Page 30 of Property of Player

“Sure do.”

I lean back in the wooden Adirondack chair, and I roll my head to the side. “You took me to see that Pirates of the Caribbean movie.”

“I remember. It was the fourth one. On Stranger Tides.”

“The weekend before it came out, we were at your house doing a movie marathon of the first three. Me, Kayla, and Dozer, and you and your brothers and sister.”

“Yep. I was fifteen that summer, and you’d just turned fourteen. We rented them all at the rental store. There was still a Blockbuster back then.”

“Remember in the first one where Jack and Elizabeth are stuck on the desert island?”

“Hell, yeah. She set fire to the rum.”

I giggle at his outrage. “I remember all the times you used to sneak over to see me that spring.”

“You weren’t allowed to date until you turned fourteen.”

“You didn’t waste any time once I did.”

“No, ma’am.”

I stare at the fire. “We had some fun times, didn’t we?”

“There will be more. Life’s not over, Taylor. Maybe things seem bad at your house now, but you’ve got a lot of life left. A lot more of those good times ahead of you. Maybe even some for us.”

I’m quiet with that for a while.

“My father is selling our house,” he says softly.

That has my head swiveling. “Oh, no.”

“Yep. Nobody is happy about it, but I get it. All the memories in every room of the place are getting to him.”

“It’ll be sad to see it go. I always loved that your family was right there by us.”

“At least your mom kept your old house. I’m glad you had that to come home to. I hope you stay, Taylor. I really do. I’ve missed you more than you can imagine. I’ve missed this. Being able to talk to you about stuff.”

“Me too.”

He turns toward me. “I wish you’d never left.”

“I couldn’t stay. Not after everything. It was too hard.”

“I needed you back then.”

“It was hard enough watching you marry someone else. I couldn’t bear watching you grieve her.”

He looks away, and I see his jaw clench and his eyes glaze.

“I’ve been stuck for four years. Riddled with guilt. I loved Debbie. I did. Not the way I loved you, though. If that had been you in that grave, I would have blown my brains out.” His eyes meet mine.

“Don’t say that. It doesn’t make it easier.”

“Not trying to make it easier. Just trying to tell you the truth.”

“Truth? Really?”

He turns away; we both know some things he’s never been honest with me about.