would that i • taylor swift

Chapter 7

Marina slammed her book closed as her father walked into the library. "Good morning, Dad," she said, trying to sound nonchalant, but winced when there was a shaking to her voice.

Kelsea raised an eyebrow. "Good morning. What are you doing in here?"

"Reading." She forced a casual laugh. "What else would I be doing in the library?"

"Daughter, has anyone ever told you that you are a terrible liar?"

"Don't you have a meeting today?"

He walked across the room, sitting next to her on the couch. He tilted his head to look at the book's cover. "A book on Pennsylvania. Are you interested in any particular area?"

Marina grimaced. "You know what I was looking at. I was just a little curious, for God's sake."

Taylor had been telling her about Pennsylvania for a week, just bits and pieces, obviously for the sake of trying to interest her. She also hadn't kissed her in a week. Taylor could be very devious for an honest, direct, lusty woman. A very lusty woman.

"There's nothing wrong with being a little curious," her father commented, thankfully unable to read her mind. He paused. "Swift tells me she's leaving tomorrow."

Her pulse quickened. "Yes, she mentioned that."

"I'm assuming you'll be happy to see her leave?"

"What do you want me to say, Dad?" she asked, quickly, standing to put the book back where it belonged. "I...like her, but she still lives in Pennsylvania."

"Believe it or not, Mari, I'm trying to stay out of this. I could force you to marry her, but I don't want to see you unhappy at all."

"Then why did you make this stupid agreement in the first place?" she bursted, shocked that she was more exasperated than mad.

Kelsea shrugged. "Scott Swift was my closest friend. When she had Taylor and then I had you, it seemed like a good thing to do. And I did—and still do—like Taylor."

His voice was warm as he spoke, a rare sense of humor in his eyes, a stark contrast to his usual seriousness. Marina felt horrible, squirming in her seat. Kelsea obviously wanted her and Taylor to be together, and she badly wanted to be in Taylor's arms again that it was all she thought about. "She's so stubborn," she said to no one in particular.

"And so are you, my cherished." He stood up. "If you don't want to be with her, then let her go. I'm sure your mother will be happy to find someone more to your liking."

She scowled. "More to her liking, you mean."

"Yes, well, with a house closer or in New York, anyway. That seems to be your only requirement."

"Dad."

"Happy Valentine's Day," he said with a small smile, and left the room.

As soon as he was gone, Marina got the Pennsylvania book again. Thanks to Taylor's description, she knew exactly where West Reading was. From the way she described it, full of daffodils and green hills and beautiful streams and waterfalls, she considered it to be a place of pleasure.

Part of Marina wanted to see it for herself, to have Taylor show her the places she clearly loved so much. The other part of her was terrified that if she left New York, she would never see it again. Moving to a new place left ties there, and with Taylor having a career, they wouldn't be able to just visit New York whenever they wanted—that was what made Marina so scared and unhappy.

And the worst part of it all was that she couldn't see any way around it. Pennsylvania or New York. Taylor or...someone else. "Taylor," she murmured, her heart beat getting faster at just the sound of her name. Butterflies started fluttering low in her belly.