Page 2 of Taurus

“Austin…” I say, reaching over to grab the handle of my suitcase because I just need to find something to do with my hands. “What are you doing here? There isn’t supposed to be anyone here.”

“I live here, Parker,” he says with a huge sigh, like the question itself annoys him.

“What?” I blink rapidly in confusion. “What are you talking about? No one told me you were living here. That doesn’t make any sense.”

He reaches around to grip the back of his neck and sighs. “Parker, it’s the middle of the night. Let’s get you inside and settled. We can catch up in the morning.”

I cross my arms. “I guess I’m confused as to why my ex-boyfriend is living in my grandfather’s house uninvited.”

He recoils like I’ve hit him across the face. “Like I said, it’s the middle of the night, and that is a conversation I’d rather have in the morning, okay? Honestly, I’m surprised you didn’t know I was staying here with him.” He reaches out to grab my bag for me, because he’s nothing if not a gentleman, but I yank it away from him. I’m too stubborn to let him do anything for me. “I see things haven’t changed.” He sighs heavily. “I’m in the basement apartment. Your old room as well as the four others are completely free upstairs. Take your pick. We’ll talk in the morning.”

He doesn’t say anything else. He just turns on his heel and marches back into the darkness of the house, leaving me on the doorstep with more thoughts swirling in my head than I ever thought possible.

Standing in the main level of the house is like stepping into a time capsule that has somehow been slightly updated since I was here last.

The appliances in the kitchen are new, but the old hardwood floors still have the same scuffs and creaks I remember. There are still pictures of me, of my parents, on the wall in the long hallway that leads down to my old bedroom. I can’t linger on them too long, because if I do, the tears will never stop flowing.

My room isn’t exactly as I left it. Why would it be?

It was converted to a guest room with only a bed, nightstand, and a small dresser. I guess it had to be this sparse. I packed all of my shit and took it with me when I left. It was bare when I closed the door behind me on my way out of town.

I leave my suitcase at the foot of the bed and head down to the bathroom to splash some water on my face before I try to settle into bed for the night.

I knew this day would be hard.

Why wouldn’t it be?

However, Austin being here has added a brand-new level of anxiety. I make a conscious effort, as I’m washing my face, unpacking my bags, and trying to make myself at home, to not think about him being here. He hurt me worse than I’ve ever been hurt in my life. I gave him everything and he betrayed me. That has to outweigh any old feelings that bubble up when I see his face again tomorrow.

Later on, when I’ve finally drifted off to sleep in a room he used to sneak into, I dream of summer swims, stolen kisses amongst the vineyard vines, and the butterflies he used to make me feel.

Austin

I knew she would be here. She is now the owner and operator of Pesca, but there was a part of me that thought maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t show up. Hell, she’s not been back to Summer’s Grove in over ten years. We all just assumed she’d never be back.

Warren told me he spoke to her often though, but I have to wonder why he never told her he was sick. That was a point of contention between us until the very end.

I am antsy, unable to rest long enough to go back to sleep knowing she’s one floor above me right now. I thought, or at least I’d hoped, that ten years would be enough to get her out of my system. Especially since she thinks I’m the biggest asshole in the state, for something I didn’t even fucking do, at that.

I thought I could drink, fuck, or work away the thought of her, and I think I did, for a moment at least.

I’ve had girlfriends in the time since I last saw her, hell, one of them was pretty serious, but in the end, it just didn’t work. I’m a stubborn pain in the ass, and I know it. The only person who ever gave me as good as I got was Parker.

We fought all the time. Fucking hell, did we fight. We were both too stubborn for our own good and constantly ground each other's gears, but when we’d come together after the explosion, it was magic… fireworks, even.

Even now, with my eyes closed as I try in vain to find a bit of shut-eye, I can remember those moments like they were yesterday.

I toss the comforter off of my body, suddenly too hot, leaving myself with only the white sheet covering me from the waist down, and I throw my arm over my eyes.

Parker Scott is branded in my veins, and I subdued her for a long time… but now that she’s back, right above my head, I know right here and right now… I’m fucked.

We are going to eat each other alive, and I’m not sure if it’s going to be in the fun way… or the bad way.

Or both.

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