The Ending I Want(97)

She is the only way I want to spend my time. Every second of every minute of every day with her.

She is my time.

Or I wanted her to be.

Her eyes come back to me, another soft breath leaving her. “Nothing.” She slowly shakes her head. “I wish…nothing.”

And, because I’m a bastard, I say, “So, we done here?”

Surprise glitters her eyes. “Yes. I just—”

“What?” I snap. “What the f*ck else do you have left to say?”

Probably something else to cut my heart open a bit wider. Should I get you the knife to do it with?

Her eyes shimmer with those tears again.

And I f*cking hate myself.

She blinks rapidly, clearing her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she exhales quickly. “I just wanted to say thank you. For everything.”

Blade in the chest.

I stare past her at the door. “Fine. You done?”

There’s a long pause before she says, “Yes.”

Her word is soft, and it hurts worse than anything I’ve ever felt before, and I’ve felt pain.

But, now, we’re done, and I don’t know what to do.

I called time on this conversation. So, all I can do is walk away.

But I don’t want to.

Still, pride has me turning around and walking back over to the bar, taking my seat next to Eddie.

“Okay?” he asks quietly.

I pick my beer up and nod. I don’t look at him. I can’t. Because, if I do, I’ll probably f*cking cry.

I take a big mouthful of my beer. It hurts to swallow. Everything hurts. I can’t remember a time I felt this bad. Not even after I found out about my mother.

I put the glass down, staring into it.

Taylor’s leaving, and I’m never going to see her again.

We’re ending on bad words and anger.

But isn’t that how everything ends? With pain and sadness.

Is there such a thing as a happy ending? Because, if there is, I’ve never f*cking seen one.

Should I go after her?

But what good would it do?

You want her, and she doesn’t want you. End of story.

And she’s probably gone by now.

But she might still be here…

If she’s changed her mind, then she’ll still be here.

I shouldn’t look.

But like the masochist I am, I need to know, and I’m turning my head and looking over my shoulder before I can stop myself.

She’s still here.

My heart soars for a split second, but then my mind is quickly telling me that something’s wrong.

She’s standing not far from the exit, faced away from me, her hand tightly gripping the top of a nearby chair. I can see the white of her knuckles from here. Her head lulls forward, and her free hand clutches at it.

She must be having another one of her headaches.

I might be hurting and angry and bitter, but I don’t want to see her in pain. I know how bad these headaches can get for her.

“Taylor,” I call out, as slip off my stool, taking a few steps toward her. “You okay?”

She doesn’t respond.

I think she hasn’t heard me, so I part my lips to speak again, but then she turns. It’s a slow turn.

Her face is pinched in pain. Her hand is still pressed firmly to her head.

She lifts her eyes to mine. It seems to hurt her to do so.

Something in her expression makes my heart start to race.

“Taylor…what’s wrong?” I’m moving toward her.

She winces, lips pinching. Her eyes close. Then, they open, and it’s like the light in them has been turned off.

Her lips part and whisper the words, “I’m so sorry, Hunter.”

And then she just drops to the floor.

“Taylor!” I run to her, falling to my knees beside her. I pull her into my arms.

She feels limp.

Fuck! No!

Eddie is here in seconds, and he’s in doctor mode.

“Taylor, honey.” He lifts open one of her eyes by gently pushing her lid up with his thumb, and he shines a light in it. A little torch he got from his pocket. “Taylor? Can you hear me, honey?”

She doesn’t respond.

Her eye…it looks…blank.

No.

My heart stops.

Leaning over her, Eddie presses his cheek against her chest.

Cam falls to his knees beside me. “I called an ambulance. One is on its way.”

“Is…she…” I stare at Eddie as he lifts his head, the words stuck in my throat.

“She’s breathing,” he says.

“Thank God,” Cam says.

All I can do is exhale as my heart starts back up.

Eddie picks up her wrist and starts checking her pulse.

My mouth is dry. “Ed…what’s wrong with her?” My voice sounds small.

Eddie’s stare meets mine. “I don’t know yet.” He looks back at Taylor and puts his hand to her face. “Taylor, honey, open your eyes for me.”

Nothing.

“Come on, Taylor. Wake up, honey. You’re scaring the shit out of Hunter, and you know what a giant * he is.” Eddie pats her cheek. “Come on, Taylor. Wake up, and I promise, I’ll buy the next round of drinks. Anything you want.”