Chapter 57: "The Morning After"

Taylor woke up to the soft glow of the early morning sun streaming through the windows of their bedroom. The events of the previous night played in her mind like a dream—the stars, the lake, and Alex’s heartfelt proposal. She rolled over to find Alex still asleep beside her, his features relaxed in the peacefulness of sleep. Her heart swelled with love as she watched him, feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness that she hadn’t known was possible. But as much as she wanted to bask in the joy of their engagement, there was an undercurrent of anxiety that she couldn’t shake. Taylor had always imagined that the day she got engaged would be the happiest day of her life. And it was—except for the nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right. She slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake Alex, and tiptoed to the kitchen. The apartment was silent, save for the occasional creak of the floorboards beneath her feet. Taylor busied herself with making coffee, trying to push the unease from her mind. But it lingered, like a shadow she couldn’t escape. As the coffee brewed, she leaned against the counter, her thoughts racing. Everything had happened so fast. They had gone from best friends to lovers, and now they were engaged. It was everything she had ever wanted, yet the suddenness of it all made her wonder if they were moving too quickly. Were they ready for this step? Was she ready? The sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts, and she turned to see Alex walking into the kitchen, a sleepy smile on his face. “Good morning,” he said, his voice husky from sleep. “Good morning,” she replied, forcing a smile as she handed him a mug of coffee. He took it gratefully, sipping it as he leaned against the counter beside her. “I can’t believe last night was real,” he said, his eyes twinkling with happiness. “You said yes.” Taylor smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Of course I said yes,” she replied, hoping he didn’t notice the hesitation in her voice. “I love you, Alex. I always have.” “I love you too,” he said, setting his mug down and pulling her into his arms. “I can’t wait to start this next chapter of our lives together.” She wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his chest. His heartbeat was steady and reassuring, and she closed her eyes, willing herself to relax. But as much as she tried to push her doubts aside, they wouldn’t go away. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, that there was something she was missing. “Alex,” she began hesitantly, pulling back to look at him. “Can we talk?” His smile faltered slightly, concern flashing in his eyes. “Of course,” he said, his tone serious. “What’s on your mind?” Taylor bit her lip, trying to find the right words. “I love you, and I’m so happy that we’re engaged,” she said carefully. “But... do you think we’re moving too fast?” Alex’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Too fast? Taylor, we’ve known each other for years. We’ve been through so much together. I thought this was what we both wanted.” “It is,” she said quickly, not wanting to hurt him. “It’s just... everything happened so quickly. We went from being best friends to dating, and now we’re engaged. I guess I just want to make sure that we’re doing this for the right reasons.” He studied her for a moment, his expression thoughtful. “Taylor, I proposed to you because I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know things have moved quickly, but that doesn’t change how I feel about you. But if you’re having doubts, we can take a step back. We don’t have to rush into anything.” Taylor’s heart ached at the understanding in his voice. He was offering her an out, a chance to slow things down if that’s what she needed. But the thought of delaying their future together made her realize something important—she didn’t want to wait. She loved Alex, and she wanted to be with him, no matter how quickly things were moving. “No,” she said firmly, taking his hands in hers. “I don’t want to take a step back. I want this, Alex. I want us. I just needed to be sure that we’re both ready for what comes next.” He smiled, relief evident in his eyes. “I’m ready if you are,” he said, squeezing her hands gently. “I’m ready,” she confirmed, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. “I’m sorry for doubting; I just needed to work through it.” “There’s nothing to apologize for,” Alex said, pulling her into another embrace. “This is a big step for both of us. It’s okay to have doubts.” Taylor nodded against his chest, feeling a sense of peace settle over her. “Thank you for understanding,” she murmured. “I love you, Alex.” “I love you too,” he replied, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. They stood there for a while, wrapped in each other’s arms, both taking comfort in the certainty of their love. Taylor knew that the road ahead wouldn’t always be easy, but she also knew that they could face whatever came their way as long as they were together. But just as she was beginning to relax, her phone buzzed on the counter. She reached for it, expecting a mundane message, but her heart skipped a beat when she saw the name on the screen. It was a name she hadn’t seen in years, one that brought back a flood of memories—memories she had tried to bury long ago. “Who is it?” Alex asked, noticing the change in her expression. Taylor hesitated for a moment before answering. “It’s…my ex.” Alex’s eyes widened in surprise. “Your ex? I didn’t even know you were still in contact with him.” “I’m not,” she said quickly, her heart racing. “I haven’t heard from him in years. I don’t know why he’s texting me now.” Alex’s expression darkened slightly. “What does he want?” Taylor opened the message, her hands trembling slightly as she read the words on the screen. It was a simple message, but it sent a chill down her spine. “Hey, Taylor. I know it’s been a long time, but I need to talk to you. It’s important. Please call me when you get this.” She looked up at Alex, her mind racing with a thousand questions. Why was her ex contacting her now, after all these years? And what could be so important that he needed to talk to her? “I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I’m going to find out.” Alex’s jaw tightened, but he nodded in understanding. “Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it together,” he said firmly. Taylor nodded, though her mind was still spinning. She didn’t want this to affect their relationship, but she couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling in her gut. Something told her that this message was just the beginning of something bigger—something that could change everything. As she stared at the screen, a sense of foreboding settled over her. The unexpected twist of fate had arrived, and Taylor knew that her life was about to take another unexpected turn.