Chapter 36
CHAPTER 36
T aylor’s hand warms mine as we walk side by side into his high school gym.
I don’t remember if he reached for me first, or if I grabbed hold of him. But my hand fits inside his like they were always meant to meet. His warmth is an anchor as he leads me toward a registration table and plucks a name tag from the array.
My head is on a swivel as I look around in awe. A decade has passed since I stepped foot within these walls. A decade since I watched the boy in the red jersey fill the gym with uproarious cheers. And now that boy is standing beside me, wearing the same breathtaking smile I fell for at first sight.
“You look beautiful,” Taylor whispers, and I’m tempted to pinch myself.
“So do you,” I manage to say before a loud voice overtakes mine.
“ Hey, Hedlund! No fuckin’ way!”
Taylor turns, and I follow his gaze to the group of three guys heading our way. I take a step back as they crowd around Taylor. He drops my hand for a series of bro-shakes and back-claps. I hold the strap of my purse with two hands, feeling a little out of place as I watch the group reunite.
Slowly, their faces take shape in my head. I rewind a decade, placing them as members of Taylor’s team. A point guard and the two forwards, I think. I’m tempted to fade into the background until I hear Taylor’s voice inside my head. I care too much, he told me. It’s why he needs me here tonight.
With an inner kick of encouragement, I nestle myself against Taylor’s side. His arm automatically closes around me, and I reach up to rest my palm against his chest. His heart stutters beneath my weight, beating just a little too fast.
I lean in closer, glancing up at him to find he’s already looking down at me. Taylor interrupts whatever the group is discussing to say, “Guys, this is Ayla.”
He doesn’t give me a title, doesn’t specify the dynamic of our relationship. But the gravity in his voice says enough. I feel my own pulse skip as I turn to face the group.
“Nice to meet you,” I say sincerely. Those words would have meant everything to me a decade ago. Tonight, I’m saying them for Taylor.
Two of the guys nod at me, and the last raises a hand in an almost-wave.
“Hey.” The guy I seem to remember as the point guard nods before his attention returns to Taylor. “Are you still playing ball? A group of us meet up every few weeks…”
I let his words fade out as I glance around the gym. Taylor brought me here for a reason…and I spot at least half of it dancing on the other side of the room. Rachel’s blonde hair is pinned on top of her head in an updo even Rose would struggle to replicate. She’s as breathtaking as I remember, wearing a deep blue dress that matches her eyes. She doesn’t appear to have spotted Taylor, but I doubt he’ll escape her notice for much longer. Already, he’s drawn a small crowd of admirers. It’s only a matter of time before her attention is piqued.
But, for now, she’s turned to the side, laughing with the man beside her. I narrow my eyes. There’s something about the curve of her date’s cheek that’s strangely familiar.
“Hey you,” Taylor whispers, tearing my gaze away before I can identify what it is.
He nods at the basketball guys one last time before leading me toward a refreshment table. Only someone who has spent hours in his close company would be able to tell his cheeks are flushed a shade darker than normal.
“Would you like something to drink?” he asks, and I nearly miss the slight hitch in his question.
Despite his cool expression, Taylor is nervous. The knowledge has me slipping my hand back into his. “What is this? Prom?” I tease, reaching for the punch bowl. Taylor’s shoulders seem to relax at the sound of my voice. I push a cup of an unnaturally colored juice into his hand. “Real talk: how are you feeling?”
Taylor rolls his eyes and I expect him to respond with the sarcasm I know so well. But he closes his mouth, resets. He seems to be choosing his words carefully as he slowly says, “I don’t know actually. It feels kind of strange. Being back and all. Weird talking to people like they still know me.”
He looks down at me like mine is the only opinion he wants to hear. “People thinking they still know you is a sign you’re doing great,” I say in a low voice. “Really, you don’t even need me here.”
Taylor shakes his head. “Trust me,” he says in a grave voice. “I need you plenty.”
I glance up at him in surprise and we share a little smile. Taylor sidles closer, offering me a sip of his drink. While I blanch at the sugary concoction, he gestures at a man standing a few tables away.
“I bet he’s a firefighter,” he says in a conspiratorial whisper.
I choke. “Really? Why?”
“Look at his shoes,” Taylor says with a little grin, and I turn my gaze to the man’s thick black boots. “And there’s a burn scar on the back of his hand.”
My brows shoot up. Indeed, there’s a shiny red blur wrapping around the man’s wrist. “You’re getting really good at this,” I say, glancing up at Taylor.
“At what?”
“Being a storyteller.”
His smile lights up his whole face. I’m so blinded by it that, for a moment, I can do nothing but stare. Before Taylor notices, I quickly clear my throat. “What about her?” I ask, gesturing at a woman sitting at the welcome table. “I bet she’s in love with the teacher behind her.”
We both peek at the volunteer, who keeps sneaking glances at a woman still wearing her school keycard around her neck. Both women are wearing blue blouses, and I’d bet anything the choice was intentional. When they finally meet eyes, red steals across each of their cheeks.
