Chapter Three, Part Two

Author Note: Sorry for the delay everyone! There was a death in my husbands family, his great grandma passed away in the early afternoon on Friday, then we left town later that afternoon to visit my husbands brother, and were gone until Sunday afternoon. Came home, went to the visitation on Sunday, then the burial was Monday. So I haven't been on a lot until today. I also meant to get started on pushing this chapter out earlier today, but there were tornado warnings & watches, and a tornado hit about a mile and a half - two miles from where our apartment is, so that was scary. And to add, one of my mother-in-laws good friends passed away earlier today, so I'm not sure how much I will be on this week to put up another chapter if I can't get Chapter Four, Part One up tonight after this is posted. Oh and sorry for all the Part One/Part Two Chapters everyone, it just happens that the chapters would be insanely long and difficult for me to do if I don't chop them in half. Chapter Three was originally suppose to be THREE parts, but I decided on just making it two and cut a little out. OKAY, let's get on with the chapter, sorry for the extremely long note. And sorry for saying sorry so much, haha.

Introduction to Chapter Three, Part Two

Sometimes life works out in silly and intriguing ways, which can bring two people together to form an amazing bond of friendship. Which is exactly what life has done for me, first it brought me to my good friend Nick. Life made him decide to move to Twinbrook from Sunset Valley, and get a job at our hospital, and the first time that Nick and I spent time together outside of work it was great, and we instantly clicked and felt like we had known each other for a good portion of our lives. Then life caused Jay to move from Sunset Valley to Twinbrook as well. When Nick told me I needed to call his friend that was new to the town two weeks ago, life decided it was the opportune moment for me to make a new friend, and I took that chance.

Jay and I have been talking on the phone for hours every afternoon as soon as I got home from work. In fact, Jay is the only person that I have been thinking about daily outside of work since that night we met and had a nice dinner together. My stomach twists, and flips, I get the giggles any time I'm talking to Jay it feels like, my palms get sweaty, and I just can't get the guy out of my head no matter how hard I try. Everyone has noticed my contagious smile that has been on my face ever since a week ago when Jay came to visit me on my lunch break.. That was when all these feelings started to happen. It's just so new, and different and I would do anything to be with this guy, but I have no clue if he feels the same way.

Chapter Three, Part One



The day was a beautiful day, the sun was shining brightly, the rays of light that were shining down on me as I performed a vaccination clinic, and warmed my cheeks. The usual smile that I have been displaying for the past week now, was gone for right now since I had to concentrate on giving these shots.Thankfully the last three people didn't put up too much of a fuss, well, maybe one person did but I don't blame them, I still can't get over the size of the needles and I've been working at the hospital for four and a half years now. Soon though it was time for my shift to end, and I quickly said goodbye to the three people who had just gotten their vaccinations, they thanked me and then dispersed. It was now two o'clock and I had instructed Nick earlier in the morning when I arrived at the hospital to clock in that he would need to clock me out since I would be at the vaccination clinic until the end of my shift. He agreed to do me that favor, so I could just go on home once my work shift ended. 

As I made my way over to the edge of the sidewalk and looked to see if there was a taxi coming by any chance, my mind wandered off into other territory. I thought heavily on whether I should call Jay when I got inside the taxi to invite him over for dinner tonight, something inside of me was screaming at me to do it. About two minutes passed while I was deep in thought, and finally I had my mind made up, sure it was a quick decision but it felt like an eternity as I silently weighed the pros and cons of making this phone call to him. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my cell phone, and first called the taxi service to get someone to come pick me up since it seemed like there was zero traffic today. Once the receptionist on the other end confirmed my location and assured me that someone was now on their way to pick me up, I ended the call and then dialed Jay's number. Three rings later, I heard the all too familiar voice answer.

"Hey Estelle."

"Hey Jay. How are you? I just got off work a few minutes ago."

"I'm good actually, I was seriously just about to call you. How are you, was work good today?"

