Dylan and Taylor (Soul Mates 101 Series) (28 page)

“Go to hell, Matt.”

“I was just playin’ around. You need to chill.”

“I’m sorry, but I’ve had a sucky morning. My dick’s in pain from sleeping next to Tory for two nights. Then the paparazzi took photos of me leaving the house with her this morning. I have to explain this to everyone, and I imagine the only girl that’s having sex with me will not be after she sees me with Tory on TV.”

“Oh shit, that’s bad,” Brett says, chuckling.

They don’t have a bit of sympathy for me.

Dylan

I’ve only had intermittent sleep for a week now. It’s Saturday morning, and I’m sitting next to Taylor’s bed when the pulmonologist comes in.

“I wanted to let you know that Taylor’s lungs are doing much better. There’s less infection, and her brain scans are good, so I’m hopeful she’ll wake up.”

“Oh, thank you for letting us know,” Brenda says.

It’s the best news we’ve heard yet, and I have a nervous energy now as we wait. Around noon, I leave with the guys. The girls agree to take turns sitting with Taylor while I get a shower and eat.

When I return in the evening, there’s been no change, so Vincent, Brenda and I continue to sit with her. I’m asleep with my head laying on her bed when I hear a noise.

All three of us open our eyes and see Taylor looking terrified as she tries to pull her breathing tube out. Her eyes are wide open, so Vincent grabs her arms while I run out of the room, yelling for a nurse. A few of them hurry in and make us leave.

I tear into the waiting room, wired up and speaking quickly to everyone. “She woke up. She really woke up, and she tried to pull out her breathing tube, so the nurses ran us out of the room.” The girls jump up, and every one of them hug on me.

“Just seeing her eyes open was such a relief.” I take off my hat and put it back on again. I’m so happy.

“I just hope they tell us something quickly,” Vincent says.

Thirty minutes pass before a nurse comes out to get us. Tory and I go back with Vincent and Brenda. The nurse informs us they had to lightly sedate Taylor, so she can’t pull out the tube while they wean her off the ventilator. We’re frustrated they had to put her back to sleep, but they assure us it should be temporary.

***

It’s close to midnight, and all our friends just left. Nate took Tory home again, so it’s just Vincent, Brenda and me waiting.

“Sunshine, I love you.” I stroke her hair for a while. My chair is next to her, so I lay my head on my arms that are resting on the bed next to her and try to sleep. I can hardly wait until I can pull her up against my chest and sleep with her in bed.

Nate

Tory’s curled up against my chest. She didn’t have to pull on my arm last night. It seemed natural to wrap it around her when we went to bed. Now, hers is draped over my chest, and her legs are tangled with mine.

Anxiety washes over me as I realize how much I’ve enjoyed sleeping with her and snuggling. Disappointment strikes me next when I think about how this is the last time I get a chance to. I hate that Taylor’s hurt, but all the other shit I’ve dealt with over this has been worth it to get to know Tory.

I don’t know how much time passes, but I continue to enjoy the feel of her skin against mine. I start running my fingers through her long, golden blonde hair. I believe I’m getting a taste of what Dylan was talking about. I really wish I could just sleep in bed with Tory every night.

She starts waking up, probably from my fingers running through her hair. “Good morning,” she says softly without moving.

“Good morning. We need to get ready to go back to the hospital.”

“I know. I wish you could sleep in my bed every night.”

“I was just thinking the same thing, but unfortunately, I have to leave today. Listen, I wasn’t trying to call you a slut yesterday. You seemed so comfortable with having me in your bed, so it gave me the impression other guys had been in it.

“I think you’re sweet, and I think it’s great you’ve waited to have sex. You should wait and do it with someone you really care about. Some of my friends that are girls say they wish they’d waited until they were older and in a real relationship.”

“The way you hugged me at the hospital the other day made me feel safe with you, and I like you, so that’s why I asked you to sleep in my bed. No other guy has. I better get ready.”

She climbs off the bed, giving me a great view of her body in the tiny clothes she’s wearing. I instantly feel the absence of her warm skin. Today is going to suck.

