Chapter 8 #3
Taylor came over to kneel in front of her. “We’re almost done inside, but I’m going to check with OSHA on what we need to do to be open for Saturday night.” He put a finger under her chin so she’d look at him. “How are you holding up?”
“As expected, when disaster strikes before a huge event.” She wanted nothing more than to lean into him and let him hold her up for the rest of the night. Instead, she plastered on a smile and tried not to show how close to the edge she felt.
He held her gaze a moment longer then released her.
Even though the temperature sat in the high 80s, the lack of his touch left her feeling chilled.
“I’ll check on you a little later.” She opened her mouth to protest, to say she was fine, but he held up his hand to stop her.
“That wasn’t a question.” He kissed her on the cheek before he left.
“Oh, girl, you got it bad.”
Chelsey slapped a hand over her eyes. Heather had witnessed that whole exchange. It was innocent enough. Nothing happened.
Heather patted her on the back. “Just so you know, he’s got it bad, too.”
An hour later, Chelsey kicked everyone out of Juniper Gathering Place and sent them home with strict orders to go to bed, eat a heavy-protein breakfast and gear up for Plan B tomorrow. She just hoped that whatever Plan B was, it would stick.
Chelsey walked into her house from the garage and breathed in the familiar scent of her home.
A tear slid down her cheek. This time of year always hit her the hardest; even harder than being alone at Christmas.
So many of Chelsey’s memories of her and her mom were tied up in getting ready for the biggest event in Juniper Valley.
But more than that, it was all the times they spent together; two Hooper girls against the world.
With a soul-deep sigh, Chelsey chucked her clothes onto the growing heap of laundry she promised herself she’d get to after the auction and pulled on her favorite yoga pants and soft t-shirt.
She was so distracted she had put her whole outfit on inside out.
She grabbed some Junior Mints from the freezer and popped one in her mouth.
Who cared what time it was? The pizza was probably the last time she’d eaten a good meal.
The bag of Kisses throughout the day didn’t count.
She drew her thoughts away from going down the road of guilt over the afternoon and the mess and poor Wendy and Annie’s kids.
But then the memory of Taylor confessing to her slammed into her, now that she had more time to think.
She brushed her teeth and washed her face before sliding between the cool sheets.
Try as she might, her mind wouldn’t turn off.
Taylor’s confession about the last time he spoke with Chelsey’s mom looped in her head.
While insightful, it was also a little disheartening.
What would Taylor say now about making a hard surprise positive?
Chelsey knew she was baiting Taylor about leaving her being the positive thing that happened to her.
Obviously, she hadn’t truly forgiven him.
His vulnerability in confessing about the time with her mom almost made her forgive him on the spot.
Almost.
Janice had interrupted and Chelsey grabbed the opportunity to leave the conversation. He said he wanted to talk again. The question was, did she want to talk with him again?
She wished—again—that Taylor would’ve talked to her before he left the first time. They could’ve worked something out, even if it was just the understanding that they were breaking up. She’d grieved over his absence for months. Years, if she was being truthful.
Would he say goodbye before he left a second time?
Chelsey got up and walked into her bathroom.
She stared at herself in the mirror. The dark circles were starting to gather under her eyes.
What emotions would she find in her gaze?
Pain, anger and grief didn’t surprise her as they’d surfaced so many times over the past seven years.
It was the hate that took her breath away.
Did she really hate Taylor? Or did she hate how her whole future had upended and changed without her permission?
Or did she hate where she was in her own life?
She sat on the cold bathroom floor and leaned against the wall.
This was Taylor’s fault, of course. All the emotions she thought she’d safely locked away over the years were breaking out of the steel wall she’d shoved them behind.
She’d become good at not looking too close at what she hid emotionally and there hadn’t been a leak in a long, long time.
Taylor’s presence was the only explanation for her weakness.
But he seemed genuine in his words and regret.
The pain etched on his face had made Chelsey want to reach out and cup his face with her hands.
The connection between them was growing.
For her own sanity and emotional safety, she had to keep a tight rein on the emotions that were trying to surface.
She didn’t want to be hurt again. It’d taken too long for her heart to heal and to fill the hole that Taylor left behind.
Now she wondered if it had healed at all.