Chapter 10

They were back in LA; and back at work. Taylor and Chad came over for dinner at least once a week; and they met at a restaurant at least one other time. Gabi and Troy continued to build their relationship, talking sometimes late into the night about deep thoughts and memories, and future dreams. They had long talks about their lost loves and the grief after they lost them

Troy had frozen himself out to almost everyone except Chad and his parents; he focused on basketball during the season and exercise on the off season. He admitted to Gabi that every female had been a turn off for years. The more sexy, available, made up, and dumb they seemed; the more he wanted to run. He admittedly gave none of the females who threw themselves at him a chance. He simply didn't want to. They didn't seem real to him; and they all seemed to want to lure him into a sex trap. He had gotten to the point after a couple of years that he thought he'd just be alone for the rest of his life. It was easier to think that way; to close the door before some woman started talking to him. He had been thinking that way for 3 years before he ran into Gabi.

Telling her these things helped Gabi understand him more. He sheepishly admitted to Gabi that he was enjoying looking at her body on the beach before he realized it was her. He told her that he surprised himself by doing that, because he'd tuned things like that out for years. He wasn't sure if it was because he could gaze at her secretly that he let himself do it; or if she was so hot he couldn't help himself. That admission brough a long laugh to both of them. Gabi responded," I am so glad that I am the woman who woke you up." She kissed him with passion and all of the love in her heart. "I mean look at you; heart, soul, mind, body; you are the most incredible man I could have dreamed of and you are with me." And she kissed him again. Gabi made him feel like he was the most valuable treasure in the world to her; his very soul and being. She didn't care about his money or fame; only about his love and his happiness. A miracle to him. She made him realise that they both deserved each other and the happiness they had as much as anyone else in the world. And he valued that. He treasured the simple things like waking up next to her in the morning. Going grocery shopping together. Someone to plan things with. Someone to watch a movie with on a rainy evening. He wanted them to grow old together. He wanted to see their children and watch them grow up with her. He knew he was in love with Gabriella to the core of his soul.

Gabriella told Troy about her grief after John's death; told her some about her and John's relationship. How he wasn't very affectionate with her, but kind,gentle,respectful, and very smart. Their sex life was ok; but brief. After they married, they only had 3 months together before he became ill. She really missed him when he died. He had been a good friend as much or more than a husband. It almost seemed unreal for a while to her. They barely had a chance together before he was taken away. There was little passion in their marriage; but she really didn't know about that until she found it with Troy. Troy reached over and grabbed her hand at this and kissed it. Gabby had been asked out and fixed up after a couple of years had passed, but those times had made her decide to just give up the dating scene.

She told Troy, that she just couldn't help it with him. He was like a magnet that drew her to him; and she couldn't help herself. That was how he'd worked his magic. She told him it was his irresistable charm and good looks, hot body, and incredible depth as a person that drew her to him. Troy responed that it his whole being was drawn to her like he couldn't get to her fast enough when he met her again. She felt the same way. Throw caution to the wind. Get your heart broken. Who cares if I can be with Troy for a moment. Troy smiled. He'd felt the same way, but he knew they'd be together forever. He knew they'd be together because he'd never let her go once he'd found her. Knowing how valuable and rare love is helped them recognize it in the other. They could lie in each other's arms and be happy forever.

Gabi and Troy talked of children in the future. Whether they'd like a boy or girl or both and how many. Gabi wanted Troy to have a boy to play basketball with and Troy wanted Gabi to have a little girl who was beautiful with her hair and very smart. They laughed at this. Gabi asked if he could stand her being big as a basketball if she got pregnant. Troy laughed and said one of his friends said sex was great when his wife was pregnant. Gabi hit him on the arm and sent him a sly smile.

Troy still wasn't sure what he wanted to do or where he wanted to live in the future. They talked about him doing everything from coaching basketball to going back to school. They talked about where to live to raise the kids. Whether they wanted to live near family and friends. Whether Gabi wanted to work if she had kids. What kind of house and neighborhood they would want. These topics were never closed because they had endless possiblilities.