Ray
of Sunshine

Dylan

The pulmonologist was in earlier this morning, and they removed the ventilator since Taylor was breathing on her own. She’s looking more like herself now, but the neurologist said there’s still a chance she could have brain impairment. No matter what her condition is, I’ll never leave her again.

Around noon, Vincent and Brenda go to the cafeteria to get some lunch. I’m talking to Taylor and stroking her hair when I get an idea. Glancing at the door, I climb into the bed, getting as close to her as possible. I pull the sheet over us and bury my face against her neck. There’s no way I’m staying awake now. It’s the most comforting feeling to be this close to her.

***

I feel movement against me, and then I hear my name.
Taylor’s saying my name!
I jump out of bed and grab her hand.

“Taylor, you’re awake!”

“Where am I?” she asks as she glances to her arm that has the IV in it.

“You’re in the hospital, baby. You’ve been really sick with alcohol poisoning.”

Her eyes widen with panic. “I didn’t try to hurt myself.”

“I know. Hannah told us what happened.”

“Where are my parents?” Her voice is really scratchy, and I can tell she’s having trouble speaking.

“They’re here. They’ve been here almost around the clock every day. They went to get something to eat.”

Panic fills her eyes again. “Days? How many days has it been?”

“It happened Thursday, and today is Sunday.”

“I’m so glad to see you, Dylan. I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me. I love you.” She begins crying. The damn ache returns in my chest.

I grab her head and kiss her face all over. “Please, sunshine, don’t cry. I feel terrible. We have a lot to talk about, but I want you to know I’ll never leave you again if you’ll forgive me for putting you through all of those days of pain.

“I was an idiot. I swear I was coming to see you at your apartment before we got the call that you were here. I’m sorry, and I love you so much.”

“I’m sorry for this and for going behind your back,” she says as she wipes tears from her face.

“Don’t ever apologize for that again. You told me you were sorry a million times, and I should’ve forgiven you right away. You have no idea how happy I am to know you’re OK. I better get a nurse and your parents. I promise I’ll be right back.”

I stop at the nurse’s station and tell them Taylor’s awake before I head to the waiting room. Brenda and Vincent are there along with everyone else.

“Taylor’s awake and talking! She seems fine to me. I think she’s going to be OK.” They all talk to each other excitedly. I can see their weary looks lighten. Tory grabs Nate and plants a big kiss on his cheek. I see him nervously look to Vincent, who’s too busy hugging Brenda. I walk over to my brother and give him a hug.

“Thanks for being here, Nate.”

“No problem. I’m glad I came. The Page girls are pretty special.” He’s smiling at me.

“Oh, man. She got to you, didn’t she?”

“Yeah. I don’t want to leave, but I don’t have a choice. We’ve been all over the television, bro. I guess there’s nothing else exciting going on in the world of celebrities. You and Taylor aren’t going to have any peace when you go back to school.”

“I don’t care if the whole world knows I’m with Taylor. I’m going to be with her, so I have to deal with this. I’m just sorry you got stuck in the middle of it.”

“It wasn’t all bad.” He tilts his head toward Tory.

“I’d love to see you happy with her, but you’re young, so don’t jump into anything.”

“Don’t worry about me, just take care of Taylor. I’m gonna head home. I have a lot of explaining to do.”

“Don’t worry about Mom and Dad. I’ll call them tonight and take the heat off of you. You’ll have enough to deal with at school.” I give him one last pat on the shoulder before I hurry back to Taylor’s room. I can’t wait to see her and hold her again.

Nate

I tell everyone bye and turn to Tory. I don’t know how to tell her goodbye.

“Can I please walk out with you?” she asks.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Tory. I’m afraid you’ll get bombarded again by the paparazzi.”

“It’s worth it. Please.”

I gaze down at her pretty eyes that have some life in them again. I really want to kiss her, and the only way that’ll happen is if she walks out with me.

I take her hand. “Come on.”

We’re shocked when we get outside and don’t see a single person with a camera. We reach my old truck in the dimly lit parking garage. I grab Tory’s waist and gently push her against the side of it. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since I met you, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop if I did it in your bedroom.”

Tory’s sexy eyes tilt up at me. “I’ve been waiting for you to kiss me.” I can see that her breathing is becoming short and shallow. I slowly cup one side of her face and lean in. She lets my tongue slip right into her mouth as she grabs both sides of my waist and pulls me against her.

