Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 51243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“I left it in my car…” I scooped up the flowers and rushed outside, my mind racing a mile a minute.
I sped back to our neighborhood and pulled into Audrey’s driveway. Jumping out, I rang the doorbell, but there was no answer. I knocked as hard as I could, and there was still no sign of life.
Oh my God, Audrey…
I pulled out my phone to call her, but the door slowly opened and she poked her head out. Her puffy red eyes met mine.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I heard what happened,” I said, holding up the flowers. “I was wondering if—”
“If what?” she hissed. “If I wanted to see you right now? Of all people?”
I said nothing.
“Why do you hate me so much, Taylor?” Her voice cracked. “Why can’t you just…” Her sentence dissolved into sobs, and I pulled her against my chest.
“My parents are gone. Gone!”
Her tears soaked my shirt. “Why the fuck does my life have to suck so bad? What did I fucking do, Taylor? What did I fucking do?”
“I’m sorry.” I felt her losing her balance and held her tighter. “I’m so sorry.”
For once, I didn’t have a single cruel word left in me. All the noise in my head went silent.
I rubbed my palms up and down her back as she cried for hours. We stood like that until the sun set, and she didn’t fight me when I volunteered to stay the night with her.
And for the first time, I realized hating her had never really been the point.
BULLY YEARS: TWELFTH GRADE (FIRST SEMESTER)
AUDREY
Taylor stayed by my side the next night, too.
He stayed at my house the entire weekend while family came into town to help with the funeral and burial plans.
The sound of his footsteps down the hall became the only thing that kept the house from feeling completely empty.
And he kept showing up every day after that.
TRACK 27. LOVER (1:55)
AUDREY
The following Wednesday
My heart wasn’t handling the idea of Taylor Wolff well. Back-to-back nights of mind-blowing sex aside, it wasn’t ready. So I did my best to avoid his gaze in class this week.
The timing worked in my favor since he had to make daily trips to the Bears’ facility, and I doubted he noticed.
Sprawling my work across the coffee table, I picked up a packet and began to read.
Before I could highlight the first clause, the door opened.
The sound of his voice hit a nerve I didn’t know was still raw.
“We need to talk,” he said.
“No, I think we’re fine.” I shrugged. “I’m working on a double-essay assignment that’s due at midnight.”
“Then we’ll talk tomorrow.”
“I see.” His lips curved into a smirk. “Tomorrow is a holiday, Audrey…”
“Not for me, Taylor.”
“It’s for everyone.”
“Why are you avoiding me?” he asked—stating the obvious.
“I’m not… I—” I stammered. “I’ve just been busy.”
“You didn’t enjoy having sex with me?”
“We didn’t have any sex.” I felt my cheeks heating. “I’m sure I would remember.”
“You do remember.” He moved closer. “And I remember you saying that you were off today, so we’re going to talk.”
“Now?”
“Right now.” He tucked a few curls behind my ear.
His fingers grazed my skin like he’d done it a thousand times before, but this time it felt deliberate—claiming.
“You want to walk on the beach?”
I nodded, and he opened the door.
I didn’t want to be in limbo anymore. I needed to know.
“We’re friends, right?” I asked. “Like, that’s what you would say if someone asked about us?”
“Not unless you have sex with all your other guy friends.” He smiled. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
“No.” I blushed. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Then ask me what you’re really trying to ask me,” he said. “You’re pretty damn good with words.”
“I’m not one for casual sex.”
“I’m aware.”
“And I know we just had sex, but…” I couldn’t even finish my words.
“Yes, Audrey.” He finished them for me. “We’re exclusive.”
Something in his tone made it impossible to doubt him, even if every piece of logic in me screamed not to trust it.
“So, just to be sure, you’re not sleeping with anyone else and—”
“I’m only sleeping with you.” He interrupted me with a kiss. “I’m not going out with anyone but you, and since I know how you are about lunch dates with corps members, I’m not eating lunch with anyone but you either.”
“Robyn from Advanced Critique wants to fuck you.”
“Perhaps,” he said, smiling. “But her name isn’t Audrey Parker, so I’m not interested.”
TRACK 28. ENDGAME (3:57)
TAYLOR
First Preseason Game
“Ican’t believe my little bro is the star quarterback of a franchise.”
My older brother, Michael, snapped my picture like a proud parent. “Your first big game.”
“I’m not even playing…”
“So?” He shrugged. “You’re getting paid as long as you show up. Where’s Stacey?”
“We broke up.”
“What?”
“It’s a long story.”
“She called me a few days ago saying she wanted me to set up a big dinner for you.”