"The lasagna. It's transcendent." Her face was absolutely serious, which made me laugh. I was afraid I'd offended her for a moment before her mouth spread into a wide grin. She shook her head, chuckling. "You're something else.""Why?""No reason. How 'bout you?" She pointed at my menu."Oh!" I realized I hadn't even opened it. I forced myself to look away from her and down at the selections. "So, should I just get the lasagna like you?""Nah, you can try some of mine.""Well I love seafood, so this looks good." I pointed to the picture of the fettuccine and shrimp Alfredo.Taylor grimaced."You don't like shrimp?""Seafood. Never been my thing."I gave her a stern look. "How can you live in L.A. and not like seafood?""Didn't grow up with it. Mom had an allergy to, well, anything new, really. It wasn't dad's favorite either. He thinks real meat comes from a cow or a pig. Maybe a bird on Thanksgiving.""You have tried seafood, haven't you?"She blushed a little. "Sure, I mean, we had
Eventually mom and Kelsey came home, with dad an hour later, and the evening passed.Tuesday morning dawned, and I stayed in bed as long as I could. My dreams had been all over the place. I'd been hiding, and being chased, and trying to find Taylor, who I knew was looking for me. In the end she'd found me, and held me close, my white dress flowing around me in the wind. I'd awoken clutching my pillow like a lover.I made myself go for a bike ride, and then I went out to a climbing facility nearby. I'd choked down a bowl of cheerios when I got up, but my stomach was in knots by lunchtime, so I didn't eat. Probably not the wisest move, but hey.I got home around two, with the house completely empty. I went up to my bathroom where my dress was hanging and laid it out on my bed, along with a lacy black bra and a pair of three inch pumps with straps across the ankle. I was just getting ready to shower when Kelsey burst into my room without knocking."Hey, sis."I felt a spike of fear, but
Heaven only lasted a moment before she pulled away, leaving me stunned and shaking. But I'd kissed her back that time, and it had been wonderful.That little smirk again. "Are you free Tuesday night?"A stupid, schoolgirl grin spread across my face. "Yeah.""Give me your phone." I fumbled in my small purse for a moment before managing to pull out my cell phone and unlocking it. She quickly added a contact and sent herself a text before handing it back. "Send me your address and I'll pick you up at seven." She sat back, turning her attention again towards the water."Yeah, I will." I stood up on shaky legs and found my way down to the sand. As I walked away I glanced back. She was looking at me again, a real smile on her face this time. I felt like I could fly.I made it back to my Mini. As soon as the engine was on and the AC humming I gave an excited little scream. I remembered when I was fifteen, and after a football game my best friend Erin had come back to my house to spend the ni
TaylorGod, what the hell was I doing? Telling this complete stranger my life story? Damn, but she was easy to look at. And I really wanted to run my fingers through that hair. Combine that with those soft brown eyes and, damn. And that voice, geez, almost a childlike soprano. I was already daydreaming about what it would sound like moaning in ecstasy. I needed to switch it up."So how about you? Why architecture?"She grinned and blushed, making my heart melt just a little. "Probably because of my parents, they're both in real estate, in ways. Dad's a developer; mom's an agent. I always loved looking at the buildings. It's how they met, mom was selling space in one of the properties dad's company built up." Aly shrugged. "I guess it worked out, it's been twenty-five years.""A happy twenty-five?""Yeah, I think so, most of it." She looked down, suddenly vulnerable. "I've always been terrified of my parents getting divorced. I saw it happen to so many of my friends, the fighting, nigh
Sleep was slow in coming that night. I'd expected that, but I wouldn't have been able to predict the reason. Instead of seeing my sister drowned, sinking into the depths, or washed up lifeless on the beach, my thoughts were filled with a short-haired blonde rising majestically from the water, her powerful shoulders glistening in the Southern California sunlight.I finally nodded off, feeling somehow safe with her face in my mind. The next thing I knew it was morning and my mom was knocking lightly on my door. "Aly, sweetheart, I'm going to head in to the hospital, you coming?""No, I'm just waking up. You go on, I'll be there as soon as I can." Eventually I found my way into the shower and some clothes. I sat in my Mini Cooper for a moment before making a decision. I turned the key, pulled through our front gate, and headed to the beach.TaylorI'd made the right call, coming back to work today. It felt good to be in the sunshine. I watched the people play, innocent and carefree. A bo
"Hey, Aly.""Hey, sis, how'ya doing?""Tired. Mom and Dad?""They're coming. Just rest." She closed her eyes and breathed deep, but it had a scary, rattling quality."That's normal." I turned around where a man in a white coat and velvet black skin was standing behind me. "Hi, I'm Dr. Okunwe, are you Aly?" I nodded. "Good, she's been asking for you.""How is she?""Well, what we are most worried about here is brain injury from lack of oxygen. But she knows her name, she could tell us her address, she knew you, so I think we're going to be okay there. Can't tell for sure yet, but it looks good. Next is infection. She has had an injury to her lungs, so she could have an infection, develop pneumonia." He shrugged. "We'll put her on preventative antibiotics and keep her at least overnight to watch. Her parents?""They're on their way.""Good. Have the nurse find me when they get here.""Thank you, doctor."He nodded to me and withdrew. I sat down in a chair by Kelsey's bed, took her hand