"That's good. Ah, and I'm good too, work was fine.. It was long and I had to do a vaccination clinic today, nothing too hard." I replied before speaking again. "Uh-huh, sure you were.." I teased, and let out a light laugh before continuing, "anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to come over tonight for dinner, I'm making something delicious if that helps."

"Haha, I can't pass up free food, now can I?" Jay laughed. "Okay, now I'm being serious... I would love to come over for dinner tonight." He replied, his voice gentle yet still so casual and masculine.

"Sounds good. See you around seven then!"

"Yep, see you then."

With that, I pressed the red end call button on my phone and placed it back inside my pocket. A few moments later my eyes locked on to the sight of a yellow taxi coming towards me, a smile stretched across my lips. Finally, I could get home to wash up and start preparing dinner so it would be ready or close to ready when Jay arrived. As it stopped in front of me, I quickly got inside and told the driver where I needed to go. Once that was done, I quickly put my seat belt on and in a few short seconds I was on my way home.





I ended up getting home around three thirty thanks to having to wait forever for the taxi to arrive, but I still had a good amount of time to get ready. As soon as I had gotten home, I ran to the bathroom and jumped in the shower to take a quick shower, which ended up being thirty minutes long, so by the time I got out and dressed it was a little past four o'clock. But I still had three hours until Jay arrived, so I was doing well, it should only take an hour to make spaghetti, since I was making the sauce from scratch and needed to cut up all the vegetables to go in the sauce, cook the hamburger meat that I would add to the sauce, and cook the spaghetti noodles.

Either way, I was determined to get the food cooking at least if not finished by the time Jay made it to the door and rang the doorbell. So for once in my life, I let the inner chef take over and chopped away at some onions, peppers, garlic, and tomatoes.

The vegetables took the longest, since I had to cut up two of each, the hamburger meat and spaghetti noodles both cooked in about ten minutes. So by the time all that was done and I combined all the ingredients, it was six o'clock, only thirty minutes left to wait. I placed the cooked spaghetti noodles in a new pot with barely enough water to cover the noodles, then poured in the cooked hamburger meat on top of that, then poured the vegetable sauce on top of the hamburger meat and spaghetti noodles. With one click of the knob on the stove, the middle front burner was set on high and the spaghetti meal began to cook more, only a few minutes cooking on high and the entire dish would be complete. I lightly salted and peppered the cooking spaghetti as the delicious aroma from the food began to spread through the house. My nose was in paradise it felt like, and my stomach began to gurgle as I was smelling this delicious food cooking before me. Five minutes passed and I was about to get the spaghetti off the stove when the doorbell rang. My eyes darted to my cell phone as I pressed the button to light up the screen, to read the time. As my eyes came across a bold 6:15 pm, they grew wide and I freaked out, I didn't expect him to be early at all, but I couldn't just leave him outside waiting. So in a moment I was running to the door and opening it.

As I opened the door, my eyes instantly landed on Jay, and I felt my cheeks begin to grow hot, and pink, a silly smile appeared on my face as I greeted him with a quick hug. But my goofy smile lasted only a few seconds more after hugging him since I still had the spaghetti cooking and didn't want to risk leaving it on for much longer afraid it would burn or that a stove fire would start while I was outside.

"Hey, nice to see you. The spaghetti is just finishing up, and I don't want to burn it, so come on in." I barely waited a second after finishing my statement before turning and going back inside.

"Hey. Oh, you cooked spaghetti? Nice, that's my second most favorite meal." Jay beamed, as he happily followed me inside the house.

It only took me a few minutes to finish the spaghetti. Once I got it off the stove, it had to sit for about two minutes so the sauce could cool and thicken a little. As soon as those two minutes were up though, you better believe that I was spooning spaghettin onto two plates and placing them on the table for Jay and I to eat. The first bite of spaghetti that I placed inside my mouth with my fork, was amazing. The sauce was perfect and the noodles were tender, the meat was juicy... It was perfection. Jay looked quite happy with the meal as well, which in turn made me feel very good about my cooking, and about myself. Perhaps, I could be the woman for Jay, we got along famously, I have excellent cooking skills, and I'm a neat freak, we are both the same age, and both of us are single. We chatted through out the meal and just had a wonderful time spending the evening together.

