Page 15 of The Matchmaker Club

It was probably more like twenty-seven, but he knew better than to challenge me and waste even more time.

Austin sat down in the chair next to mine and leaned forward, his hands hanging over his knees. “Do you remember when we used to sit out here for hours?”

I turned away. “Vaguely.”

“You used to say that the sky looked like a big globe above the trees. Like one of them planetariums come to life.”

That ache in my chest was beginning to move up my throat.

“And our first kiss under Marlena’s cedar tree…”

I stood up, digging deep for that familiar feeling of anger before the threat of tears won over. “If you came here to talk about summer nights, then you can leave right now.”

He rubbed the back of his neck and got up, walking closer to me. “I’ve never had a summer like that since. What I did to you when school started… I don’t blame you for being mad at me all those years.”

I tensed, not wanting to relive my senior year all over again, or the way my first love broke my heart by acting as if I didn’t mean anything, as if I was just some fling to brag about to his buddies.

My first lesson as a Reed woman.

“I remember what happened. What I want to know is why you’re herenow.”

“I want you to know that I’m sorry.”

“You said it. Are we done?”

“Can we just talk without it turning into a fight?”

I folded my arms across my chest. “Apparently not, so why are we even trying?”

He wiped a hand across his face in frustration. “Dammit, Taylor, don’t you get it?”

“Get what?”

“That I’m in love with you.” He hesitated, taking a careful step forward. “I never stopped being in love with you.”

I could feel my defenses beginning to crack as my hands slowly fell to my sides.

“I was a dumb, stupid kid who was more worried about what other people in this damned town thought. If I had a lick of sense back then, I would’ve told the world you were my girl.”

“You’ve been in love with me…?” I finally asked. “Even while you were with Tammy and Beth and Ashley and—”

“Yes, and why do you think I broke up with them all?”

“Because you got bored with them like you did me?”

“No, because none of them wereyou!” He slammed his hand against the post. “I’ve been chasing that summer for five years, and no relationship could ever compare to what we had.”

I swallowed down the ache. “What we had is over. I don’t feel that way about you anymore.”

“Really? Is that why you haven’t dated anyone since?”

My anger returned tenfold. “Oh yeah, because so many men around here are lined up for a serious relationship with thetown whore. Thanks for that reputation, by the way. Really helped, as if my family didn’t have enough rumors to deal with.”

“Inevercalled you a whore.”

“No, you just told your friends I slept with you, that it was just a summer thing.”

He rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m sorry.”