Page 129 of Anyone But Her

He had one rule and I broke it. I have to go.

Where will you go?

I don't know yet.I'll figure something out.

I don't like this, Luke. I don't want you out on the streets. Just let me talk to my dad. Maybe he'll change his mind.

He won't. He doesn't even want me talking to you anymore. He wants me to break up with you.

She doesn't text back. I hurry and toss my clothes into my duffle bag, then gather the few personal items I have, including the yellow golf ball from Taylor. I love her so much. There's no way I could ever let her go.

"Dad, stop it!" I hear Taylor say from outside my door. "This is ridiculous! You're being completely unreasonable! Even Cal didn't react this way."

"Your brother knows?" Lou says, with anger in his voice.

Great, now Cal is going to get in trouble too. I've really made a mess here. It's for the best that I'm leaving. I never should've stayed here.

"You can't kick him out," Taylor says. "He has no money. He has nowhere to go."

"He should've thought of that before breaking my one and only rule."

"It was a stupid rule to begin with. Why can't I date Luke? You like him. Mom likes him. Cal likes him. Wouldn't you rather have me date him than some guy you don't know?"

"He's Cal's friend and like a member of the family. It's not right for you to go out with him. You knew that from the beginning, Taylor."

"If he's like a member of the family, then why would you kick him out on the streets? Especially now, when he's got all this stuff going on with his dad? He's so stressed about that he couldn't even golf today. And he'll be even more stressed if you kick him out. He won't be able to golf. So you'll make him homeless and ruin his golf career."

"He's an adult, Taylor, and he made these decisions on his own. He knew the consequences. Now go back in the house."

My bag is packed and I open the door and see Taylor standing next to her dad.

"I'll walk you out," Lou says to me.

"Dad, no!" Taylor has tears running down her face. I have to look away. It breaks my heart to see her cry.

I did this. I caused it. I should've been more careful. I should've locked the door so her dad couldn't have walked in on us. I shouldn't have been doing things with her here at the house, knowing how risky it was. I got lazy. I let my love and desire for her take over when my brain was telling me to be more careful. Now, because I was careless, I have to leave, and Taylor is crying and sad and upset. I really fucked this up.

"I'm sorry," I whisper to Taylor as I go past her with her dad following behind me.

I can hear her crying as I walk around the pool to the patio door. I go inside and see Cal and Barb standing in the kitchen. Why are they all here? I thought they were going to dinner.

As if Cal read my mind, he says, "We came back because Mom really wanted you to go with us."

"I'll be having a talk with you later," Lou says to Cal as he pushes me to keep walking.

When we reach the front door, Lou opens it and the two of us go out to my car.

"It's too bad things had to end like this," he says as I toss my duffle bag in the trunk. "Good luck with everything."

That's it? He's just sending me off? He's done helping me? He won't even help me find a lawyer?

I shouldn't be surprised. He doesn't trust me anymore. Doesn't want me around. Doesn't want to ever see me again. I broke his rule under his own roof. Why would he want to help me?

Driving off, I try to figure out where to go. There's no one else I could stay with. Cal's my only friend in town. I could stay at a hotel but that'll use up my money fast.

I have to get a job, something that pays well. Maybe I could do construction. I could work early in the morning, be done early afternoon, and still have time for golf.

Taylor calls as I'm driving.

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