chapter forty one

"you're going to be so happy today, little," tatum spoke proudly with a large smile held onto his face.

"how so, tate?" the girl responded as she glanced between tatum and out of the car window.

the two of them had placed themselves in the car together and had been driving for about twenty minutes now before tatum decided to speak. she could tell that something cheerful was on his mind though, as he was giddy the entire morning. and although she was surprised she didn't mind this, as she felt like tatum had finally matched her energy. although lydia didn't exactly know it, she had changed a lot since being with tatum. she had been exposed to certain feelings, but mostly she had been exposed to him.

"you'll see baby, you'll see." tatum smiled genuinely as he gently squeezed her hand in which he held securely.

lydia felt safe around tatum, and oddly enough, she didn't always want to go home. she thought of her family very frequently, yes, but she felt comfortable in tatums home. matter of a fact, she felt comfortable around tatum in general. of course, she didn't recall any of the aggressive moments with him, which is exactly what tatum wanted.

neither of the two knew it, but they shared some of the same emotions. tatum had always felt comfortable around lydia, as she very obviously wouldn't even dare to hurt a fly. however, tatum grew to allow his infatuation with the girl to take over his entire mind. she had taken over his entire mind since he had first laid his eyes onto her, but things were different now.

lydia didn't fight him anymore, she would never contest anymore either. not in a bad way, though. lydia did not obey him because she was afraid he would harm her, but rather lydia would obey him because she felt as though he had her best interest in heart. lydia would obey him because she felt safe, and lydia would obey him because he made decisions for her and they were always pure. to her knowledge, of course.

lydia silently smiled to herself as she recalled how thoughtful tatums actions towards her were. he listened to her, and although she didn't realize it, she needed that.

"do you think that i'm pretty sometimes, tate?" lydia found herself asking, genuinely curious. she really didn't know why she asked that question in the first place, but she knew that she was very curious as to what he would say.

"i've never seen anyone prettier," the boy confidently spoke, glancing over to his little with low eyes. she had never asked something in regards to how he feels about her until this moment, so it was a ground breaking moment for tatum himself.

lydias face immediately fell under a warming sensation as she made eye contact with tatum. the comment from the boy made her stomach churn, in a pleasant way. she had always thought she was innocently attractive herself, but she felt the need to please tatum so she was relieved to find out that she had been doing so.

"i've never enjoyed staring at someone more, little. i watch so often that i know exactly how many breaths you take before turning over in your sleep, i know how many bites you take of your carrots before you've finished them, and i know exactly how many bottom lashes you have on your right eye. i love you, little lydia." tatum finished.

everything he had said was true, and he knew it more than anyone. lydia had brought the spark into his life that he had only dreamed of feeling one day, and he felt personally that lydia had saved him from the horrors of his daily life. he never wanted anyone else, in fact the thought made him sick. he never saw value in other girls, and better yet he never even glanced at girls.

lydia sent a gentle smile tatums way. though it may not have been in the traditional way of confessing ones feelings, it was tatums way. not that lydia knew much about confessions of feelings nonetheless, so really tatum could've said whatever he wanted and it would've been normal to her.

"little," the boy called as lydia hummed in response.

"i'm you're boyfriend, you know that?" tatum asked, firmly squeezing her thigh in the process.

"you've told me that, but i'm not really sure what that means," she began before being cut off.

"it means that you belong to me, little. i'm your boyfriend and you're my girlfriend, we are devoted to one another. we do not speak to anyone of the opposite gender. that is cheating, lydia." he spoke firmly as lydia questioningly nodded her head in response.

-

"the grocery store! we're going to the grocery store!" lydia excitedly called out as tatum turned the car off, sending happy squeezes to his hand as to show her excitement.

"no baby, try again. we're going next door, love." the boy responded, stepping outside of the car as to let out his little.

"t- the pet store!" she gleamed, beaming joy off of her entire body as she quickly hopped out of her seat once tatum had opened her door.

"the pet store, baby." he gently confirmed, pleased to see the girl so filled with joy.

"why tat-" she began before being cut off.

"you'll see, come on baby." the boy spoke as he held the pet store door open for the girl.

as the couple made their way to the back end of the store, lydia behind tatum, tatum stopped the two from continuing as they stood in front of a large play pen. lydia squealed once she caught sight of what sat in front of her.

"kittens! so many babies tatum, look!" she yelped, excitedly pulling on tatums arm to look at the small fur balls in front of them.

"pick your favorite, little." tatum spoke happily.

-

"have you named it yet, little?" the boy asked, his brain sending him flashbacks of when he first met lydia as the same dialogue had occurred.

"his name is blue, and he is a boy. he is not an it, tate." lydia shortly answered, too wrapped up in her new found joy to pay any mind to the boy sitting beside her on the couch.

tatum didn't like the kitten idea so much anymore, as the thing was lydias only concern. she had only spoken to tatum to say how grateful she was for the thing, or to show him the silly dance moves that she had been moving it's body around to complete. he wanted his little undivided attention, and he no longer got that. however, lydia was happy. lydia was so happy that her smile had not dropped since she had gotten the small cat, and tatum was pleased with this alone.

"why did you name him blue, baby? like, blue's clues?" tatum asked, chuckling at his own words.

"no silly, blue as in blue morpho butterflies! and look, you can't deny he doesn't look like a blue with these eyes!" she responded, gently picking up the kittens head to show the boy it's large blue eyes.

"blue morpho butterflies? i'm afraid i've never heard of those before, my love. how do you know so much about butterflies? who taught you these things?" tatum asked curiously.

"kreed did, tate! he gave me a butterfly book and i sure did learn a lot! i will forever be grateful for kreed." lydia giddily responded.

tatum's fists began to clench.

-

GUYS!!!

we're nearing the end of this book :(

i'm not gonna tell you how many chapters are left because i don't wanna spoil it but WHY AM I SAD.

i'll decide on whether or not there will be a second book based on how you guys react to the ending when it comes :)

love u guys <3