5 Years Too Late **Edited 2024** Complete

Chapter 4 - Do You Feel What I Feel?

***EDITED***

Spencer

After greeting everyone I make my way over to Aria.

"Sup chica"

"Nothing much, talked to Toby" I shrug and she gasps

"That's not nothing! It's been 5 years and that's how you mention it to me? So what happened? How'd it go?" She asks frantically

I chuckle "sorry next time I'll add the theatrics" she rolls her eyes "it was good. He's Toby I don't know what I was scared of this whole time I guess it was mainly pride but he handled it well. he was talking to Elissa and she told them that they had the same last name, and she told him her middle name and it all clicked in for him. so when i walked out he was there. We were talking for a good while There were moments where he was upset or hurt but I mean he has every right to be so. He cried, I cried. I honestly wish I didn't chicken out so many times. He was heart broken. He wanted to be there for them, especially Elissa. He told me we could've worked it out. And i'm telling you Aria" I pause as the tears sting my eyes threatening to spill "when he said 'for 4 years Spence, you kept my kids from me for 4 years' my heart literally shattered i felt so bad." i confess as a few tears slip down my cheeks. "But I couldn't ask for a better way he should've handled it"

"Well that part was to be expected but I'm glad everything's else went good. Besides that how was it talking to him?"

"Like the missing piece of the puzzle was finally found after searching forever" I admit and her eyes soften.

I know all my friends feel bad for me because they are all either married or engaged and have their kids and life and I'm here a single mom of two still in love with her high school boyfriend and can never keep a relationship because nothing adds up to the love she had before.

Fuck I'm a train wreck

"Spence" she sighs

"No I don't even mean it in a romantic way but just remember like Toby despite how gross it sounds after everything he was like my brother as a kid. We were inseparable. I got along with him more than I did Melissa many times. And the way he got along with Jason. Like our families were just together doing everything. Dinner, movies, parks, camping, beaches, road trips. Literally anything and everything. He was my best friend. And as we got older and were able to separate sibling feelings from romantic feelings we, well I realized just how much I love him in both ways but the reason why we worked so well is because our relationship was an extension of our friendship. And avoiding him the past 5 years was also me avoiding a part of me. I ignored a part of me that was also connected to you guys, I neglected that part of my from my family and my kids. And now that I've seen him and talked to him it's like even my body feels that something was missing." I explain

"I totally get it. So any thoughts about what you're gonna do moving forward?" She questions

I shrug "I don't know it's happening all to fast"

"What about her" she nods over to Yvonne who is linked to Toby's arm and laughing at something Alison and Hanna are saying in the distance.

"What about her?" I question

"She's the step mom. She's gonna play a role in this. I mean surely she's not gonna just sit back and allow you and Toby to hang around without understanding why he's being so involved in his ex's life let alone her kids"

"She's not the step mom yet first of all. And second of all. Yeah I guess you're right. I just don't like this. I feel rushed"

"Well not to make you feel more rushed but you're gonna have to do it before the wedding"