2 weeks later

Wednesday January 4th 2024

Joe and Taylor were going to Paula's for dinner tonight. Joe was in a mood from work and tired but he sucked it up and still went.

"What happened today that's got you all pissed off?" Taylor asked in the car.

"Don't wanna talk about it." He said grumpy.

"Well perfect. That always makes things better." She said sarcastically.

"Taylor don't start this with me please. Just let me tell you about my days when I'm ready okay?"

"…okay. Sorry." She said regretting pushing it. She's still learning when to ask and when to not but I guess she was wrong on this one.

When they got there Paula's boyfriend Sam was setting the table. Paula was pulling out a dish from the oven.

"Hey! It's just about ready, take a seat!"

"Is there anything I can help with?" Taylor asks, Joe sits down and makes small talk with Sam.

"Just give the salad a toss maybe and we're all set." Paula tells her and then gives her a look.

"What?" Taylor questions thinking maybe she picked up on Joes mood.

"How are you?" She asks quietly.

"Oh I'm good. We go in for iui the end of next month so I'm counting down the days haha." She says.

"That's so exciting, what a way to start the new year off." Paula says putting things on the table and everyone sat down to eat.

Towards the end of dinner Sam and Paula were making eyes at each other like they wanted to say something.

"We have some exciting news to share." Paula says. Joe stops chewing and looks at her, she puts her hand on Sams arm.

"We're getting married." She says and holds her hand up, showing off a big old diamond ring.

"Oh wow!" Taylor says smiling with surprise.

"What?" Joe questions.

"I know! He proposed Sunday morning, New Year's Day!"

"Aw!" Taylor thought that was so sweet.

"Seriously?" Joe said again this time everyone's face changed from happy to confused. Joe was not liking the idea.

"Joe." Taylor said quietly along with a nudge under the table.

"No you can't be serious, you've known each other what? Not even a year!"

"Joe!" Taylor says again this time louder.

"You're one to talk." Paula said with a raised eyebrow.

"It's different with us, we're young and in love and-"

"You don't think older people can fall in love?" Paula tests.

"I told you we shouldn't of-" Sam starts to say to her.

"Shouldn't of what? Told me? Should've just ran off and got married instead right?" Joe says and gets up.

"If I would've known you would've been this upset about this I would've told you alone." Paula says with her mom eye.

"How could you possibly think I'd be for this!?" Joe argues back.

"Because I'm you're mother who doesn't need to ask my son for permission on who I date or involve in my life!"

"Well maybe you should. Maybe I'd actually know my father if you would've considered my feelings at all ever in your life." He says and leaves the house.

"Joe!" Taylor is stuck in a very awkward situation. Paula is pissed, Sams awkwardly sitting there still.

"Well that went perfectly planned." Paula said shaking her head looking at Sam.

"I'm sorry. I think he had a bad day and-"

"Don't make excuses for him. It's his actions he can own up to."

"I'm still sorry. Congratulations, I'm happy for you guys. I should probably go talk to him and stuff, thank you so much for dinner!" She says before leaving. Joe was out in the car waiting for her, she gives him a look but he doesn't look at her.

"What the fuck was that!?" She said getting in the car.

"If your gonna yell at me I'm not talking to you either."

"Joe! You can't just blow up at your MOTHER like that!"

"Says who!?"

"Me! Your wife! And ask any of the Reagan's I'm sure they would agree!"

"I don't care, she's jumping into this one way too fast. It's been like 9 months!" He starts driving.

"So?! Look at us! We weren't together more then 6 months before you proposed!"

"Because I knew I loved you and wanted you forever."

"Okay? So clearly they feel the same way about each other…!" She pointed out.

"No. I've seen my mom with so many guys, this one is no different then the rest. She's not in love with him."

"That's not for you to decide."

"Whatever." Joe huffed, Taylor didn't say anything back the rest of the way home and neither did Joe.

When they got home, Joe took a shower and then Taylor went in to talk to him again while he was getting dressed.

"Joe you need to apologize to your mom. It's her life not yours." She stayed calm.

"When you don't grow up with a dad because of your moms poor choices it's kinda hard to not make it about you." He tells her and Taylor says nothing considering she never knew her mom either and her dad died 20 years ago.

"Huh. Sorry." He says realizing what he just said.

"I guess we grew up differently yet so similarly at the same time." She says and he wonders what she means so she continues.

"My dad never dated, I've never seen him care for anyone other then me and my grandma. I always wished he would've, I wanted to just have a taste of what it would be like to play happy little family like everyone else I knew had." She explains.

"You say that at first. Then you get some jackass treating you like a piece of trash when she's not home."

"Huh, I'm sorry you're mom kept you from your dad. I'm sure makes your blood boil but we're just gonna have to agree it's we have different situations. I never could've known my mother, it wasn't a choice. So I don't have that anger I guess in me like you do. I do know however that…if my dad was still alive and he came to me with the news he was getting married and I saw how happy he was…that's last thing I'd do is be mad at him for it." Taylor said leaving the room. Joe in thought now, he knew she was right, she always was.

——

Leave your thoughts on this one! Geez that was intense, super high tensions.