I may not have been sure of much in my life, but looking at her now, I know. This is the right thing for both of us.
Chapter Fifteen
Taylor
When we get back from dinner, I haven’t even gotten my shoes off when the bathroom door opens, and Ethan’s standing in the doorway, eyeing me up and down.
“Did you have a good night?” His eyes rake over my body and hit follows in their wake.
“I did. How about you?” I step toward him, pressing my palm to his chest. His hands land on my waist.
“If you can call torture having a good night, then yeah, I did.”
“Torture?”
“Fuck, yeah. Seeing you in that dress and not being able to touch you all night. I should get some sort of award for self-restraint.”
I can’t help but grin at that. “I’m glad you liked it.”
“Seriously, you look gorgeous.” He buries his face against the side of my neck and peppers kisses along my skin. He tugs at my earlobe with his teeth. “I got you a present.” He steps back and holds up a small, flat box with a pink bow on top.
“You mean, besides the parasailing?”
“What do you know about that?”
“I heard the guys at the boat shop talking about how some guy paid a fortune for them to add a tour today.” I press my palm to his cheek. “You didn’t have to do that, but it was very sweet.”
“It was genuinely my pleasure. Seeing your face light up while you were in the air was worth every penny.” He nods at the box. “But I hope you like this gift almost as much.”
I sit on the edge of the bed and tug at the bow, lifting the top off the box. When I peel back the tissue paper, inside sits a gorgeous, silver cuff bracelet. I take it out, holding it up to examine the design. It’s covered in scrollwork, with several sapphires dotting the middle.
I gasp. “Ethan, it’s stunning. I absolutely love it, but you really shouldn’t have. It’s too much.”
He smiles, turning it over in my palm. “I’m glad you don’t hate it, because there’s an inscription.” He smirks.
I hold it up and read the writing along the inside.
Taylor, no jewel shines as brightly as you. You are a treasure.
My hand flies to my mouth. “Ethan, I don’t know what to say.”
He takes the bracelet and puts it on my wrist, then pulls me to my feet. “You don’t have to say anything.” He cups my face in his hands. “Taylor, I’ve tried, I’ve really tried to wrap my head around all this. I don’t know how things changed between us. Fuck, I don’t even know if they really did. Maybe I felt this way all along, I just didn’t realize it until now. But here’s what I do know.” He steps closer, pressing his body into mine as his dark eyes look deep into mine. It’s like he’s seeing me, stripped bare, my soul exposed to him for the first time. “I know that life is too precious to waste what time we’ve got longing for something we didn’t have the balls to reach out and grab. I want you, Taylor. I need you, and all I need to know is if you feel the same way.”
I feel the tears pool at my lashes as I nod. “Yes.” The word is just a whisper. “I need you too, Ethan.”
I see the gleam in his eyes, now, as he nods back. “You do?”
“I do. I want you. I want this, with us.”
He captures my lips in a searing hot kiss. We’re clawing at each other, our lips never parting, desperate for more of everything. We tumble onto the bed, shedding clothes as fast as our fingers will move. I shove my folded clothes off into the floor as he grabs the condom from his pocket. He hovers over me, and when he pushes, deep inside of me, he shifts his weight to his forearms so we can be closer, our bodies sliding against each other.
He kisses me softly, then presses his words to my lips. “You’re so perfect, Tay. So fucking perfect. When I think of all the time we wasted…”
“No,” I press my fingers to his lips. “Not wasted. Everything that came before made us who we are. It was all building up to this. Getting us ready to be what each other needed.”
He smiles. “See? Everything is right, everything is better because of you.”
I press my palm to his cheek, my arm tucked around his shoulders, pulling him as close as I can get. I tumble over the edge, and he’s right there with me. This time is different. This isn’t some forbidden tryst. Not some physical release. This is what it feels like to be with your person. The one you’re meant to be with all along. This isn’t just great sex; this is being whole.
The next morning, I load my bags in the car, and we hug everyone goodbye. Under the pretext of checking my room one last time, I go back upstairs and find Ethan, still packing.
“You heading out?” He asks, dropping what he’s doing to wrap his arms around me.
“Yeah. I have dinner with my parents tonight. Gotta get back.”
“Okay. Come by my place after?”
I nod. “I can do that.”
“Bring a bag. Or a toothbrush, or whatever.” He kisses my forehead. “I can’t wait to get you to my house where you can be as loud as you want.”
“I like that idea.” He kisses me once more and I head down to meet Gabi by her car.
“Can I drive?”
She cocks her head to the side. “You want to drive my car? This car is my baby. I love it more than most people.”
“It’s my birthday.”
She rolls her eyes and tosses me the keys. “Okay, but I get to pick the music.”
I nod. “Done.”
We haven’t even gotten as far as downtown Charleston when she turns sideways in the seat to face me. “Well?! Are you going to tell me, or do I have to cross-examine you?”
“Tell you what,” I laugh, not even remotely able to keep my composure.
“Are you together? Are you not together? Are you going to tell your brother? All. The. Things!”
