Surround me - the first novel

Chapter 70- nicely handled

Taylor's POV

My judgement is very clearly all out of whack. I gaze down at the eternity ring on my finger and watch the blue hues for a few seconds. Taylor I tell myself, you're only eighteen, drinking wine out of tumblers and dreaming up babies with the love of your life.

The complexity of attraction draws me to find all of the attributes of Jay Gilbert Scott that are endearing and beautiful. And then as if by magic I blink my eyes and he's a steely, sneaky villain once again. Matthew has set a huge standard in my life for any man, I realise and should for whatever reason we fail to work out, any man entering my life would have to exceed those standards that he has carefully put in place.

I pour the wine for myself, the brandy in two new glasses and take them in with me through to the living room where the fire is roaring. Jay lounging on the sofa at one end and Matthew at the other. Looks as though I'll be wedged in between the born of them. I bend and place Jay's drink in his hands, he looks kind of like Ross. Only not soft looking, not as friendly. Like Ross' older evil brother I laugh to myself. Pull yourself together I tell myself as he looks up at me surprised at my laughter. Girls don't usually laugh at guys like Jay Gilbert Scott I assume they usually trip over themselves to be around him.

I sip my wine and try to not focus on Jay giving me the once over. On this occasion wearing hold ups and my boyfriend's shirt as a dress I'm sure that he isn't totally to blame. I lean into Matthew, my body facing Jay on the sofa, as he rolls up. Perhaps I should have changed? I do live here though and I do not intend on changing every time a man comes over.

"You okay man" Matthew asks Jay handing him the spliff.

"I'm good, man. You've been hiding this one" he says referring to me again. I glance up at him as he look down at me laying on Matthew a wry smile on his lips.

"Not hiding" I say and laugh. Matty smirks stroking my arm.

"We've been a little busy" I tell Jay and he winks at me.

"We have" Matthew replies stroking my waist I gaze up at him and he kisses my lips briefly.

"So Taylor" Jay says, clearly deciding that talking about me when I'm here isn't going to work. He hands me the spliff and I take it from him delicately.

"You off to uni next year" he asks softly eyes boring into mine.

"Yes." I smirk and he smirks watching me look up at him.

"Jay is a second year" Matty informs me.

"What are you studying ?" I ask Jay. I'm just shocked this bad boy has managed a whole year of university and not been chucked out.

"Politics" he says and I think fuck there it is. That's why he's a dick. Maybe I'm being unfair ?

"How about you Taylor?" He asks me sipping his brandy.

"I'll probably major in dance" I tell him and he watches me transfixed.

"You must be talented" he says eyeing my feet just briefly.

"She is" Matthew cuts in. I hand him the dummy cigarette deciding that's quite enough for me.

"You coming to the party on Friday Tay" he asks me sweeping his eyes over me yet again.

"We are" I tell him including Matthew in the equation.

"I am, I wasn't going too because Jen is going" he tells us though we didn't ask.

"Jen is such a headache man" he says looking at Matthew briefly.

Matthew strokes my side and I sip on my wine, giggling as it tickles me. I lay my head in his lap and gaze up at him.