Page 38 of Take Care, Taylor

Cecelia.

“Yeah?” I answered.

“Um, I don’t think so. That’s not how you’re supposed to greet your favorite person in the world.”

“That spot now belongs to someone named Emma, but you might get it back soon.”

“Whatever.” She laughed. “Not trying to take up too much writing time, but I just remembered you never told me about your roommate last week. Have you killed her yet?”

“Not yet,” I said. “He’s on borrowed time, though.”

“It’s a guy?”

“Yeah… all the suites are coed.”

“Is it a hot guy?”

“We’ll talk about him later.”

“Perfect! Can I finish telling you about how hot Taylor Wolff is these days now?”

“Oh my god, no!” I nearly screamed. “Does everyone I encounter have to bring up this man like I give a damn? Is the universe paying you all some kind of bonus to do this to me?”

“Um, no…”

“It’s bad enough that I have to share a suite with him and he refuses to buy a condo of his own with all that money he has, but I swear to God—” I was talking so fast I could barely breathe. “Between you, his girlfriend, the professors, and now my mentee, I’m going to lose it if I hear anything else about him today.”

The line went silent.

“You still there, Cece?” I asked.

“Yeah, I’m here…”

“Well, why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I’m just putting two and two together.” There was a smile in her voice. “And you literally just told me not to say something, so…”

“I was being dramatic.” I waved a hand. “Say something.”

Silence.

“I’m serious, Cece.”

“I would, but I honestly don’t know how to say‘you’re so fucked’in a prettier way.”

TRACK 15. THE ARCHER (4:32)

TAYLOR

“Yes, I’ll be on the sidelines for the preseason game next Thursday, Coach.” I stepped out of my car on Friday evening, my phone pressed to my ear. “You don’t have to keep calling to double-check.”

“Have you memorized the first twenty pages of plays?”

“I’m on page eighty.”

“Well, excellent…” He hesitated. “And your wrist? How is it feeling this week?”

It’s still fucking fractured.“It’s feeling better.”