Taylor finally cracked—“Good night, sweetheart”—and River can’t stop replaying it, even while dodging awful cookies and Javier’s persistence. But then Dad’s drinking and Aunty G’s meddling advice drag her in another direction. And just when she thinks she might say yes to Javier… her body has other plans. Readers, be honest: should River listen to Aunty G and give Javier a chance, or should she face the fact that Taylor is sneaking into her heart one “sweetheart” at a time? Comment your take, or else I’ll let River stay stuck with cramps and no answers for a whole chapter.
RIVER"I was just saying that... hmm... that if you..." I had never seen Taylor stutter like this before. He was always smirking with a teasing expression, and it almost felt as though I had broken him. I had never had to say that something an adult made for me was horrible, especially food, so I did not know how to return the cookies to him without making it awkward. I held onto it and tried to act as if his earlier words did not ignite something in me while I tried to brush it off and play cool."It's okay; I guess you were just speaking." I have no idea what the meaning of those words was, but I said them anyway, and he nodded in agreement. I take a step forward, still holding on to the plate, as I wonder how I am going to be able to eat it. "Good night," I say evasively because I have no idea how I am supposed to carry on the conversation. I was at my door when he cleared his throat and stopped me."River?""Yeah," I whip my hair at him, following as I turn my head."I was just won
TAYLORI pack the car up front and walk over to the next street with a paper box that my mom had packed a bunch of cookies in. I divided them into two. I stand by Javier and Matt's door, knocking and trying to act normal as if I were not intentionally offering them a box of failed cookies.The door opens, and Matt stands there; he looks genuinely shocked to see me, and even I am shocking myself by being there. "Taylor? "Can I help you?" he said, not bothering to hide his shock."Oh well, not really," I say, lifting the box higher for him to see. "I came from my mom's place, and she made a tonne of cookies, and I was thinking that we are neighbours, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to bring you some," I say, and he looks down at the box and then up at me."All of this?" He asked with wide eyes as he pointed to the box that was already weighing a lot on my hands."Yes, all of this," I say with a nod, hoping that was not going to be a giveaway. He did not seem to catch on as he stretched hi
TAYLOR"Unruly children should be punished," she said dryly. I knew it was about to be a heartwarming moment between us, but even without her saying another word, I knew what she was going to say next."I did not come here for you to play advocate," I say, and she drops the spatula into the bowl, and it clatters loudly, and she turns to me."Can you at least hear me out?""Mom, you can't possibly ask me to act as if he did not hurt you.""He hurt me; I am not going to lie about it," she said, and I could see the hurt in her eyes. "But I have left that behind. Trust me, I am way beyond that; I am living now.""Mom, you really do not have to help them after they did this to you," I said. I had always avoided coming here when she was around because no matter how hurt my father and Julia had left her, she was still playing angel. As though they weren't wrong to do this."I know, and I am not helping them. I want you and your father to have a good relationship.""I can't believe you still h
TAYLOR"MOM! TAYLOR'S HERE!" Talia screamed as she opened the door. She had a hoodie on, and she looked like she was ready to burst out the door at any moment. She pushed past them and stood at the other side of the door."Umm, where are you off to?" I ask, stopping her in her tracks. She stops and looks back at me with a polite smile."To take out the garbage." The smile on her face and her tone did not match at all. I look down at her empty hands and raise my eyebrows at her."I don't see a bag," I murmur, and she scrunches up her nose with a frown and proceeds to turn, but I manage to catch the hood of her hoodie and pull her back into the house. She struggled, kicking and throwing hands, but my grip on her hoodie was stronger."MOM!" she screamed as I pulled her until I was in the kitchen, where my mom was busy bustling, making tonnes of cookies. I have a lot of questions about the trays filled with brown cookies all over the kitchen, but I do not ask, as it is not nearly as import
RIVERJavier was thorough!Almost too thorough, and it was that kind of attitude that made me swoon, but for some reason, it was off-putting. He had planned the entire date, down to the bathroom breaks. That was an exaggeration, but that was the way it felt. He had a cab pick us up and kept on chanting right throughout the ride."We might be late if you drive any slower."I also liked to plan my life to the letter, but why did this feel a little suffocating? I liked the structured schedule, and he did as well. Shouldn't this be a good thing? Was it because I believed that opposites do attract, even though there is really no proven science for it? Or was it annoying because I had made up my mind to reject him already?"Are you listening to me?" Javier snapped his finger in my face, and I snapped out of the daze I was in."I am sorry I got carried away for a minute there," I say, and he smiles. "What were you saying?" I ask, trying to carry on the conversation as if nothing had just happ
MORE THAN PANCAKESRIVERTaylor takes his seat back right beside me and continues to munch on his pancakes. The conversation still carried on, but I was almost sure that it lacked soul. He still retained the smirk on his face and the cocky attitude, but it was like he had been toned down."I will do the dishes," I announced as usual."I will do it," he said in a dismissive tone."I always do the dishes when you cook.""You do, but you have a date, and I do not want to keep you away from your date." It almost sounded as if he wanted me out of there as soon as possible."It's not a date but lunch, and we agreed on noon; I don't know why he is coming now," I explained. He did not argue with me but nodded and came up to the sink, took the sponge out of my hand and pushed me out."Go prepare," he said without looking in my direction. I walked to my room, shutting the door.I could not tell if it was my imagination or if Taylor did not like Javier; his mood seemed to change whenever he came