Page 45 of Never Quiet

Meeting Davis’s eyes, Amanda sighed. Then she turned and walked across the room to Taylor.

From the corner of her eye, she watched Erick stand and Noel put her hand on his chest.

The brunette saw her coming at the last moment, dropped her phone with a squeal, and backed sharply against the wall behind her. Already taller, in her heels Amanda was a little over six feet.

As she’d once watched Noel do, she crowded the girl, almost touching her, and braced her forearm on the wall beside her head.

“Taylor? Listen, sweetheart. We got off on the wrong foot. Let’s take it down a notch. You stop talking smack and I’ll stop imagining different ways to snap your pretty neck. There’s no need for all this. Right?”

The girl gasped, stared up into Amanda’s face, but strangely made no effort to get away. She trailed her fingertip over Taylor’s bare shoulder and down her arm.

“You’re clearly comfortable here and that’s good. You should be as Erick’s girlfriend. I’m comfortable, too. I consider these people my family so let’s agree to dislike each other. That is,” leaning close, she whispered against her ear, “unless I make you nervous for totally different reasons.”

Taylor made a soft sound that could have been fear or desire.

Moving back, Amanda gently wrapped her fingers around Taylor’s throat. “I’ll be gone a few hours.” She paused. “By the way, it was trauma before she was born.” Taylor looked confused. “That’s why Callileah has endured seven surgeries in her lifetime. There was a time she couldn’t walk at all. I just wanted you to know.” Dropping her hand, she added, “Stay out of trouble, Taylor.”

Turning, she walked across the living room without making eye contact with anyone, and took Davis’s arm.

Just before the door closed, Rick said, “She’s exactly like Noel.”

The moment she was in the limo between Callie and Davis, she exhaled roughly and started to cry.

Harrison instructed the driver, rolled up the privacy glass, and handed her tissue. “It’s been eating you alive so we’re not taking you back around him and that horrible girl until you feel strong again.”

Leaning forward, Morgan took her hands. “Darling? That was an incredible performance. Cry it out, we’ll blot your tears, and then you’re going to pick your head up and mean it.”

Spending an entire day with some of her favorite people was just the reset Amanda needed.

* * *

Taylor made a distinct effort to be nicer and seemed almost shy around Amanda after their run-in.

Rather than ignore her, Amanda went out of her way to ask if Taylor needed anything, wanted anything. Each time, a light blush tinted the girl’s cheeks and she shook her head.

During one such interaction, Erick appeared beside her and asked, “How’s your research going, Mandy?”

“Outstanding but I’m not going to bore Taylor with it.” She smiled at the brunette. “As if you want to talk about chemical contamination of soil.” Taylor giggled softly. “What are you studying? Davis mentioned you’re attending the University of Miami with Erick.”

“I-I’m going for dance.”

Leaning on the island, Amanda put her chin in her hand. “That sounds fascinating. I’m sure you had to beat a lot of other applicants to make it into such a program. You must be an amazing dancer. That’s wonderful. Tell me what you’re working on now.”

For ten minutes, Taylor talked about various dance styles, how they tested, the recitals the school did, and what she hoped to do later. “My real dream is to dance for a big production in New York or Chicago.”

Just like that, Amanda didn’t hate her anymore.

“I think that’s a great goal, Taylor. You’ve worked hard all your life to be the best at what you love.” Straightening, she mentioned, “I want to tell you something.” She walked around the counter and leaned her hip on the island. “A lot of people, they grow up in an insular environment that makes them afraid of things they don’t understand. It makes them feel defensive when faced with something new.”

Taylor looked down. “I was mean to your friend, to you…”

“No, I think you worried I’d take something you want badly. Taylor?” She looked up. “I’d never do that. You have my word. You don’t have to pull this persona of a mean girl around you to protect yourself. Something tells me you’re not usually like this.”

“I-I…”

“I’ll be gone in a week and cease to exist. Everything will be less tense for you. One thing, I don’t think you’ve ever been around children but Sterling is a huge part of Erick’s life. If you make an effort with him, you won’t regret it.”

“Thanks, Amanda.”

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