I go through the abridged version of what we talked about. I tell her how he’s going to handle Brody, and we want to be together, to see where this takes us.
She shakes her head and pulls out her phone. “Leave it to you to live a fucking fairy tale. In this day and age, you, of all people, met your soulmate when you were four.”
“I did not!” I laugh. “Okay, well if I did, I didn’t know it then.”
“Oh, here we go,” she holds her phone up, reading. “Since it’s your actual birthday today, this is kind of perfect. A-hem,” she reads aloud to me. “Libra, this week has been full of good friends and good times. You may have even enjoyed some unexpected surprises. The coming week has even more in store, but be warned, for every action there may be an equal and opposite reaction. If you’ve been putting off a big decision, now is the time to be decisive, dear Libra, and commit to your dreams once and for all. You are the eternal giver, but now it’s time to give to yourself, as well. Standing your ground will help you grow, and when you pass through the storm, all you’ve been searching for will be waiting on the other side.”
We pull up to a traffic light and I look over at her. “Damn, that sounds kind of ominous.”
“I know, right?” She shrugs. “But it’s kind of perfect, too. You are always doing things for other people, and you never do anything just for you.”
I look ahead, staring off for a moment, then turn to my best friend. “I’m gonna do it. I’m going to law school.”
“You are? Really? That’s great! But, are you really sure this time?” She knows we’ve had this discussion a dozen times before.
“I am. I’m going to talk to Conroy and get him to sponsor me. I’ll keep working at the courthouse, and take that night school program they started at State last year. I’ve learned so much in court, I think I can do this.”
“I know you can do it.” She lunges over and wraps her arms around my neck. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks.”
A car horn behind us startles us, and we both laugh as we pull off from the light and head toward the highway.
For the first time,
in a long time, I feel sure about things. I feel balanced, like I can do things for myself without being selfish. I’m ready to build something with Ethan, and build something for myself at the same time. I trust him to handle things with Brody.
We’ll get through this, and we’ll do it together.
Chapter Sixteen
Ethan
It’s early, Sunday morning. I feel Taylor stir beside me, and a smile plays at my lips.
My girl. She’s here, in my bed, right where she belongs.
She rolls over on her side and tugs at my arm, wrapping herself up in me, and I’m only too happy to oblige.
I glance down at the braid of leather on my wrist. She left it for me, snuck it into my suitcase without me catching her. Last night, while I waited for her to come over, I unpacked and found it, with a note.
Ethan,
I’ll never forget seeing the dolphins for the first time, with you. I’ll also never forget the story you told me about the first time you saw them, with your dad. I know you miss him–you’ve always missed him. I wish I’d had the chance to meet him, but in a way, I feel like I see pieces of him in who you are.
You’ve grown up to be a man I know he’d be proud of. I’m so thankful to have you in my life. I hope this reminds you of him, and when you see it, it makes you smile.
Tay
Even when she’s not around, she does things to make me smile. That’s how I know this is right.
I’m going to take Brody out on Friday night. I’m going to talk to him, man to man, and explain about her and me. I figure that’ll give him the weekend to process everything before we have to be back at work on Monday. I’m going to go talk to her parents, too. If Brody loses his shit, I don’t want him going off half-cocked. I want them to hear it from me. I respect them, and I owe them that.
I hear someone knocking on the front door, and Taylor stirs. I kiss her on the shoulder. “Stay in bed. I got it. Probably just a package I have to sign for or something. I’ll be right back.”
I grab a pair of boxer briefs from the floor and run a hand through my hair as I make my way to the front door. The knock comes again, more urgent this time.
“Fuck, I’m coming. Hold your shit together.”
I open the door and Brody comes bounding past me, holding up a bag. “Dude, you look like shit,” he offers as he walks by. “I brought breakfast burritos. There’s a beer festival this afternoon and Atrium Park. Go get your gear on. We’ll get a run in and head over to check it out.”
I wipe my palm down my face. “What? What time is it, even?”
“It’s nine-thirty. Come on, man.” He steps forward, looking me up and down. “Man, you really do look like shit.” He cocks his head to the side, then looks down the hallway toward my closed bedroom door. “Wait, do you have a girl back there?”
I half-shrug, as I search my foggy brain for an answer.
“You do. You do have a girl over. You dog. One at the beach and another already, here? Damn. Up top.” I put my palm up, more out of reflex than anything, and he slaps it.
“Okay, sorry. I didn’t know. I’ll just leave this and head out.” He goes to set the bag.
It all happens in slow motion. He puts the bag on the coffee table, and as he does, he looks up, and across the living room, on the floor next to the recliner, he sees it. He tilts his head, his eyes narrowing, and I follow his gaze. I can literally see the moment it registers. The tote bag with the giant blue crab is sitting on my living room floor. He looks up at me, and the moment our eyes connect, his go wide. His jaw sets, and he takes off down the hallway.
“Taylor!” He screams her name as he flies down the hall. “Taylor, are you back there?”
“Brody, stop, let me explain…” I take off after him, but I’m too late.