She slowly and teasingly swirls her tongue with mine. This girl is so hot. We stop our kiss a few times to get our breath and gaze at each other, but unable to resist, we kiss again and again. After several minutes I let her go.

“Damn, Tory, I’m going to miss you.”

“You’re always welcome to come see me.” She gives me one last kiss on my cheek and moves out from between me and my truck.

“I’m sure I’ll be complaining at you through text when I get home and have to explain all this. See you soon, angel-face,” I say as I get into my truck. Dang, I think she’s keepin’ a little piece of my heart. Leaving her sucks, and August can’t come fast enough.

The
End is Just the Beginning

Hannah

The girls and I are talking in the waiting room when I hear the guys snickering. I look up and see Tory coming toward us. Now I know why they’re laughing. “Chick, you’re fire engine red, and your chest is even flushed,” I say.

A big grin appears as she looks down at her chest and back up at me. “He kissed me, and it was amazing.”

“You can’t fall for Dylan’s brother. That could get complicated,” Chelsea says.

Tory scowls. “I don’t want a boyfriend when I start college, so I don’t plan on dating him, but he’s so sweet that I don’t know if I’ll be able to resist. You all treat me like a baby. I’m not even two years younger than most of you.”

“Tory, we’re just trying to look out for you. I can tell you right now that relationships are hard,” Morgan says, looking over at Matt. He sees her and pats his lap.

“See, I’m being summoned, and if it’s for what I think, then it will be the last time. Here goes.” Morgan gets up to go over to Matt.

I see him kiss on her neck after she sits on his lap. Then I see him whisper in her ear. Shit. She looks really angry. Morgan pulls away. “Are you asking me if I want to go back to the house just to have sex?” she asks loudly.

I can’t hear what he says back to her, but it must’ve been the wrong answer. Morgan jumps off his lap. “You’re an asshole, Matt, and I’m sick of you using me. We’re finished this time!” She storms off to the bathroom in tears.

“I don’t need this bullshit,” Matt says as he tears out of the waiting room doors.

Brett looks over at me. “I don’t know what caused it, but I don’t like who he’s become.”

I give him a sympathetic look. The longer the girls and I have known the guys, the more Matt’s become Jekyll and Hyde. He seems to love spending time with us one minute, but then changes right in front of our eyes. It’s as if he realizes he’s enjoying his time with us and has to change that.

I know he’s a great person inside, but he’s determined not to let his guard down, and he’s going to regret it. Brett says Morgan’s the best thing to ever happen to Matt. I really want all of our friendships to stay intact, and now this will have me working overtime to make that happen. I have a feeling this is just the beginning to a crazy year.

Taylor

It hits me that the rest of the furniture I ordered is arriving at my apartment today, so Mom says she’ll go there and wait for it to be delivered. I think she wants to clean up the mess I made, too. I can’t believe what I did. I was exhausted and devastated thinking I wasn’t getting Dylan back and was just trying to numb my pain. I didn’t mean to hurt myself.

I’d never felt that kind of sadness before and didn’t know how to deal with it. I shut everyone out, which was the first mistake, and then to drink the way I did was wrong. I did exactly what I watched my parents do so many times when I was little. I’m never letting that happen again. My mom and dad leave Dylan and me alone in the room, so we can talk.

“Where do you want to go when you get out of here? Do you think you should stay with your folks until you get some strength back?”

“I want to go to the apartment, but only if you want to stay there at night with me. Otherwise, I should probably go to my parents.”

“You have no idea how bad I want to stay with you. I am not leaving you again, Taylor. I don’t know if I’ll ever understand why, but we’re not supposed to spend a night apart, sweetheart.”

Dylan

Vincent comes into Taylor’s room to talk to her for a minute, so I go to the waiting room and sit next to Cody.

“You missed it, buddy. Matt tried to get Morgan to go back to the house, so she dumped him in front of everyone. It was ugly. He got mad and left.”

“He’s a dumb ass. She’s the mellowest of all the girls and caters to him. She’s smart, beautiful, and Matt’s going to regret letting her walk away. I’m grateful I get another chance with Taylor.”