl. Not that he’d ever say it to the guys, but he loved to show her off. She was gorgeous and everyone knew it. She was gorgeous and he was his.

Five hours, she was the one leading him into the club by the hand in her red pumps, black skinny jeans and black top. Her hair was long, straight and silky and he knew he was done for. They were turning heads left and right.

“Buy me a drink?” She asked, flitting around him as she itched to get out onto the dance floor.

“You got it.” He dipped out to the bar, getting the bartender’s attention right away. Ten minutes passed and when Taylor returned to the high top where Blake stood, he could feel his skin getting hot under his flannel button down. She was standing with two guys, laughing and touching one of their arms like they were old friends.

“B.” He announced, stepping into the circle and handing her the vodka lemonade.

“Thank, love.” She kissed his cheek. “Tay, you remember Murphy, this is our teammate, Sean.” She explained, “Sean, this is my boyfriend Taylor.” She grinned, lacing her hand with Taylor’s on the tabletop.

“Good to meet ya.” Sean smiled, sticking out his hand to shake Taylor’s.

“You too, how’s it going, Murph?” Taylor would be lying if he said he remembered Murphy. Sure, he knew that he was Blake’s line mate, but he couldn’t pick him out of a crowd of girl scouts if his life depended on it. They stood for about twenty minutes bullshitting about schedules and high elbows before Blake tugged on Taylor’s sweater lightly.

“Dance with me,” She pouted. Taylor perked up to hear a pretty raunchy rap song being played and he was not about to pass up an opportunity for her to grind her ass into his crotch.

“See ya later, fellas.” He grinned at him like he knew he had the world in his hands the way she lead him through the dance floor. The song switched to something that sounded like Justin Bieber, but he wasn’t going to complain when she started to move against him.

They hadn’t had sex in weeks and the way her skin felt against his was driving him up the wall as she wound her hand around the back of his neck, anchoring her body to his as she slowly pulled his head down to kiss her.

“I know what you’re doing.” He grinned, whispering in her ear.

“Kissing you?” She replied innocently.

“Nope.” He shook his head, watching as her pupils dilated in the slightest.

“Staking my claim?” She laughed, pulsing her hips back into his.

I don’t know if this makes sense, but, you’re my hallelujah.

“You’re mine.” She looked up at him with a predatory gleam in her eye.

“It’s not you who has to worry.” He replied, kissing just below her ear. He could see the flash of a camera just out of the corner of his eye.

Ask me what’s my best side, I’ll stand back and point at you.

“You don’t have to worry, you’re all mine.” She insisted, “I’d be crazy to let you go.” She whispered against his lips, eyes fluttering shut as she kissed him again.

But the grass ain’t always green on the other side, its green where you water it. So I know, we got issues, baby, true, true, true, but I’d rather work on this with you than to go ahead and start with someone new. As long as you love me.