“Didn’t say he had to swing fists. But opening his mouth would have helped.”
“That’s still confrontation.” And since I’m the same way, I understand what it’s like to want to say something but don’t. Besides, they were seniors and Ryan and I are only sophomores. Those assholes will graduate in a couplemore months and will no longer be an issue for me. “It’s fine. Seriously.”
“Names.” He stops walking and thrusts his chin out at me, his eyes hardening. “Give me their names and I won’t say anything to Ryan.”
“What? No.” That would be disastrous. “Conner, just stop. You can’t always jump into my personal life and fuck things up.”
“I’m not fucking your life up, Taylor. I’m being a friend. A friend who can’t stand bullies. I’m not letting anyone get away with hurting your feelings. It isn’t in me.”
I know it isn’t. But…
“Tell me or I’ll find out the hard way and have the guys help.”
Great. Now he’s dragging Nick and the rest of them into it.
Before I can say anything more, Carly comes running over to us. “Oh my god, what a bunch of assholes! Are you okay?” She wraps her arms around my middle and hugs me. “I just heard.”
Great. Bet the whole school is already talking about it.
Carly looks murderous. “I can’t believe Ryan too. Like what a douche. He totally put the bros before his ho today.”
“I’m not a ho,” I say, annoyed.
“You know what I mean.” She hugs me again. “Damn, I wish I’d been there. I would have hit Jonathan upside his fat head with my water bottle.” She waggles the heavy metal container while saying it.
“Jonathan,” Conner repeats, a little surprised. “You mean Ryan’s best friend?”
“That whole friend group cornered her,” Carly snitches.
Con looks over at me and runs a hand down his face.Then he storms away.
That night, Ryan calls and dumps me…
Holding my robe closed, I take in a few deep breaths and try to think this through. If we don’t work out, Conner will leave town. Drastic, yes. But maybe that’s the only way to survive the fallout.
I can’t pack and go or I would instead. My family needs me to help with the business, and I have my work here too. Besides, I’ve tolerated so much shit around here growing up, that having my shop makes me proud. It’s like giving everyone who picked on me a bigfuck youbecause now they pay me for my flowers and herbal remedies and bone art and crystals and I’m proud of myself for not tucking tail and changing myself to conform. Not to mention, there’s a lot more open-mindedness in Bear Creek lately thanks to transplants who moved here from big cities so they can have a “simpler life”. Whatever that means. No matter where you live, life isn’t simple. It’s what you make it.
Can I live without Conner if this backfires? He’s a part of the fabric of my soul at this point. If we go sideways, can I really say goodbye forever?
I don’t want to find out.
This has to work.
I can’t live without him even for a day. I tried and failed, and it was only for a week when he went to the woods and had no contact.
“Okay,” I say quietly.
“Okay, what?”
“Okay, move away if it doesn’t work out.”
He shifts—not just with his feet, but his energy. There’s defeat etched in the lines around his mouthand his brow furrows. “Okay. Deal.”
Conner bends over and grabs the towel from the floor and wraps it around his waist. Then he heads for the bottom drawer of my dresser where I keep his spare clothes.
I grab his arm and turn him to face me. “You’re never leaving,” I say with all the bravado I can muster. Tears spring to my eyes and I shake his arm to make sure he understands me. “Do you hear me, Con? You areneverleaving.”
Chapter 14
