Page 66 of Take Care, Taylor
“I can’t say the same.”
“Besides Cecelia, who else have you had?”
I said nothing.
The waitress set down our plates, and I stabbed my waffle with a fork, wracking my mind for an answer.
“I have some study partners I’m close to. And when I leave here and go to nursing school, I’ll make more friends.”
“Why are you even considering nursing school?”
“So I won’t end up exactly like my parents. I can’t be like them, Taylor…”
He looked slightly confused, but he didn’t press further. He pushed his plate to my side of the table and moved next to me.
“Someone might take a picture of us together in here…”
“Good.” He stole one of my raspberries. “What do you want to do before we have to finish up work today?”
“Maybe a walk on the beach. Alone.”
“That’s not happening.” He kissed my cheek, sending every nerve in my body wild again. “I’ll join you.”
I didn’t protest.
I should have.
But by the time the moonlight hit his sheets, I wasn’t thinking about warnings or promises—only him.
BULLY YEARS: TWELFTH GRADE (FIRST SEMESTER)
TAYLOR
I’m all for the silent treatment, but you need to answer my last text.
I know it was YOU who told Jessica I had an STD. (That’s LOW AF. Even for you.)
How the hell did you get nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award and not me when we turned in our shit on the same day?
Audrey?
Audrey WTF. I can see your car in your driveway and I know you’ve read my messages.
Text me back.
No response.
For some odd reason, Audrey wasn’t at school today, and she’d left early yesterday. That was usually a sign of her parents booking a random “inspiration” trip—where they spent more time on their manuscripts than on Audrey.
I drove back to school, unsure why I even gave a damn about the lack of nomination at all. I stopped at the flower lot aroundthe corner and bought a bouquet of white tulips for our assistant principal. I was determined to suck it up in every way possible to get to the bottom of this. We were tied in English class again, and weshould’veboth been nominated. She must’ve tossed out my application somehow…
“Good afternoon, Mr. Wolff.” Mrs. Gordon smiled when I entered her office. “Is there a reason you’re back on campus?”
“Yeah, I, uh…” I extended the flowers. “I need to discuss something regarding me and Audrey.”
“Oh wow.” She held a hand over her heart. “I’m sure those will brighten her day, even if only for a little while, given the situation.”
“Yes, the situation,” I said carefully. “How exactly should I address it?”
