Page 65 of Take Care, Taylor

The restaurant guarded the edge of the ocean with a wide wooden deck strung in soft lights that gleamed above turquoise tables and checkered floors.

“Welcome, y’all!” A waitress skated up to our table, handing us two menus. “Have you ever been here before?”

We shook our heads.

“Well, we have the best pancakes and waffles in the world, and this is probably the quickest you’ll ever get a table here—so good timing.” She clicked her pen. “You can’t go wrong with anything, but theCarter & AriandRachel & Ethanspecials are my personal favorites.”

I glanced at the menu, overwhelmed by the riot of pictures.

“We’ll take one of each,” Taylor said, making it easy.

“Perfect!”

She rolled away and returned with coffee, then left us in silence.

The clink of her skates faded, leaving only the low hum of the ocean and the sound of him breathing across the table—steady, patient, like he could wait me out forever.

His eyes held mine, and I searched for something to say, but flashes of him inside me were the only things crossing my mind.

By the time I managed to considerSo, how’s your day going?as a conversation starter, our food arrived.

Beautifully stacked waffles and yogurt towers drenched in chocolate and vanilla. They were almost too beautiful to eat, but I forced myself to pick up a fork and taste the waffle first.

I held back a moan as butter melted down my throat.

“Your rewrite was far better than the original version you turned in,” Taylor said, finally breaking the silence.

“Your team is going to suck without you when the season starts.”

“That’s not the theme of this conversation.” He smirked. “Try to stay on topic.”

“If I stay off, you’ll get mad and leave.”

“I won’t.” He picked up the syrup. “I’ll probably head back to the team a little earlier than expected.”

“Because you want to?”

He shot me a blank stare.

“You could’ve changed since I last talked to you…” I paused. “Why did you stop writing me, Taylor?”

“It’s not like you were writing me back super fast,” I said. “I felt like at one point it was one-sided.”

“You’re lying, Audrey.”

“You stopped writing too, Taylor.” I refused to take the blame. “And last I checked, we were trying to stay cordial for the umpteenth time, and it just fell apart like it always did.”

“It would be different if we tried harder this time.”

“Because of the sex?” I asked. “I’ve already told you there won’t be any more of it.”

“Okay.” He laughed. “But no, that’s not why.”

“Then what’s the reason?”

“You’re the closest thing I’ve ever had to a real friend.”

Something in my chest twisted. Because even when he said it like a compliment, it still sounded like a warning.