Back To You

Breaking point? (3)

I grabbed a box from Olivia's room and headed toward the front door, where the others were already loading up the moving truck. As I stepped outside, I set the box down for a second to pull open the truck's heavy back door—only to realize it was already shut.

Great.

I sighed, debating whether I should just lay the box down and pry it open, but before I could move, a voice interrupted me.

"Need some help with that?"

I didn't even have to turn around to know who it was. That voice. His voice.

I clenched my jaw before glancing over my shoulder. Tayler stood there, a small smirk tugging at his lips, acting like nothing had happened.

"No thanks," I said flatly, refusing to entertain whatever this was.

Without another word, I set the box down, opened the truck myself, and shoved it inside.

The next hour was spent hauling more boxes into the truck, and despite all the people helping, it felt like the longest hour of my life. Every time I moved, Tayler was there—too close, too present, too much of a reminder of everything I wanted to forget.

Finally, we finished. Olivia and I climbed into her car, following the moving truck to their new house. When we arrived, we wasted no time unpacking, bringing all of her stuff into her new room. The rest of the afternoon was spent opening boxes and decorating, making the space feel like hers.

By the time we finished, it was already 7 p.m.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in!" Olivia called.

Kelianne peeked inside. "Hey, we're all heading out for dinner. You guys coming?"

"Yeah, just give us two minutes," Olivia replied.

Once Kelianne left, I grabbed my bag, and we made our way downstairs, jumping into Olivia's car.

We pulled up to the restaurant , and as I stepped out of the car, I suddenly realized something—I had forgotten my bag.

"Madi, you coming?" Olivia asked as she reached the entrance.

"Yeah, just go in. I left my bag in the car. I'll be there in a second."

She nodded and went inside.

I grabbed my bag and finally entered the restaurant. The moment I stepped in, my stomach dropped.

There was only one seat left.

And it was next to him.

As I walked toward the table, Tayler looked up, his eyes locking onto mine. I rolled my eyes and ignored him, sitting down stiffly.

The conversation at the table carried on, but I could feel him next to me. The way his presence made my skin crawl, the way it brought back everything I had tried so hard to leave behind.

"So, do you guys know each other?" Cody suddenly asked, looking between us.

Tayler hesitated before answering. "Yeah... we know each other." He scratched the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable.

"How?" Markell asked, clearly picking up on the tension.

Tayler sighed. "We... were in a relationship some time ago"

The table fell quiet.

Then Nate asked the question I had been dreading.

"Okay, but Madi, why do you look like you want to murder him?"