She stares at me silently for a while and her face as usual is blank and I begin to wonder if she's ever going to reply to my question and then all of a sudden, her face breaks into a wide smile and she nods "Yes, Yes I will marry you, Rory."
I am incredibly happy and I do not know where I should even begin. I haven't felt this much joy in a long time and my whole being jiggle in excitement as she gives me her hand and I slide the ring unto her ring finger before bringing it to my lips and placing a soft and delicate kiss on it. I get up and claim her lips in mine, just like I hope to make her completely for the rest of our lives.
I don't know why fate decided to give me another chance with Taylor, but I'm more than certain there will be no screwing up this time.
If anyone had told me that I would be given another chance with Taylor I would have laughed and said nice try, but that is what this is, another chance at happiness with Taylor and I do not plan to mess it up.
We reluctantly pull away from the kiss and Taylor bids me goodbye, and although I knew I didn't want to go, I decided it's best to respect her wishes and leave as she asked me to. We will have many chances of being together in the coming future and I'm not going to be selfish.
On my way home the thought of Phoebe crosses my mind again and all the memories of what had happened earlier return and I decided to give her number a call again and after a few rings, the call is answered and I feel instant relief.
"Hello, Phoebe, please don't hang up the phone, I need to talk to you."
The relief I had felt when the call was picked a while ago goes away when I hear the voice that doesn't belong to Phoebe answer me.
"Hello, Rory?" Jack asks over the phone his voice worried and tired. "Do you have any idea where Phoebe is? I got in about an hour ago and I didn't see her at home. She left her phone at home and didn't leave a note on where she might be. I have been calling everyone I think she may be with, but she nowhere man," he explained, his worries increasing with every word he utters.
Although I may not know where Phoebe is, I can as well guess for myself what drove her into doing this. "Calm down, Jack and hold yourself together, I'm coming over." With that, I toss my phone on the car seat and I turn my car around and begin to head in the direction of Jack and Phoebe's residence.
After eleven-minute, I arrive at their mansion and getting down, I make my way towards the doorstep and knock twice on the door. The door opens and Jack walks out and hell he looked worse than he actually sounded on the phone. His button is half undone exposing the white singlet he has on the inside and his tie hanging loosely on his neck. His brown hair rough and manhandled and his light blue eyes are dull and a little tired and work has its stress, but coming home from work and not meeting your wife at home or hearing from her four hours can be a nightmare as well.
Phoebe was right, he does worry a lot, but just like I told her, that trait only exist because he cares too much and that care is what is driving him insane now.
I do not wish to be in his shoes.
"I still haven't had luck, Rory, what do I do?" he asks desperately and weary.
This poor man, what did I do??
"Come inside with me," I tell him, walking inside and he closes the door and follows behind.
"When was the last time you saw her and spoke to her?" I ask immediately we enter the room.
"I saw her last in the morning before going to work and I last spoke to her this afternoon when she called me and told me she was going to visit you." He explains then he stares at me again "Did something happen when she visited you?"
My silence seems to do more harm than good to him, "If you know something that might help, Rory, please do not withhold it. I'm dying over here." he practically begs.
I know, I can see that.
I begin to rub on my temple as the memory of the reason begins to make my temple throb, "I don't think I'm the right person to be saying this, Jack."
"Come on!" he whines, "my wife is gone and God only know where she is and I'm worried for her and the baby, please tell me something if you know it."
I sigh heavily, a part of me does not want Jack knowing about Phoebe past life with Keenan from me, but I can already see the torture Jack is already in and holding back the truth from him now would definitely damage him. "Did Phoebe ever tell you about her past relationship with Keenan?" I ask while staring at him
"The Keenan I know or another?" he asks, a frown growing on his already worried face and that doesn't seem to help matters.
I take that as a no then, God helps us all. "Keenan Hilton, the one we all know."
His eye drops, "No, she never did." He replies, his voice going into an insecure mode.
I step back and raise my hands to keep him calm before saying, "Before you go thinking anything, let me say that what they had was way over a decade ago, so you can be rest assured that nothing is going to happen to bring that up."
"What happened to their relationship, Rory?" he asks instead.
"I happened."
"What do you mean by 'I happened'?"
Flashback
Keenan stepped into the room and I looked up from the computer system in front of me to acknowledge his presence. He looked cold and he takes his seat on the couch not so far from the door and he remained quiet and his face held a hunted look I've never seen on it before and after the third minute of silence, the feeling became unbearable and I asked. "How did it go?"
"How did you think it went?" he exploded, glaring at me murderously from the couch.
I shrugged off his annoying attitude, "No need to bark to me about it, we both know what you had with her was just a fling, it had to end."
"I was never going to hurt her, but you chose to see the worse in me." he stared at me like he looking at someone he had never met before.
"I was protecting my sister, she's my family and the last thing I want is to see her hurt," I responded with my argument.
"I thought I was your family and I was never going to hurt your sister because I loved her! Now she heart hates me and I have to play the villain."
"It's best for everyone, Keenan and if given the chance, I'll do it again... I know you would do the same for Bethany."
"Look at me, Rory, is this what you want? To see me hurting and broken like this?" he demanded, pain is clearly written in his blue eyes.
I immediately looked away from him. I couldn't look at him, and sure he was hurt but I was certain he would get over it in time, "You will find someone else, Keenan."
He wiped his palm over his face and shook his head in defeat.