Camryn Quinn is finally getting what she wants...sort of. Moving into a dorm and away from her not so supportive father is a good first step, but like everything with him, it comes with strings. She must attend the college of his choosing for at lea...
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"You're here." He inhales me in and as he pushes it back out, I can't help but steal the breath as my own. It's my own exhale that pulls me back into the moment. I push myself away and then take a few more steps away, folding my arms across my body as I do.
"Yeah, newspaper," I offer.
Taylor's face is strained as I watch him swallow, and then shove his hands deep inside the pockets of his sweatpants. He's fighting the urge to touch me, and it sends a sigh of relief through me. The Taylor I know is in there, and still respecting my boundaries.
"How—" he swallows again. "How are you?"
"Been better," I say honestly.
He forces a grunt, "Yeah."
"Taylor..." For some reason this is the thing that sends the tremor to my hands. I haven't let myself say his name, thinking it was enough. It's my turn to force it all down with an over exaggerated swallow.
"It's okay," he offers, even though the opposite is written on his face.
"Do you want to talk?"
He straightens just a little as he asks, "Are you sure?"
I nod as I begin to walk. Taylor trails a few steps behind me, but even the small gap between us can't stop the pine scent of his shampoo from lingering into my air. The few deep breaths I manage as we take the stairwell down to the first floor release a pressure from my chest I didn't even realize was there. I just assumed it was my new normal, but now the air feels clear. My lungs appreciate the reprieve, and are begging me for more by the time we settle into two lounge chairs in the lobby.
We're sat in silence for a few long moments. I didn't expect to do this right now. I knew I would see him this weekend. The only reason I'm here is to cover the game for The Daily Scoop. I had just assumed that I could hide. I should have known the universe would find a way to thrust us back together.
Taylor's leg bounces up and down as he chews the skin around the base of his fingernail. I've never seen this level of nervousness radiate off of him, and it does nothing to settle my own nerves that have settled deep in my stomach.
"You look good," Taylor blurts it like he couldn't hold it in any longer. "I like..." He points to my face, and then his own head like he can't come up with the word bangs. Alyssa called it a crisis when I asked her to cut them the second I got back to our dorm only a day ago, but I promised the curtain bangs were just me doing something for myself.
"Thanks," I say with a soft smile.
"I'm sorry, Camryn. It's not enough, but I have to say something." Taylor's hands fold into his lap, but that foot continues to jiggle against the floor. I slide against the fabric until I'm on the edge, and reach a hand over to his thigh. I press down, forcing him to stop, which he does. His eyes follow the contact and I swear a sound catches in his throat.
