Page 25 of Take Care, Taylor

“I don’t knowanythingabout you, Taylor Wolff,” I said. “And I don’t plan on learning anything new either.”

“What part of being ‘cordial’ is this?” He smirked.

“Anyway—” I rolled my eyes and stepped back. “I took a quick look at the syllabus this morning, and it looks pretty intense, so I would appreciate it if you didn’t have any company here late at night.”

“Ever?”

“Yes, ever.”

“Then I expect the same from you,” he said.

“Obviously. I’d also appreciate it if you could treat me like any other stranger.”

“Come again?”

“We have a history, but I’ve spent the past several years trying to erase all of our pages, so… I would prefer it if you didn’t allude to anything in the past.” I kept my voice firm. “You’re hereto write and compete, as am I, and we’re roommates. That’s the end of our connection.”

“I assure you that we don’t have a connection at all, Audrey.”

“Exactly.” I shrugged. “I’d prefer if you didn’t write about me in any of your work here or bring me up in conversation with any of our fellow cohorts.”

“If you honestly think that you cross my mind enough to make it into anything I’ve ever written, you’re still as delusional as you were on the day I first fucking met you.”

“I just met you today, remember?”

“Right.” He clenched his jaw. “Anything else, Miss Parker?”

“No, that would be all, Mr. Wolff.” I smiled. “I actually like this formality. We should keep it that way.”

He shot me a pointed look, but he didn’t protest.

“Two professors dropped by with updated syllabi while you were away,” he said. “I slid them under your door.”

“Thanks.”

He didn’t say “You’re welcome.”

“One more thing,” I said, itching to get him out of my sight. “I think we should establish some type of communication system—just for emergencies.”

“You mean, like our cell phones?”

“No, no,” I said. “We can just use one of the social media messengers if something comes up, right? You can choose which one.”

“That’ll only work if you unblock me.”

Nope, never.“In that case, we can use the program’s messenger board.”

“Or you can be an adult and give me your phone number.”

“It’s the same as it’s always been.”

“No, it’s not.” His eyes darkened as he stepped closer to me. “You changed it last year…”

“How would you know?”

He didn’t answer. He just stared at me.

“I doubt there’s anything we’ll need to talk about.” I glanced at my luggage, then back at him. “I’m going to unpack my stuff and?—”