He throws the door open, and there, in my bed, with my comforter pulled up to cover herself, is Brody’s sister. She gasps when he opens the door, scooting back up against the headboard as if she’s trying to get away.
“Brody?”
He turns on his heels. I’m still half-asleep and it happens so fast, I don’t even see the punch coming. He catches me off-guard, his fist just connecting with my left eye as I back up. I put my palms up. “Brody, stop. Listen, it’s not what you think.”
“Motherfucker. Not what I think? I think you’re fucking my little sister, you piece of shit.” He lunges, but I step aside, catching him, and spinning so I’m behind him.
“Brody, seriously, stop. Let’s talk about this.”
“I trusted you, asshole. How could you do this?”
He comes at me again. I don’t want to hurt him. He’s my friend, and it’s all a misunderstanding. He won’t let up, though, and I can’t let him beat the shit out of me. He barrels forward. I put my hands up, but he doesn’t stop. He knocks me to the ground, and punches my in the eye again.
That’s it. I’m done trying to reason with him, now.
I grab him by the shirt collar and flip him over. He throws a punch at my side, and I expel air as it lands.
“Brody, if you don’t stop, I’m gonna have to fight back. We don’t have to do this.”
“You fucking piece of shit.” He throws another punch around the back that connects with my kidney. Pain sears my left side.
“I warned you.” I rear back and punch him, just once. As soon as my fist connects, I hear the cartilage crunch as it collapses under my knuckles.”
“Fuck!” He puts his hand up, but it’s not enough to contain the blood pouring from his face. “You broke my fucking nose.”
“You fucking deserved it.”
“Stop!”
We both look up to see Taylor, standing in the hallway, hands on her hips. Her hair’s a mess, standing up all over the place, and she’s wearing my t-shirt, which comes halfway down to her knees. She looks so pissed; she could probably take us both down right now without so much as breaking a nail. “Both of you, stop it.”
“Taylor, did he hurt you? Did he force you, because if he did, I swear to god…”
“What the fuck, dude?” From where I’m sitting on his chest, I smack Brody on the side of the head with my palm. “Did I force her? What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Me? You’re the one with my sister in your bed, you asshole.”
“If you don’t stop, I swear to god, I will walk out of this house and never speak to either of you again, and I fucking mean it.”
We both look at Taylor, then look at each other.
“Get up, and go sit over there.” She points to the living room.
I stand, and put my hand down to help Brody up. He takes it, and stands, then waves me off, like he suddenly remembers he’s still pissed. We sit on opposite sides of the room, each of us burning a hole in the carpet with our gaze.
Taylor disappears into the kitchen and returns with two dishrags filled with ice. Handing one to each of us.
“Now, let’s straighten this thing out. You,” she points to Brody, “Have no business barging into his bedroom uninvited, no matter who you think is in there.
“I just—” He tries to speak but she cuts him off.
“I’m a grown woman, Brody. I get that you want to look out for me. I’m lucky to have a big brother who does. You don’t get to go around beating the shit out of my boyfriends though, no matter what.”
“Boyfriends? Him?” He crooks his thumb at me.
I shrug, nodding my head. “Yeah, me.”
“And as for you,” she turns to me. “I was wrong to let you deal with this your way. You can’t fight my battles for me. You can support me, and be there when I ask for help, but I have to make my own decisions, and stand up for myself. Got it?”
My eyes meet hers and I smile. “Whatever you say.”
“I still don’t know what the hell is going on.” Brody turns to me. “You hook up with some random girl while we’re at the beach, and the day you get back, you’re in bed with my sister?”
Taylor crosses her arms and looks
at her brother, her head cocked to the side. “What are you talking about? He couldn’t have hooked up with anyone at the beach.”
“He did. Ask him. Marcus told us there was a girl in his room.”
She rolls her eyes and chuckles. “That was me, dumbass.”
“Wait, what? How long has this been going on?”
“It’s new. A couple of weeks, really,” I reply.
“But, Ethan, I think we both know…” Taylor looks at me, and I nod. “There’s been something there for a while.”
Brody shakes his head. “So, you two just decided to, whatever this is,” he waves his hand back and forth between us. “And what happens when you get bored and move on?” He directs the question at me.
“I won’t.”
“You don’t that.”
“I do.”
“You’ve done it before. You always get bored after a while, and move on to the next new thing. You’ve done it a hundred times with other girls.”
The words just fly out. Whether it’s the pain in my eye, or the feelings I have for Taylor, I don’t know, but I can’t control what comes next. “Yeah, well, asshole, maybe that’s because I didn’t love any of them.”
I look up and both Taylor and Brody are staring at me, their mouths hanging open. It’s the first time I ever noticed them making the same expression. I can’t help but laugh.
I stand and walk over to her. “I should’ve told you before. I love you, Taylor.”
“You do?” Her expression immediately softens.
“I really do.”
Her eyes well up, but she smiles all the same. “I love you, too, Ethan.”
She throws her arms around me and I wrap her up in mine. She pulls back, and I go to kiss her, but Brody stops me.
“Nope, absolutely not. I can’t see that.” He stands, waving his hand back and forth.
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