Page 48 of Catching My Dreams

“I know about the Taylor Swift. Not so much about Olivia Rodrigo.”

“Wait, why do you have all of Taylor Swift’s albums downloaded to your library?” Ella asked, her voice carrying a healthy dose of disbelief.

“Yes, Noah,” Chris chimed in helpfully. “Are you a closet Swiftie or something?”

“More like Olivia had a phase,” Noah grumbled. “She still listens to folklore and evermore all the time.”

It wasn’t a complete lie, but he wasn’t about to tell them he’d spent more than a few hours over the years listening to Ella’s favorite artist. It was too pathetic to say out loud, and it wasn’t like she’d become his favorite musician anyway. Far from it.

“And you decided your sister has amazing taste?” Ella teased.

“It’s not awful,” Noah replied reluctantly. “But whatever you do, don’t play “betty”. It’s the worst.”

“Why?” Ella asked, her voice light with amusement.

“It’s the most depressing thing I’ve ever heard.”

“It’s not that bad,” she argued, but Noah would not be swayed.

“James cheats on her, Ella,” he practically shouted as he pulled out of the driveway. “He sleeps with someone else and breaks her heart like an absolute douchebag. How is that not depressing?”

“Who the hell is James?” Brady asked.

“James is Betty’s boyfriend,” Noah explained. “But the fucker cheats on her and is trying to get her to forgive him. All I know is Betty better not take him back because she deserves more than some ass who spent multiple nights with someone else.” He shook his head. “I hate that song.”

“Oh my gosh,” Ella murmured. “You are one hundred percent a Swiftie. You don’t suffer through her. You actually like her.”

Noah shot her an incredulous look, but he wasn’t sure she could see it with her head facing forward. “Did you hear anything I just said? I hate the song.”

“Well, yeah, but you know it well enough to form an opinion about it. Exactly how many times have you listened to folklore?”

“Once or twice,” he lied.

“I call bullshit,” Chris hollered. “I bet you play it on repeat every night before bed.”

“Not true.”

“You know what you are? A lying liar who lies,” Ella teased, earning a reluctant chuckle from Noah.

“So what’s your favorite album?” Chris asked, leaning forward and putting his head between the two headrests.

“I don’t have one,” Noah replied.

“You definitely do,” Ella piped in. “What is it?”

“I told you. I don’t have one.”

“Is it folklore?” she asked. “Minus “betty”, of course.”

“No.”

“Is it 1989?”

“No.”

“Speak Now?”

“It’s reputation, okay!”

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