Page 16 of Unlucky in Love
She sighed, fighting the urge to argue. He looked annoyingly confident, standing there like he had all the time in the world. And truthfully, the quiet street did feel colder, darker, more isolated than usual.
“Fine,” she said, starting down the sidewalk. “But only because I don’t feel like wasting breath convincing you to leave.”
He fell into step beside her, his stride easy. “You always were stubborn.”
Taylor glanced at him. “And you always were bossy.”
“Somebody had to keep you and Emma from getting yourselves killed.”
The corner of her mouth tugged upward despite herself. “Oh, please. We were fine.”
“Fine?” Ryan laughed. “You climbed onto the roof of the shed to prove you could fly. Emma tied a blanket around your shoulders and told you to jump.”
Taylor groaned. “I was eight. And it was her idea.”
“You jumped, Taylor.”
“I sprained my ankle. That hardly counts as reckless.”
He shot her a look. “You bounced off the grass like a rag doll. I had to carry you inside while you screamed that you were dying.”
Taylor covered her face with one hand, laughing despite the flush creeping into her cheeks. “I forgot about that.”
“I didn’t.” Ryan’s smile softened. “You were a handful.”
She lowered her hand, meeting his gaze. For a moment, something unspoken passed between them, warm and oddly fragile. She looked away quickly, focusing on the icy sidewalk ahead.
“Do you remember the lemonade stand?” she asked, her voice lighter. “We made two dollars, and Emma spent it all on candy cigarettes.”
Ryan snorted. “And you tried to resell the candy cigarettes to the neighbor kids for double the price.”
Taylor grinned. “Entrepreneurial spirit.”
“Scam artist.”
“Same thing.”
Their laughter drifted into the night, mingling with the crunch of their boots against the pavement. The silence that followed was comfortable this time, filled with memories that wrapped around them like an old blanket.
As they turned the corner onto her street, Ryan glanced sideways at her. “Are you going to Emma’s for dinner this weekend?”
Taylor nodded. “She invited me yesterday. Said it’s the big family dinner. I’m bringing dessert.”
“Good. I’ll see you there.” He paused, his voice quieter now. “She’ll like having both of us around. Like old times.”
Taylor’s chest tightened. The thought of sitting around Emma’s crowded table, laughing and sharing stories, sounded nice. Dangerous, but nice.
They reached her apartment building, the small brick complex with peeling paint and a squeaky front door. She stopped at the steps, turning to face him.
“Well,” she said, clutching her bag strap. “Thanks for the walk. Even though it was unnecessary.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, smile tugging at his lips.
For a heartbeat, they stood there in the cold, streetlight pooling around them. Taylor’s breath fogged in the air, and Ryan’s gaze lingered on her just long enough to make her pulse quicken.
Then he nodded, stepping back. “Goodnight, Taylor.”
She swallowed. “Goodnight.”
