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...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I pull my dufflebag higher onto my shoulder, but its weight disappears seconds later as Taylor pulls it off me. He keeps the talk small as we walk—mostly about the hospital staff and the area. He waves to the nurses as we pass their station, and they call him by name. He's parked close to the entrance, and now that I'm settled into the passenger seat I could use about fifty more steps in the open. The cool air outside is trapped in the car, sending a chill through my entire body. Taylor moves like a robot as he turns the car on and shifts into reverse.
"Now is where you tease me for still wearing your clothes," I offer. I didn't expect it to be this cold in Texas, and the only warm things I packed were Taylor's sweatpants and hoodie he lent me after the Dark Day. I never thought I'd have to admit that I still own them, let alone have Taylor see me wearing them in public. The material looks ridiculous pooled at my ankles and the crotch to the pants is resting somewhere near my knees.
The glance he throws in my direction is brief, but long enough for me to see the crease between his eyebrows grow deep. "I didn't think you would want me to." His tone is an uppercut to the gut. I thought my willingness to touch him when I first saw him would have given me away, but maybe he's chalking it up to the circumstances. I guess I just hoped that even after everything, our friendship would be the thing to prevail through the wreckage, and with it, Taylor's ability to read me.
"That's all I've ever really wanted from you." I can't help the way my own brow scrunches as I say it.
"That is not true, and you know it, Cap." This sends the corner of his mouth towards his cheeks. It's not the larger than life smile I've come to associate with him, but it's a start.
"Even if I never admitted it to you, I like it when you tease me. I don't feel self conscious when it comes from you because I know you don't mean it. Well, I know you mean it, but only in the best way." I share my truth with him, hoping it will be a catalyst between us.
"So you won't mind if I tell you that I thought you were an actual homeless person wandering outside the hospital today?"
"One more day without a shower and I couldn't even blame you for that comparison," I say, offering him a smile back.
He brings the car to a stop at a red light and for the first time since we got in the car, he turns to face me completely. This time the smile is soft, but it shows the essence of Taylor. The light changes, and so does the mood between us.
"I'm really glad you're here."
"I'm really glad I am too," I say, reaching my hand across the middle console to grip the one resting on his thigh. Taylor's eyes search mine tentatively, but he doesn't pull away.
We fall silent again, but only because I'm memorizing the route we're taking. I work to pick out landmarks passing by as we move further away from Abilene. I already knew Taylor didn't grow up in the city, but being able to create a backdrop for the way he grew up is everything to me right now.
