“He’s—”
“A cheating bastard. Besides, what about Luke?”
“Luke has his head up his ass.”
I can see that. “How so?”
“He can’t see past just hooking up. I mean, I should probably go along with it, since I was in a serious relationship for so long. I should have some fun. But I’m not made that way. Honestly, things with me and Dylan have been over a long time. We just drifted apart when we got up here, and we were so busy, neither one of us did anything about it.”
I snort. “Dylan did something about it.” He cheated.
“True.” Her laugh is humorless. We drive in silence for a few minutes. “No.”
“No what?”
“No, I’m not taking Dylan back. I’m also not going to be some guys hookup. There are plenty of girls who want that. I’m just not one of them.”
“And you told Luke all of that?”
“He knows. He just can’t seem to see himself in a relationship.” She shrugs. “I respect that.”
But she’s sad about it. “I’m sorry, Tay-Tay.”
She glances over, giving me a reserved smile. “So, you were nearly run over, huh?”
Leave it to Tayler to cut to the chase. “Oh, well, that was the good part of my day. The rest really sucked.”
That gets her laughing. Hard.
We decided it was best if I just crashed—no pun intended—at her place for tonight. I already sent a text to my roommates that I was staying with Tayler. I didn’t mention my accident.
When we pull into Tayler’s apartment complex, I frown. “You’ve got stairs.”
“There’s a service elevator. We’ll use that.”
“Thank goodness.”
Tayler wraps her arm around my waist and leads me through the door to the back of the main level. She presses the button, and we wait as the elevator clanks and wheezes its way down to us.
“So, where did they take your scooter?” she asks.
“The police have it.” Gage took care of it for me. He was going to drop it off at my house for me. He’s so sweet.
At her door, Tayler unlocks the deadbolt and pushes the door open. I step through, and the first thing I see are boxes stacked along the main hallway. “You’re ready to move. Did you find a place yet?”
“Most of that is Dylan’s stuff. He keeps thinking he’s just going to move back in here, but I took care of that. I’ve started packing my stuff too.” She shrugs. “Why not? I’ve got to be out of here. Our lease is up on the fifteenth.” I must have a strange expression, because she adds, “Yeah. Dylan wanted to be in before Thanksgiving last year, so he talked the management into a midmonth move-in date.” She rolls her eyes, then mutters, “Fucking tool.”
I want to ask her straight up if she wants to get a place together, but I know her. It’s got to seem like it’s her idea. She’s bossy like that. “I think I need to move too.”
“Really? Why?”
Sitting down on her sofa, I put my bad foot up on her ancient coffee table and update her on the basement and the landlord. I’d already told her about the mold issue.
“That’s bullshit,” she growls. “I hate landlords like that. He’s just spiteful.”
I can’t disagree. It appears he’s holding out on us because Patsy threatened him. I’m guessing, anyway.
As I sit on the couch, Tayler gathers up a sheet, blanket, and pillow for me. Her sofa is comfy. I’ve fallen asleep on it a time or two. Setting my phone on the coffee table, I pull off my mutilated sweatshirt and lay it across the back of the couch. Next, I retrieve the small bottle of pain meds the hospital pharmacy gave me. Then I lie down in my jeans and the tee I had on beneath the sweatshirt. I’d like to take the boot off, but I’m afraid I’ll bump my foot, which would hurt, so I do my best to get comfortable. It’s not easy, but I find a spot that isn’t bad.
