Page 45 of Loving Taylor

"It's okay—he was an asshole." I lifted my eyes to meet hers. I could feel the muscles in my shoulders tense. Talking about him only reminded me of that feeling of abandonment I had experienced.

"So how long have you and Slater been friends?" she asked, trying to steer the conversation to a safer subject.

I smiled.

"We used to live next door to each other and we've been friends from the time we could walk." Technically he had been about six when he had moved in next door to me.

"Do you have any siblings?" she asked.

"No, I'm an only child." I shook my head. Honestly I was glad I hadn't had a brother or sister to suffer along with me. It would have made it harder. Besides, Slater was as good as any blood sibling I could have had.

Our burgers arrived and we started to eat.

"Mmm," she sighed when she took her first bite.

At least she wasn't one of those girls who complained about their weight while pushing rabbit food around their plate.

"I told you," I said with my second smile in a matter of minutes. Not only did she have a way of tying me up in knots, she also had a way of making me feel more relaxed and peaceful when I was with her.

The rest of the conversation died away as we finished our food. Afterward I walked her back to my car and I drove her back to the dorm.

At the entrance of her dorm she turned nervously to me. I didn't want the night to end yet. I wanted more of her but I wanted her to be the one to make the move. After the quickie in the janitor's closet she needed to be the one to make clear what she wanted.

"Thank you, that was nice." She looked up at me with those pretty blue eyes that made my blood thicken.

"You're welcome." My gaze was intense.

"Do you want...to come in?" she asked, nervously brushing her hair aside. She didn't have to ask me twice. I allowed myself to embrace our attraction and I closed the distance between us. Her eyes lifted to mine as I cupped the back of her head. I kissed her gently and then our tongues caressed each other.

But one kiss was never enough with her. I needed more. But I had to be clear about what was going to happen if I came upstairs. I broke the kiss. It was her naivety that made me want to spell it out for her.

"If I come in, we won't be talking," I whispered against her lips huskily. In my mind we were already naked in her bed.

"I know."

"I need to get something from my car." I needed protection.

"I'll meet you upstairs." She sounded breathless. I nodded as she walked to the building. I jogged to my car and opened the front door. In the glove compartment I found my stash of condoms and pocketed a few.

I hurried to the entrance of the dorm and went straight to the stairwell. I remembered someone complaining about the elevator still not working. There was a muffled sound that seemed strange as I ascended the first few steps.

Then the sound of a girl crying out sped me into taking the steps two at a time. Something was very wrong. My heart thudded in my chest.

When I made it to the landing, I saw Taylor sitting down on the floor, rubbing her side.

"Taylor?" I said, unsure of what had happened.

Pure terror filled her eyes as they began to water. I rushed to her with concern. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed. She tried to stand up but winced in pain.

I had just left her a few minutes ago. What had happened? Had she fallen? But that didn’t explain the terror in her eyes?

"What happened?" My hands went to her as I scanned her face. She was shaking like a leaf. She seemed to be in shock and was unable to tell me exactly what had happened.

She began to cry again and trembled with every sob.

"Shh." I put my arms around her and held her, trying to calm her down. I kept her close until she managed to calm down and her crying eased.

Taking in her tear-streaked face felt like a knife in my chest twisted. I brushed her tears away. She trembled when I put an arm around her shoulders and led her the rest of the way up to her room.