Taylor claps quietly in my direction before sweeping his gaze across the gymnasium. “Do you think this will be our last day on earth?” he asks with false sincerity, nodding at a man standing near the entrance. “I have a bad feeling a spaceship is going to crash through the ceiling any minute now. Aliens will storm in, looking for the impersonator they sent down to study us. I’m serious, Montes—the truth is out there.”
I cover my mouth to stifle my giggles as the man turns, revealing his X-Files t-shirt. Taylor winces up at the ceiling, like he’s expecting its imminent collapse.
“Hey,” I whisper, tugging his attention back to me. “Maybe he isn’t the alien. Isn’t it more likely he’s fallen in love with one? Perhaps he’s here to ask for her hand in galactic matrimony.”
Taylor nods, narrowing his eyes. “I think you’re onto something. His alien bride has to be around here somewhere…” he scans the room, eyes landing on a blonde woman standing to the right of us. “Ah! Here she is, the lovely—”
Rachel turns, and Taylor starts to choke. Her eyes widen as she spots us. I lift a hand, offering her a stiff wave that she takes as an invitation to come over.
She really does look beautiful tonight. Her halter dress would’ve been the mirror of my crimson ensemble had Taylor not ruined it. I’m stifling a smile at the memory when Rachel turns her attention to my date.
“You made it,” she says, though it sounds more like an accusation. “I’m surprised. I didn’t realize you were interested in this sort of thing.”
Taylor rubs the back of his neck. “I didn’t know I was, either. This is my first high school reunion.”
Rachel frowns. “I know. It’s just…it was like pulling teeth getting you to come to social events.” She shakes her head like she’s trying to clear her thoughts. “Well. Anyway. It’s good to see you.”
By now, I can read Taylor’s body language as well as my own thoughts. He doesn’t need to say the words for me to sense his discomfort. So I step in.
“It’s great seeing you again,” I say to Rachel, placing my hand back into Taylor’s. “How’s your night going?”
He squeezes my palm in a silent thank you as Rachel turns to me.
“Good,” she says, offering me a bland smile. “I came with my boyfriend, actually. I’m glad you’re here to keep Taylor company. I would’ve hated to see him show up all alone.”
“Oh, no.” I let out a little laugh. “We’re actually here to meet our good friends Mulder and Scully. They should be arriving any minute now…”
Taylor makes a choking sound and I tug him closer to me. Rachel looks between us, a crease forming between her brows.
“I don’t remember them.” She shrugs, turning to gesture at a guy a few tables away. “Anyway, have you met my boyfriend?”
My eyes widen as Rob makes his way over, slinging an arm around Rachel’s shoulders. He doesn’t see me at first, his attention narrowing on Taylor.
“No way,” he drawls. “Arroyo High’s ace center. Hedlund, right?”
Taylor doesn’t immediately respond. I glance up at him, but he’s staring down at me. A line is forming between his brows and his jaw is clenched tight. When he turns to Rob, he gives the other man a long once-over. One that ends with a scowl.
“Taylor,” he says shortly. “Sorry, I don’t remember your name.”
Rob doesn’t like this. His lips curl into a sneer that transforms his entire face. The handsome man I once knew is unrecognizable by the time his eyes drift to me.
Shock replaces his scorn as he does a double-take. “Al?”
Rachel looks between us. “You know her, baby?”
He makes a sound like a scoff. “Yeah. Ayla’s my ex.”
Rachel’s still confused. “You dated her? You’ve never mentioned it.”
Rob shrugs. “She wasn’t that memorable.”
There’s a vein pulsing in Taylor’s forehead as he stares down my ex. I open my mouth, trying to think of something, anything, to diffuse the tension. But Rob speaks first.
“Fancy seeing you again, Al. Second time in as many weeks. You stalking me or something?”
“What?” A migraine is beginning to shoot through my skull, and I’m tempted to turn to the nearest wall to beat my head against it. “I’m here with Taylor.”
It takes Rob a couple of seconds to get it. When he does, a mean smile curls his lips. “With Hedlund, huh?”
I swallow, not liking the insinuation in his voice. I turn back to Rachel, changing the subject. “So, how long have you two been dating?”
She tosses her hair over her shoulder. “Almost two months, but it feels like two years. Isn’t that right, baby?”
Rob shakes off the hand she placed on his shoulder, his eyes still narrowed on me. He searches my face for something, then nods when he finds whatever it is. “So, Hedlund,” he starts, finally turning back to Taylor. “How’s that basketball career going?”
“He’s working in the entertainment industry,” I cut in, shooting Rob a look. “Why are you being a jerk?”
Rob pretends he doesn’t hear me. He clucks his tongue, faking a frown. “Couldn’t make it work, huh? That’s a shame. Well, we know what happens to kids who peak in high school.”
My eyes practically bug out of my head. Taylor has stiffened beside me, but he doesn’t seem particularly inclined to respond. That’s fine. I’m angry enough for the both of us.