After dinner was complete, I told Jay to make himself at home while I did the dishes really quick. That's the only good thing about being a neat freak, I enjoy cleaning and doing the dishes because if you do them every night right after dinner then you won't have to worry about them piling up in your sink. While I was washing the dishes though, Jay decided to watch some television while I cleaned up in the kitchen. Apparently the show had him really interested because when I was done and came over to him to see what he was watching, his face was priceless. His eyes were all wide with interest and his lips slightly formed into a duck face, haha, it was so great. My heart fluttered as I stared at him for a good few seconds before he broke his gaze on the television and turned it off when his eyes locked with mine.

The moment our eyes locked, Jay stood up and walked a few steps to bring his warm body closer to mine, and never once did his eyes break their hold on my own. It was then as the man of my dreams was standing there in front of me, that I knew I loved him. My blue eyes gazed into the depths of Jay's green eyes, and seemingly into his soul. My heart began to beat faster and faster in my chest, and I felt as if my insides were about to spill out of my mouth. Somehow though, I managed to remain calm in the midst of all the chaos that was going on inside of me, but perhaps it was more than me causing myself to remain calm. Perhaps it was the look on Jay's face, the look that spoke louder than any words could ever dream of speaking. The look on his face gave me the confidence, it gave me hope, and it made me believe that he felt the same way about me as I did about him. Which is why I silently hoped that he would forgive me for what I was about to do if he doesn't feel the same way as I do.

The moment our lips touched, I felt sparks, then fireworks and the electricity that ran through my body causing me to tingle all over. Only for a split second did my brain not fully register what was going on, but once it registered the fact that I had just kissed Jay, and he didn't pull away and reject me, I was on cloud nine. The kiss only lasted for a few seconds, but those few seconds were a lifetime for me. As I pulled back my eyes opened slowly and locked once more onto Jay, waiting to see what his reaction would be.

There were a few moments of silence before either one of us even thought about saying something. But when the silence was finally broken, it was me that broke it. I was just scared that he was afraid of upsetting me which is why he wasn't speaking.

"Um, s-sorry... A-about that, Jay.. You must think I'm an idi--"

"Shhh..." Jay said softly, just barely above a whisper as he moved in closer to me and gently placed one finger against my lips to quiet my apology. Once I was quiet again, he removed his finger from my lips slowly, and then pulled me in close to him, and stroked my hair and cheek gently. His fingers and hand against my face and hair sent chills through my body, and caused a smile to creep onto my face. His touch was so gentle and soothing, not to mention warm, and perfect. "Everything about this man is perfect", I thought to myself as I stood there in his arms, not wanting this to ever end.

Luckily, me melting into his arms in the previous moments didn't have to end when I was thinking that they would. When he planted a more passionate kiss upon my lips, I was immediately transported to a whole new world it seemed. Time stood still as we locked lips, and shared one of the most passionate moments in my our lives together. For the first time I felt truly beautiful, and loved. Sure I wasn't a bad looking person, but I knew there were much prettier women out there than me. But it was the fact that Jay wasn't rejecting these romantic advances from me, and in fact took it upon himself to continue these acts. My mind was a complete whirlwind of thoughts at the moment. All I could concentrate on despite the many, many thoughts and emotions flowing through me was, Jay and I.

"Now what were you saying earlier?" Jay asked as he pulled back from the kiss, a gentle smile gracing his lips.

"Ah... It was nothing." I replied as I too began to grin as the kiss ended. However, I needed to know something, and now. I needed to know if Jay truly felt the same way as I do or if he was just leading me on because he's afraid of hurting me. "Jay... Do you like me, in a romantic way?" Those simple words, that simple question was all that I could manage at the moment, everything was so new and shocking to me that my mind still hadn't had time to fully comprehend all of this.