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Taylor and Chad were closer than ever. They had stayed friends since high school but had never dated each other. Chad always acted like the hot NBA player, but the truth was he usually dated girls he was set up with from the team. Somebody's cousin or sister would get set up with him; and he'd take them out to dinner or to a play a time or two when they were visiting from Kansas or somewhere; never to see them again. The rest of the time, he hung out with Taylor. Usually dinner and a movie on the weekend; a couple dinners during the week. During basketball season, it was so much harder to see each other. Taylor would go to the games at home, but then Chad would be whisked out of town to the next away game. He'd try to call when the time was ok in both time zones. And it had gone along this way for years. Taylor worked at her prestigious job in accounting and business; built her career; yet had this close friendship with Chad. She often wondered what it meant; but never questioned Chad because it meant so much to her to have him in her life. Gabi never put pressure on her to talk about it. Troy might have had the greatest insight into Chad's perception of what it meant; but he'd never say a word to either of them.

Troy called Taylor to set up a time to go shopping for an engagement ring for Gabi. They were both taking off of work one afternoon to keep it a secret. Troy had scouted a few jewelry stores already, and had picked out a few possibilities; but he knew Taylor would know Gabi's taste and what she'd like better than anyone. They went to several stores, and finally Taylor agreed with Troy on a beautiful oval diamond with two side triangular diamonds in a platinum setting. It was simple and beautiful. Along the way she had seen a few rings; and said she'd like their styles. Troy thought after a while that it was sort of sad for Taylor looking at the rings. She didn't seem sad, but he knew that she was thinking about whether she'd ever marry. Troy decided to take her to a coffee shop to talk some more. They talked about the way he'd propose to Gabi, and whether to give her the ring on Christmas eve or Christmas Day.

Finally Taylor said to Troy something like, "I don't know whther I will ever marry, Troy. I worry that Chad and I are such close friends that we'll never need to meet someone else; and we'll just go on like this forever." She smiled a sad smile.

"You love him, don't you Tay?" Troy asked.

"Yeah, I know I am obvious, but I do. I don't think he'll ever see me as a girlfriend, though."

"Taylor, Chad is hinting at retiring after next season. Do you know what that means?"

"No more running around for months during basketball season?" She smirked.

"Do you know what Chad really thinks of you?"

Taylor said, " I might be afraid to know, Troy."

"Marriage material. Now don't ask me what that means, except he scares off every interested guy with that description of you, deliberately. Keeps them away from you. Notice how he keeps you close to him; so you don't have any time to look around at other guys. Another hint is that NBA player facade he gives off to strangers is total bull. Mr. Chad Danforth is about as old fashioned as it comes. He also has told me he has no intention of marrying until his basketball career is over. He saw Cindy and me and told me it was just too hard to have a relationship being on the road."

"So why are you telling me this?"

"Listen closely to the first sentence. Chad is hinting at retiring after next season. See if you can put it all together, Taylor? I don't know this stuff as fact, but this is what I am thinking will happen."

"But how do you know he thinks of me as even a girl he'd date? He's not even kissed me seriously, Troy."

"Remember the stuff about being old fashioned; and you being marriage material, Tay. You aren't fling material. I expect that as the time approaches when he's gonna retire, Chad will start to officially "date" you. Just watch and see. For me this will be a real soap opera unfolding. I will really enjoy it, and Gabi will, too. You know Chad will do some stupid stuff, and get tongue tied, and silly; and you will have to rescue him from himself, Tay. That's one reason I am giving you this head's up. So you will know what's going on."

"Troy, do you mean that I have been waiting around for over ten years for Chad's plan to unfold before my eyes? That he has just thought that I'd be there when the time comes to marry? "

"Taylor, he's pretty much ensured you'd be there when he's ready to marry. Think how much he values you, your relationship with him, that he'd just keep you with him until the time comes to marry. Yeah, he's a silly guy, but he's been serious about you forever, since high school.'

"Troy, if it was anyone but you, I would never believe this whole thing."

"Tay, he's gonna need your help and cooperation to pull the whole thing off. You're gonna need to act surprised, you know?"

"I will be surprised, but you're right, I would probably faint if he asked me out on an official date, if you hadn't told me all this. You know it does make me feel sort of special to him."

"Trust me, you are. I know that, Taylor."

"Troy, thanks for making me feel better."