Page 16 of Taylor

“No, I’m just going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you guys, too.”

“Okay, well, I’m going. Mom and Dad just got here a little bit ago. We’ll talk when you are back in town. I’ll be in Glendalearound New Year’s because the girls are staying with Mom and Dad for a few weeks while I’m away on a business trip. We’ll have to get together.”

“Sounds good,” she said, sitting up straight, trying not to feel like too much of a bad sister.

They said their goodbyes and hung up.

She peered at Taylor. “That was my sister.”

He nodded.

“She just found out I’m not coming home for Christmas.”

“I see,” he said without an ounce of judgment.

She found it oddly soothing.

“She’s been pushing for me to move to the city and work for her... but that will not be happening.”

“You wouldn’t want to work for your sister?”

“God, no.”

Taylor laughed, and it settled deep in her soul.

“She’s so successful... and I clearly am not. She likes to think she knows what’s best for me sometimes. Sometimes, I feel like she doesn’t even know me.”

“Why do you feel that way?”

“I don’t know. I mean, how can she know who I am when I don’t even really know who I am?” she said with a rough chuckle. She had never voiced it like that before, but once she said it, it did make sense. “She has always known what she wants. She makes a plan and goes after it. She’d been trying to help me be more like her since we were little, but I just can’t seem to do it. I spend so much time pretending to be something I’m not, and somewhere along the line... maybe I lost sight of who I am... I don’t know. That’s dumb. I’m sure it doesn’t make any sense.”

“No, it makes total sense.”

She looked at him, her bottom lip trapped between her teeth. She picked up her coffee more for something to do than actual thirst.

That call had left her feeling lost. That was all part of why she needed this time away.

Taylor seemed to be watching her. How was someone who seemed so far out of her league made her feel so comfortable?

He smiled, and it warmed her heart.

Maybe it wasn’t so bad after all.

8

Taylor

Taylor had been watching her through the whole conversation. He didn’t like the way she deflated. It reminded him of when he was a kid playing outside, when, out of nowhere, a big cloud would come cover the sun. All her light she’d been filled with moments ago vanished. She sat there next to him, still in the shadows.

“Are you thirsty? Can I get you anything?” he asked after watching her check her empty mug.

“I could use a fill-up?” she said, looking up at him with questioning eyes.

“You got it.” He took her mug and stood “How do you take it?” he asked on his way to the kitchen.

“Creamer in the fridge.”

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