“Because you’ve done so well for yourself, Rob,” I snarl. “C’mon, Taylor—”
“I have!” He interjects before I can pull my date away. “I’ve got the hottest girl here and the sweetest ride. I could’ve gone pro if I wanted to.”
“You majored in accounting,” I hiss. “You didn’t even make the college basketball team.”
Rachel pipes up. “My modeling agency wants to sign him. You’d look so good in Vogue, babe.”
Rob smirks like this is supposed to be impressive. “All right,” I sigh, patience deserting me. “Well, this was unpleasant. Great seeing the both of you. Let’s never do it again.”
My hand tightens around Taylor’s and I succeed in taking a single step away before Rob’s sweaty palm catches me around the wrist. He yanks me backward, leaning in to whisper in my ear.
“I see you finally got what you wanted. Guess all that fangirling finally worked out for you.” His sour breath hits my face and my eyes dart to his.
“Yeah, I know all about your little crush. Hell, I only dated you ‘cause I wanted to fuck one of Hedlund’s groupies.” He scoffs, laughing in my face. Louder, he says: “Good luck with this one, T. You think she’s tame at first. But watch out, she’s poisonous.”
Rob drops my wrist. My stomach feels sick as he throws an arm around a giggling Rachel, leading her out of sight. I don’t know why I’m hurt—I knew Rob was a first-class asshole. But once upon a time, I thought he liked me. I still remember the way he followed me around, showing up outside of all my classes freshman year, begging me to give him a chance. It was one of the few sweet memories I still had of Rob. To know even that was a lie hurts more than I thought it could.
I’m not poisonous just because I eventually grew the balls to end things with him. But if he thinks I’m a snake, so be it. Never again will I let a man walk all over my self-esteem. I’d rather be a predator than let anyone mistake me for tame.
I turn back to Taylor with a sighed, “Sorry about that. Should we get out of…” My voice falters when I catch sight of his face.
He’s holding himself perfectly straight, eyes hard as they take me in. Taylor isn’t wearing any of the expressions I recognize. Not the warm smile he’s gifted me all night. Not even the thinly-veiled contempt from every month before. He’s looking at me like he’s never seen me before.
His jaw shifts before he speaks. “What did he say to you?” he asks in a low voice.
I don’t realize Taylor has dropped my hand until I reach for his, and realize he’s stuffed it into a pocket. “Um…” I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. “Nothing. It isn’t worth repeating.”
Taylor’s eyes harden. “Did you come here for him?”
“What?” I nearly laugh. “No! I didn’t even know he’d be here.”
Taylor’s throat works. I start to reach for him, but he turns around, striding toward the gym’s rear exit. After a shocked second, I start after him. Taylor’s strides are long and I don’t catch up until he’s already made it outside. I grab hold of his wrist, pulling him to a stop.
“Taylor?” I ask, terribly confused. “What’s going on? Do you and Rob know each other?”
Apparently, I’ve said the wrong thing. He whips around, a hurt look cutting across his face. “Don’t play dumb, Ayla.”
I shake my head. “Please, just tell me what’s going on! We were having a nice time until—”
He lets out a low, biting laugh. “Oh, come on. Just because we haven’t talked about it doesn’t mean I don’t know what you did.”
“What I did? Taylor, what are you—”
“I’m talking about him. The ex you were so in love with you’d do anything to keep him. Even when you knew what you were doing wasn’t right.”
“In love?” I liked Rob, for a time, sure. But to describe what we had as love is a gross exaggeration. I vaguely remember telling Taylor about the boy I wanted so badly to notice me. Of course, he had no idea I was talking about him. But to think I was describing Rob…
Taylor reads the confusion on my face, but it only makes him angrier. “Come on, Ayla. Just own up to it,” he says, almost begging me. “Ten years ago. In this very gym.”
My face pales. Did he hear Rob after all? Is he mad because he figured out how much I liked him? A dozen awful thoughts fill my head, each one so loud, so overpowering, I can’t speak.
My silence breaks Taylor. I see the disappointment on his face harden into disdain. “Ten years ago, you helped the boy you loved get revenge on the team that crushed his.”
Wait. I start to shake my head, sure there’s been some kind of misunderstanding. “No,” I start to say. “Taylor, hold on…”
But he’s no longer listening. His eyes are sad as he advances on me, like I’ve somehow let him down. And I’d do anything to wipe the look off his face, to turn back the clock to when he told me he needed me.
He stops inches away. I tilt my head up, wishing so badly he’d just lean down and kiss me. But it isn’t sweet nothings he whispers into my ear. “Ten years ago…right before the last game of my senior year. Can you picture it, Ayla?”
I nod, throat so dry I feel like I’m being choked. Taylor reaches out, tucking my hair behind my ear. And then he says something that rips my heart straight out of my chest.
“You poisoned us,” he whispers like it’s a secret. “Remember now? You tried to drug the entire varsity basketball team.”