Back To You

After the silence (5)

The moment the front door swung open, Tayler and I jumped apart like we'd been caught doing something we weren't supposed to.

He cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair, stepping back and putting a little too much space between us. My arms still tingled where he'd just held me, and for a second, I felt the sudden loss of warmth.

Then Olivia's voice cut through the silence.

"We're back! Hope you two didn't kill each other," she joked, strolling in with the others following close behind.

I forced a tight smile and moved toward the couch like nothing had happened. Tayler mirrored me, stretching his arms like he was shaking off the awkwardness.

Markell flopped down beside me, throwing his arm over the back of the couch. "So," he said with a grin, "how was your alone time with this idiot?" He jerked a thumb toward Tayler.

I scoffed, leaning back. "Like watching paint dry."

Tayler raised an eyebrow, amused. "Wow. That bad, huh?"

I didn't look at him. "Worse."

Markell laughed. "Damn, what'd you do to her, bro?"

"Nothing," Tayler said, but the edge in his voice made it clear he was testing me. "I was perfectly nice."

I turned to Markell, my expression flat. "Imagine being trapped in a car with someone who won't stop humming the same annoying song on repeat."

Markell winced. "That's rough."

Tayler smirked. "Oh, come on. You love my singing."

"I'd rather go deaf."

Olivia snorted, and Markell shook his head. "Y'all are exhausting," he muttered.

Nate leaned forward, switching gears. "For real though, Madi. How have you been?"

I shrugged. "Same as always."

Markell narrowed his eyes. "That's not an answer."

"Well, it's all you're getting." My tone was light but firm.

Markell studied me for a moment, like he wanted to push, but Olivia cut in smoothly. "Okay, well, who's hungry? We could order something."

The shift in conversation was clear, but I didn't care. I was already reaching for my bag.

"I should go."

Olivia frowned. "Already? You can stay the night if you want."

I shook my head. "Nah, I think I just need my own bed tonight."

She didn't argue, just nodded. "Alright, but text me when you get home, okay?"

I promised I would, said my goodbyes, and made my way out the door.

⸻

Just as I reached my car, I heard footsteps behind me.

I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Tayler.

He leaned against the porch railing, watching me with that familiar, unreadable look. The porch light cast a warm glow over his face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw.

I sighed, unlocking the car. "What?"

He hesitated, hands in his pockets. "Nothing. Just... drive safe."

I blinked. That wasn't what I expected him to say.

I turned back to my car, but his voice stopped me.

"You didn't have to act like you didn't care back there."

I scoffed. "Because I do?"

Tayler tilted his head. "I think you do."

I let out a sharp laugh. "Right. Because you know me so well."

His lips tugged into a smirk. "I do, actually."

I rolled my eyes. "Please."

He pushed off the railing and stepped closer, stopping just a few feet away. "You always get sarcastic when you're trying to brush things off."

I crossed my arms. "Or maybe I'm just sarcastic in general."

He gave me a pointed look, like we both knew he wasn't wrong. And I hated that.

Tayler sighed, voice softer now. "Look... I'm sorry."

I stiffened.

For a second, I didn't say anything. Because I knew—I knew—he wasn't just talking about today.

He meant all of it.

Two years of silence. Of everything left unsaid.

And the worst part?

A part of me had been waiting to hear those words.

But it didn't change anything.

I forced a shrug. "For what?"

Tayler's jaw flexed, like he knew what I was doing. "You know what."

I shook my head, letting out a dry laugh. "See, this is the problem with you, Tayler. You think things can just go back to normal."

His brows pulled together. "I never said that."

"You didn't have to." I took a step back. "You act like you can just walk back into my life and—"

"What?" He stepped forward. "And what, Madi? Try to fix things?"

I swallowed hard. "You can't fix what's already broken."

Tayler was quiet for a moment, studying me.

Then, suddenly, his lips curved.

"You always were dramatic."

I gaped at him. "Excuse me?"

His smirk widened. "You heard me."

I scowled. "I take back what I said earlier. This was worse than watching paint dry. It was like watching you try to be funny."

Tayler gasped, hand over his chest. "You wound me."

"Oh, please." I rolled my eyes, but the corner of my mouth twitched.

He noticed.

And I hated that it only made his smirk grow.

"You missed me," he said casually.

I scoffed. "I did not—"

"It's okay," he interrupted. "Denial is part of the healing process."

I opened my mouth, then closed it. "I hate you."

"You love me."

I turned toward my car. "Goodnight, Tayler."

"Night, Madi."

I got in and shut the door before he could say anything else.

As I settled into the seat, I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. My hands tightened around the steering wheel, my mind still buzzing with everything he'd said, everything he was.

And then—before I could stop it—a small smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

It was barely there, just a flicker. A reflex.

The second I noticed it, my expression fell.

I shook my head, gripping the wheel a little harder.

No.

I wasn't doing this. Not again.

With a deep breath, I started the car and pulled away, refusing to look in the rearview mirror