The Cruelest Summer

Chapter 16- Dirty Laundry

It was almost 7:00 pm now. Taylor and Joe were sprawled out on the dark grey sofa, chopsticks in hand. They had ordered Chinese food from 'Dim Sum Palace', a hidden gem a few blocks away from Taylor's apartment.

As she bit into an egg roll, Taylor couldn't help but dwell on how much of a novelty this was: her and Joe enjoying a meal together. It was so mundane, so normal. Taylor couldn't quite put her finger on why this seemingly boring activity was making her insides feel all warm and fuzzy. Surely lots of people shared meals without erupting into jubilation.

Perhaps, this had to do with Adam. He would've never suggested that he and Taylor order Chinese take-out. No, it was always chicken and broccoli with him. Fucking boiled chicken and steamed broccoli.

Taylor smiled to herself, wondering what he would have to say if he saw her here eating dumplings after devouring an entire slice of babka. He'd probably lose his shit, she decided. He'd probably suggest that she cut back on carbs for the next few days. He'd probably make a couple of condensing comments, then put on a show of scrolling through bikini pictures on Instagram.

This would inevitably make Taylor spiral. But Adam wasn't here. Taylor had to remind herself of that. She was here with Joe, who had suggested that they order take-out in the first place.

She swallowed another mouthful of dumpling before asking Joe a question as a means of distracting herself. She needed to get Adam out of her head. "So how does the Chinese food here compare to the food in London?"

Joe licked his lips, thoughtfully weighing his response. "Well, while I must admit that the NYC take-away is smashing, there's this place in Peckham called 'Silk Road' that is to die for."

Taylor smirked. "Really? Better than 'Dim Sum Palace'? You've gotta be kidding!"

"No, I'm not. I swear," Joe boasted. "I ought to take you there sometime to prove a point."

"I'd love that."

Taylor's cheeks went pink as she tried to imagine her and Joe wandering about London. As if that could ever happen! She could only dream.

A silence subsequently  hung in the air for a few moments, neither one of them wanting to address the elephant in the room: what would happen when Joe would inevitably have to return back home to London?

Taylor could only hope that she'd never lose this- hope that it'd never end. Pushing away these rather despairing thoughts, she sighed heavily and reached for another egg roll. She smiled to herself, taking in all of Joe's features: his soft tufts of blonde hair, his dimples, his freckled face.

"You're giving me a weird look," Joe said pointedly.

"Am not!" Taylor scoffed. She quickly shifted her gaze, thoroughly embarrassed that he had caught her staring at him.

"You don't need to explain yourself," Joe teased. "I know I'm gorgeous."

"God, you are so full of it, Alwyn!" Taylor roared, playfully hitting him with the end of her chopstick.

"Are you challenging me to a chopstick fight, Ms. Swift?"

"Maybe..."

"In that case, you're on!"

Laughing, Taylor flung herself on top of Joe, who in response picked her up and gently pinned her down. "Don't go easy on me, Alwyn," she giggled, climbing onto his back.

"If you say so," Joe shrugged. "Hold on."

As instructed, Taylor wrapped her legs around his waist and dug her arms into his shoulder blades. She let out a jubilant shriek, as Joe began running laps around the apartment with her on his back. Taylor couldn't recall the last time she felt so alive. It was as if she was transported back to her playground days.