“He proposed?!” Brooklynn asked in shock the next day when Taylor filled her in.
The girls were out to lunch, then off to look at baby stuff.
“Yeah…he has an apartment, and he just got out of rehab, and now he wants to get married…” Taylor sighed.
“Well, lemme see the ring.”
“I’m not wearing it cause I haven’t said yes…yet.”
“But you’re going to say yes,” Brooklynn narrowed her eyes at her friend.
Taylor just shrugged and took a bite of her salad.
“But what about Hayden? I mean, I know you guys aren’t talking right now, but…he’ll be heartbroken…”
“This is gonna sound harsh, but I can’t worry about anyone else but myself right now and what’s best for me and my son.”
“And you think Sam’s what’s best? Taylor, what planet are you living on—-the guy’s trouble with a capital T…”
“He loves me…” Taylor interrupted. “That has to count for something, doesn’t it.”
Brooklynn sighed and shook her head.
“What? What are you thinking?” Taylor asked.
“I just find it difficult to believe that he could lie and cheat as much as he did if he truly and honestly loved you…and I know I’m being a pessimist, but…that’s just how I feel.”
“I love him.”
“I know you love him and maybe that’s why you can’t see through him…but it’s your decision, kid, and I support you one hundred percent with whatever you decide to do.”
Over the next few days, Sam and Taylor talked everyday, but she still couldn’t give him an answer. Her reconciling with Sam made her miss Hayden even more. She wanted to call or visit, but didn’t know what to say to him. He’d be leaving for college ina week and she knew that she couldn’t let him go without fixing their friendship.
Hayden shifted restlessly in the cushioned seat. His watch told him that he still had ten minutes till boarding.
He looked at his ticket—-one way to Tampa, Florida. He couldn’t believe he was actually leaving—or that Taylor (knowing that he was leaving) hadn’t called or bothered to try and talk to him at all. It made him sad more than angry—he had hoped that all of their years of friendship had meant more to her than that. Hayden closed his eyes and rested his head against the back of the seat.
“You sure you have everything?” a female voice asked him suddenly.
Hayden opened his eyes and looked up to see Taylor standing in front of him.
“Yeah…if I forgot anything I’ll let you know and you can send it to me, right,” he smiled as he stood up.
“Look, I’m sorry. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to tell you that, but I mean it. I’ve missed you.”
“I’m sorry too…how’ve you been? What’s been goin’ on?”
“A lot…” she shifted uncomfortably and brushed her hair out of her face with her left hand.
And that’s when Hayden saw the ring on her finger.
“New ring?” he questioned, feeling his heart sink.
“Don’t…”
“You’re actually going to marry that asshole?”
“Hayden, I love him, and we’re gonna have a baby…”
“He doesn’t love you,” Hayden cut her off, his tone a mixture of anger and heartbreak.
“Please don’t be mad…I know this is hard, but I need you…”
“Right,” he gave a short and nasty chuckle, “you need me. You only need me when he’s out fucking your best friend or some other nameless girl. Or when you have a brief epiphany of how bad he treats you. Or when you’re lonely and there’s nobody else to turn to.”
She was crying softly. His words cut like a knife.
“That isn’t true and you know it. I’m sorry I hurt you. I love you more than you could ever know, you’re my best friend,” she argued. “I can’t help the fact that you’ll never be more than that. I can’t help the fact that I’m not in love with you…”
“I don’t want you to be in love with me…Hell I don’t want you to even look at me. You and I are done. I can’t stand your little head games anymore.”
“I want us to be friends…that’s why I’m here…” she continued to cry softly.
“Flight two-fifty-nine from Pittsburgh to Tampa now boarding. That’s flight two-fifty-nine…” an announcement echoed through the terminal.
“I gotta go…” he whispered, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
“Hayden don’t…you can’t leave like this…” she begged.
Hayden’s eyes looked past her, finding Sam waiting at a safe distance.
“Why doesn’t he come over and say something?” Hayden glowered.
“He’s not ready to face you…he feels bad…”
“I’m sure he does,” Hayden rolled his eyes then turned to leave.
“Call me when you land…just so I know you’re okay,” she shouted to his back.
He didn’t reply or look back at her. He just kept walking until he disappeared into the terminal.
She watched the plane take off and disappear into the sky. Tears fell from her eyes and she felt…empty.
“Are you okay?” Sam asked gently as he came up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders.
“It’s better this way…at least if he hates me he’ll get over me,” the tears began to flow faster.
“Shhh…” Sam spun her around and hugged her close. “Everything’s gonna be fine, I sear it…”
Taylor looked up at him and gave him a weak smile once her tears had stopped.
“Think of it this way, you’re getting a chance to start over—both of you. He gets a new beginning in college, in a new city, a new state. You and I get a new beginning…and maybe when he comes home, your new lives will find a way to coexist the way they did when you were kids,” he tired to comfort her, wiping away her tears with his hand.
“I miss him already…” Taylor sighed, her eyes fixated on the empty air where his plane had been.
“Come on…I’ll take you home…” Sam offered softly. Taylor allowed him to gently lead her out the airport and to the car.