"Of course... I've liked you from the start of our friendship two weeks ago, but I started having romantic feelings for you shortly after our nightly phone conversations began.. You are the most beautiful, intelligent, amazing, caring woman I have ever had the pleasure of becoming friends with. There aren't even enough words to describe how wonderful you are, and how happy you make me. There's nothing that can rival your beauty either." The sincerity in his voice was unmistakable, and a larger smile replaced the tiny grin on my face. "But do you like me, Estelle?" Jay asked with curiosity filling his eyes.

"Yes, very much so..." This was it, this was my confession of feelings for Jay. This was the moment that I had been wanting to happen for so long now and hearing that he at least was interested in me as a romantic partner, was fabulous news. But I was about to break out the big guns, the 'L' word. "Jay, now, I know this will sound completely insane but... I think I'm in love with you.. I can seriously see myself marrying you and living the rest of my life with you, having kids and growing old. I believe that you are my soul mate.. My one and only..." My voice trailed off at the end. Everything was riding on his reaction to my confession of love for him. My heart began to beat so loud and hard, that I thought it was going to bust right through my chest and flop onto the floor. Nervousness took over my features as I waited for his reply.

Just as I was about to break away from Jay, he slowly let me out of his embrace, but didn't let me go. Instead he held onto me, then let his hands follow my arms all the way down until his hands found mine. My head had dropped slightly, my gaze lowered to stare at the floor. But when his large, manly yet gentle hands closed around mine, I lifted my head to look Jay in th eyes, even if it was in a shy manner. My mouth opened slightly, mostly from wanting to say something, but not knowing what exactly. Then I saw it, a smile.. A smile came across his face again.

"Estelle.. We have only known each other for a couple of weeks now... I have never met a woman and then dated her in two weeks time. It's a little fast, an-"

"Oh, Jay.. I know.. I just... I'm just a fool.. for ever thinking you could possibl-"

"Estelle!" Jay laughed, as he cut me off, just as I had cut him off moments before. "Look, you're not a fool, okay? You're smart. You're perfect. You are the perfect woman, any man would be lucky to have you as his girlfriend, or wife... Especially a man like me." Jays' voice was music to my ears, and every time he spoke, I went to a happy place. For some reason I tuned out most of what he was saying until the end. The very last part caught my attention after girlfriend or wife, and that was 'especially a man like me.'

"What does that mean?"

"It means, I love you Estelle. Who cares if we've only known each other a couple of weeks.. Love is love, and I want to share the love that I feel with you."

"Let's be together then. Be my boyfriend, Jay Welsh. I promise that I will give you my whole heart and soul, as long as you promise not to break my heart. I will never do anything to make you not trust me, and I will never do anything to hurt you, Jay. You are the man of my dreams, the person who I've been waiting for to sweep me off my feet." My voice was full of confidence and happiness as my heart fluttered inside my chest. My heart was no longer beating hard and fast, it was surprised and happy to have found out the things that I needed to know.

"Yes! A million times, yes. I would be honored to be your boyfriend, Estelle Rodriguez. You are the reason that I have even toughed it out in Twinbrook so far, without you, I would only have Nick and you know how that is." Jay replied cheerfully, his voice was also filled with all sorts of happy emotions. "I promise to you Estelle that I will never hurt you or give you a reason to not trust me." As soon as he stopped talking I smiled so big, that my face hurt from it. This was the most perfect evening ever imagined, I couldn't wait to tell Nick, and the girls at work.

The rest of the night after that was spent talking and cuddling, holding hands and kissing. Nothing got too out of control, and we just enjoyed spending the night chatting once more and having a great time just being together like we always did. Except for now it was much more interesting, we were an official couple now. But once the clock read eleven o'clock, it was definitely past my bedtime, since I had to be up for work in the morning. So instead of sending Jay home at almost the middle of the night, I invited him to stay the night with me.

Needless to say, Jay accepted the offer and we spent the first few minutes cuddling in bed and whispering to each other before finally turning off the lights and drifting off into a deep sleep. Even though we weren't cuddling, we held hands and faced each other as we slept. So that when the morning comes and our eyes open for the first time, our gaze would be fixated upon one another. This was the perfect ending to a perfect night.