Chapter 66 Figuring Things Out

Chapter 66 Figuring Things Out

MJ got up and took her plate to the sink. She dumped the food in the trash and then started washing the dishes off to put in the dishwasher.

“Hey Madi, do me a favor and start the dishwasher after your dishes are in it.” MJ said.

“Sure thing, hun.” Madi said.

MJ went to her bedroom and got a change of clothes. She then went to take a shower.

“What the hell dude?” Marty asked.

“You started it with that lame comment.” Jared said.

“It was a joke. Nothing meant by it. You’re acting like I put a gun to your head to force it on you.” Marty said.

“It’s just that things have been fragile here lately. First with the kidnapping, then the pregnancy scare, then she wasn’t pregnant but was upset she wasn’t. And then not knowing about after I graduate and where we go from there. She’s been worrying over it all.” Jared explained.

“Look, I didn’t know. But man, it’s up to you to make sure she’s happy and taken care of. Up to you to reassure her. Unless she’s not the future you want anymore?” Marty asked.

“What?” Jared said.

“If that’s the case, then you need to walk away now. She deserves someone who’s 100% certain that she is their future no matter what.” Marty said.

“Why would you say that to me? Of course she’s, my future.” Jared said.

“Yeah, well act like it. Because if she has doubts, then you’re not doing a good job of reassuring her of that very important fact.” Marty said.

“Look, Jared, sometimes us girls get scared of the future and it’s nice to be told how we’re the center of your universe. How you can’t live without us. That we are all that matters and you and MJ have been through a lot. She’s not as strong as you. She is a woman with insecurities. It’s your job as her boyfriend to help her with them.” Madi explained.

“We talked about the future. I told her we’d work it out. That if I got drafted, I’d like her to transfer to a college close by. We both had decided that was what we wanted.” Jared replied.

“One discussion?” Madi asked.

“Yes.” Jared responded.

“And no official dedication? Just a girl that follows a guy to another state? You expect her to leave her family with no major commitment on your side?” Madi said.

“I asked her to move in with me wherever we end up.” Jared replied.

“Wow, she’s only good enough to shack up with you?” Marty said.

“What? No, that's not how it is.” Jared said.

“Really? Sounds like it. Past couple years was fine, you’re both young in college. But once you graduate and step out into the real world it’s time to man up. Look, I don’t want my sister hurt. So, you my friend need to figure out what you want for sure moving forward.” Marty explained to him.

Jared knew what he wanted, MJ. Did he really make her feel like he didn’t want her in his future? They had talked about their future, hadn’t they? He went to find MJ.

She was in the bathroom taking a shower. He sat on the bed and waited for her to come out. MJ comes out of the bathroom dressed in a tank top and shorts. Her hair is still wet.

“Come sit, let’s talk.” Jared told her.

“Okay.” MJ said.

“So, it was made aware to me that maybe you were unsure of our future.” Jared said.

“And what exactly is it you want and more to the point when?” MJ asked.

“I’ve told you I’d make you my wife one day when we’re ready and kids too.” Jared replied.

“Okay.” MJ said.

“What?” Jared asked.

“It’s just you keep talking like it’s far in the future. How long? 1 year? 5 years? 10 years?” MJ asked.

“I didn’t think we had a time limit. I just thought we are together now and getting our lives in order. Our careers.” Jared said.

“You mean your career. I don’t have to be unmarried to finish my degree. I don’t have to be unmarried to get a job.” MJ said.

“So, you want to get married now?” Jared said, confused.

“Not today, no. But before I follow you to the ends of the earth, I’d like that commitment. That security.” MJ said.

“So, you want to be married before you move in with me?” Jared asked.

“Look at it from my point of view. I have everything to lose. I’m giving up my family, my friends, and the university I've been at for 3 years to follow you while you chase your dream. With no commitment on your end. You could just all of a sudden decide I’m not what you want and walk away. Leaving me to pick up the pieces of my life alone.” MJ explained to him.

“Married men can do the same.” Jared said.

“True, but it’s much harder to walk away from your wife than your girlfriend. I need that security.” MJ replied.

“I love you. I want to be with you. I’m not walking away from you, ever. Married or not.” Jared told her.

“I don’t want you to feel pressured to do anything. I want you to do it because you are 100% sure it’s what you want. That you are sure you want me to be your wife, not because you have to for me to follow you.” MJ said.

“I do see that in our future. I just never thought of the time frame. I didn’t know it meant so much to you and we’re young. I didn’t want to push too soon and scare you off with a serious relationship.” Jared explained.

“We’ve been together for over 3 years. I’m not in high school anymore. We’ve been living together for 2 years now. How much more time do you think I need?” MJ asked.

“I guess I didn’t think. I had you and it was all that mattered to me.” Jared said.

“Okay I’m telling you with complete certainty what I want. Then you need to decide what you want. I want to be married to you. I want 3 kids eventually and a house and a dog. To grow old with you. I want you to have your NFL dream. I don’t want to keep you from that.” MJ said.

“I’m ok to do the long-distance relationship until you’re sure it’s what you want and when. I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to force you into a marriage you don’t want or aren’t ready for.” MJ said.

MJ left the bedroom to give him time to think. Jared knew he wanted MJ to be his wife and mother of his kids. Whenever he looked in the future that’s what he always saw since the first night they slept together. He just never bothered to figure out when it would happen. Just thought it would.

Now he knew he needed to make MJ secure about their future. The thought of her feeling unsure of him pained his heart. He never wanted to cause her pain or have her doubt how deep his feelings for her were. But that’s exactly what he had done.

It didn’t matter that he did it unintentionally. What mattered was he did and he needed to decide how, no when, to move forward. She was the most important part of his life and it pained him he had made her doubt that.

“I know what I need to do and when.” Jared thought.