Hadley’s POV:
“Chase, How is this going to work with you on the road and me teaching?” I said, sitting on the couch snuggled into Chase’s side and broaching the topic that he and I so desperately needed to address. We needed to figure out how we were going to make this work while he was out on the road. With the tour getting ready to start, his schedule was getting ready to be jam packed with tour  dates, interviews, photoshoots, and signing parties. Add in my days teaching, and I honestly had no idea how we were going to make it work. Sure, we had gotten by when we were just two friends, seeing each other when we could, but now that we are together and bringing a child into the world, I feel like we need to make more of an effort. 

“Same way we always have Hads.” he said softly, the rumble of his chest vibrating against my cheek.

“Chase, going months on end without seeing each other like we used to do ain't going to work now. I mean yeah, there is facetime and all but you know just as well as I do that it won't be the same. I already know that you can't help your schedule and I know that more times than not you are going to miss appointments, but we both need to make the effort to make this work. For our sake and the baby’s sake. ” I said. I felt myself being shifted as Chase moved so that he was looking into my eyes. Knowing I had his full attention, I continued. “The easy solution would be me quitting my job but Chasey, you know how much I love teaching. I love each and every one of my students as if they were my own even if they drive me insane most days. I just can't see giving that up. At least not yet Chase.”   

“Sure that might be the easiest solution, but it's one that you would end up resenting me for if I was to suggest it. Never would I ever expect you to give up something you love to make it easier to be with me. That would be like asking me to give up my career. And baby, I know that's something you would never do because from day one, you have been the one person pushing me to make a career out of my god given talents. It was you that made me the person that I am today. I know teaching is what you love, just like you know music is what I love. I know chatting though the screen of a phone won't be the same but I have faith that you and I will figure out our own little grove and find what works for us. I know that both of us are going to be doing a whole hell of a lot of traveling on our downtimes, me more than you because it always gives me anxiety just thinking about all the things that could happen to you while traveling. But do you for one minute think that I am going to miss an opportunity to be with you whenever possible?” said Chase, his palms resting on my cheeks. After tilting my head back so that he could look into my eyes, I continued. “Hads, if it means that I have to catch a flight into town just to spend a few hours with you before heading back out to get to the next tour stop, then baby, that's what I’m going to do. I know this year is going to be crazy, but you can best believe that I am going to make time for you. And if that means canceling interviews or photo ops, then so be it. And the closer it gets to your due date, I’m going to make sure I am as close to here as I can be. I’ve already messaged my manager and asked about starting this tour on the west coast instead of the east just so I can end up on the east coast, closer to you and home. I know it's going to take a lot of ass kissing and a whole lot of promises, but my manager seems to think that it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.  As far as your doctor's appointments, I may not be able to be there in person for them all,especially as you get closer to your due date because I think Kristen was going once a week there at the end,  but I will be there through your phone screen even single time. It doesn't matter if I am in the middle of soundcheck, or in the middle of a radio interview, if you call, I’m on the other end of that phone with you, no matter the time or what I'm doing.”

“You make it sound like it's going to be easy.” I said, tears filling my eyes at his heartfelt words. The conviction behind his words made me want to believe that things were going to be as simple as he was saying. But if Murphy’s Law had taught me anything over the years, it was that if something bad could happen, it would.

“Oh I know for fact it won't be easy but easy is overrated anyway. And what's that saying about if it comes easy, it's not worth it? That you have to fight for the things you want. Believe me Hads, I will fight to the death to make sure I am the happiest woman on the face of this planet.” said Chase. 

“Tell me one person that has made it work?” I said.

“Well, BG and Steph are a good damn example.” said Chase, letting his hands fall from my face to lace his fingers with mine. The jealousy I felt upon the simple mention of Steph’s name was unlike anything I had ever felt before. I knew they had just been a fling, but that didn't matter to the little green eyed monster inside of me." 

“Of all people Chase, you have to bring them up?” I said, unable to hide the anger in my voice. Sure, Chase had earned the ass beating he got for hitting on Stephanie even though he knew she and BG were together, but that didn't mean that I didn't know at least a little resentment towards the two of them for hurting him.

“Hads, BG and Steph are the perfect comparison. They were friends for years -just like you and me- before they finally admitted their feelings for one another. Granted, they had been sleeping together for years prior to committing to one another, I honestly can't think of a better couple to compare us to. I know you don't like Steph for obvious reasons and I know you don't like BG because of the beating he gave me, but if there was ever a man that fought for what he wanted and didn't take no for an answer, it’s BG.” said Chase. 

“So BG’s what? Your best friend now?” I asked, my tone laced with sarcasm.

“Nowhere near it, but we do have a mutual understanding. I know that he and Steph are happy together, raising their boys just like he knows you are the only woman I want in my life.” said Chase. “I actually ran into him in Nashville a few weeks ago. I was desperate to figure out a way to make you come to your senses as far as we were concerned. Knew he was in town recording and for Luke and Caroline’s annual New Year's Eve bash so I sought him out. Knew I was taking a chance after his promise to break my face if I ever came near him or Steph again, but I had to know what it had taken to get a stubborn woman to finally see that what she had been missing in her life was right in front of you. I had to know what it took to convince his best friend that it was a good idea to take a chance on love and get what they wanted the most out of life.”

“And what did he suggest?” I asked.

“Well, it's kind of funny because what actually brought them together and forced them to face their feelings for one another was when Steph ended up knocked up,” said Chase. At his words, I was pretty sure that my jaw was laying on the floor.  

“You're kidding me right?” I asked in disbelief.

“Nope. According to BG, Steph bucked him for while on it. Then again, he had demanded that they get married after he found out. While I may have a caveman side, I knew that demanding that you and I walk down the aisle simply because I knocked you up was a mistake. But hear me when I say this Hads. I want that one day with you. It doesn't have to be tomorrow, and it doesn't have to be next week. Hell, it doesn't even have to be next year. But one day I want to be able to call you my wife. I want you to be Hadley Rice.” said Chase. Upon hearing his words, my head started spinning. My head and my heart were having a hard time communicating with one another. Both had wanted to hear those words so badly for so long that it was like the two organs were misfiring. 

“I want that too.” I found myself whispering. 

“Good to know,” said Chase. “Now can we please just snuggle up and enjoy this time together. Like I said earlier, we will figure this all out, even if we have to do it as we go.”