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“It’s fine maybe it’ll help us both with whatever this is,” she added giving his cheek a kiss as she went to make breakfast.
The nerves hit her as they reached the Warren’s house Saturday morning. She wanted to be here so badly, but she knew this wasn’t going to last. Something would happen to take Jake away from her and then she’d lose them all again.
“Cee, they love you, more than me sometimes.”
“It’s not that…I just…”
“I’m not going anywhere, baby. Right next to you is where I’m staying.”
She nodded as he pushed open the door and she was wrapped up in hugs that brought tears to her eyes.
“Look at you, you’re skin and bones,” Rebecca chided.
“No, she’s not Mom,” Jake teased wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Enough of that, come sit and tell us everything,” Rebecca stated.
“Let her breathe guys,” Jake said hours later. “We should get ready if we’re going to crash a party.”
“Alright but it’s so good to have you back here,” Leo said hugging her tightly. “We’ve missed you sweetie.”
“I’ve missed you all too.”
“I never thought I’d see you and Jake together again,” Rebecca said wiping away a tear. “It seems so right though.”
“That it does Mom,” Jake agreed.
They reached the hotel where they were having the reunion and she gave him a smile. “So how do we plan on doing this?”
“I don’t know…actually, I do,” he said coming around to help her out of the car. He walked them into the hotel and towards the door of the ballroom. “Wait here for a second…”
She nodded and then laughed hearing him interrupt the festivities.
“Alright I know I didn’t graduate with you all, but I found something in Seattle that I think you’ll all agree will make the perfect addition to tonight. That cool with all of you?” he questioned and at the laughs he walked back to the door, pulled her around it, and in behind him.
“Everyone say hi,” he added stepping aside to reveal her.
“Stacey!” Toni shouted rushing over to them. “Oh my god…”
She smiled as she hugged her and felt the years slip away.
“How? This is insane, we were just saying we missed you and here you are with Jake…oh my god…you’re with Jake…Seattle…he just…”
“Breathe Toni,” she teased as Jake stepped up behind her. “Yes, I’m here with Jake. Yes, I live in Seattle. Yes, Jake just joined the team in Seattle and yes, we’re together again.”
“Yes, I went for a deal with Seattle because my Cee was there,” he added.
“You took him back after he stood you up? You left town, all of us, because of it.”
“It’s a bit more complicated than just that, what matters is that I’m happy right? Besides, I can steal his best friend away with ease if he so much as makes me cry. He’s married to my best friend so if he wants to keep his wife happy, he’ll side with me.”
“I see…you’ve got this whole life up there and who cares about the old one huh?” Toni asked.
“I needed a break, Toni. It wasn’t that I didn’t care about you all anymore I just couldn’t let football rule my life and despite everything, it still would have if I’d stayed. I wanted to call you a million times but if I did, it’d bring up memories I didn’t want to remember. I never forgot anything though.”
“So, the two of you are really back together…happy?”
“We are, we’re taking it slow, getting to know each other again but you know Jake—he makes a decision and then goes after it with a million guns blazing.”
