Page 64 of Reclaim

“No swearing!” we all shout at her.

She rolls her eyes, completely unimpressed by the three of us. “Taylah, finish your speech so I can get to my part.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “What happened the other week changed everything. Actions have consequences, and those are irreversible.”

“No. You know what’s irreversible, Jagger? Regret. It stings and festers. You would know, right?” Taylah goads.

“I don’t regret her.”

“No, but you’ll regret letting her go. What you gave her was a bullshit list of reasons that make no difference to her. You haven’t changed since the moment she laid eyes on you, and now you want to tell her you’re no good for her.” Taylah’s pointed stare is too much.

I look away. “I could’ve beat the shit out of that guy the other day.”

“Could’ve, but you didn’t. That’s what makes you different from the average murderer, serial killer, and all those other wonderful things that roam the earth.” Taylah waves her hand dramatically. “We all get mad sometimes; things push our buttons. I’ve thought about killing your brother at least ten times since I got here. But I didn’t. Just like you didn’t.”

Taylah turns to Drix. “Hendrix, do you mind if I ask you a question?”

He leans against the doorframe. “You’ll ask anyway, so go ahead.”

“If you saw a guy grabbing your girlfriend, what would you do?”

“I’d beat the shit out of him.”

“See?” She’s smiles like she’s got a secret. “Normal impulse. Hendrix, you’re the only one overreacting about this.”

I don’t respond and hope my stony stare is enough to get her to leave.

Taylah clears her throat. “Anyway, this is where Dakota takes over, and you and me,” she gestures to Hendrix and herself, “wait outside.”

They close the door behind them, and Dakota looks at me with worry. “I think they’re going to kill eachother out there.”

I chuckle, because she’s one hundred percent right. “So, what did Taylah tell you to tell me?”

“Firstly, this was all my idea. Secondly, I told her what to do.”

“What? Why?” I can’t hide my shock that Dakota feels strongly enough about Emerson and me to want to meddle.

“So, you know I love taking photos, and I thought it would be the perfect way to show you what I mean without even talking.” She opens up the bedroom door. “Here’s exhibit A.”

In walks Taylah, smiling from ear to ear with a huge sheet of cardboard. She turns it around, and my breath hitches in my throat. Emerson’s face is everywhere. Smiling. Laughing. Smirking. Admiration. Fascination. Love. It’s all there. And right by her side is me. In each photo, I am awarded every single emotion. And I threw that away.

Reality crushes me like a heavy set of boulders. I don’t know what I was thinking. She even warned me not to make a rash decision. Told me it would be in vain, and I thought I knew better. Better than her heart and better than my own.

“What’s Exhibit B?”

“Time to shine, Uncle Drix,” she calls out. He walks in with a ridiculous smile on his face, which is a massive contradiction to several photos of me alone, stuck to the cardboard.

“You are one sad motherfucker in these photos.”

“So why the fuck are you two smiling like lunatics.”

“Because it worked,” Dakota chimes in.

“What worked?” She hands me her phone. “Now flick through to see which reaction belongs to which exhibit.” It only takes two swipes, one photo is pure awe and jubilation, the one without Emerson completely void of any emotion, exactly how I’ve been feeling.

“See it?”

I nod.

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