“You need help,” I cackled. Things were never boring when she was around.
“I know,” she giggled.
Taylor drove us back to the building. “Before I forget. I kind of told my parents I ate dinner at your place last night.”
“Oh boy. Now I’m really involved in this secret plot,” she laughed. “It’s all good.”
We parked in the underground parking under the building and went upstairs. Her apartment was on Hunter’s floor.
“Sorry about the mess,” she said.
“It’s not messy.”
“It is, but I live alone, so no one cares.” She shrugged.
I looked around and felt a sudden, sharp pang of jealousy because she had her own private space. The ability to leave a mug in the sink without Dad asking if I was drinking enough water or Mom diagnosing my exhaustion from across the room.
“This is nice,” I said.
“Living alone?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“It’s the best.” Taylor kicked off her shoes. “I mean, it can get lonely, but I like having my own place.”
“I miss it,” I admitted. I had lived with roommates in undergrad, and it was nice to have that kind of privacy. “Living with my parents makes me feel like I’m sixteen all over again. At least when I was dating Julian, we spent a lot of time at his apartment, so privacy wasn’t an issue.”
Taylor sat across from me. “Ah, being under parental surveillance can be harsh. My dad is pretty strict, so it’s definitely nice not to have him breathing down my neck.”
“That’s how I feel, only it isn’t my dad. It’s my mom. I feel like she has these spidey senses. Like she could tell I kissed someone last night. Although maybe it was just my guilt playing tricks on me.”
She laughed. “Honestly, I get it. Katy’s room is available if you want it,” she offered, throwing me off. “She’s completely moved out,” she said of her old roommate.
I looked at her. “Are you serious?”
“It could be fun, and I wouldn’t mind help with the rent,” she said.
I leaned back. “My parents would feel bad.”
“Why?”
“Because I stayed back in Philly when they moved out here, and that was hard on them. When I got into medical school here,they were ecstatic. Now I feel like they got used to me being around.”
“You’re an adult, Catherine. They should understand, and you don’t need to feel guilty,” Taylor noted.
“I think I’m feeling guilty because of Hunter. I lied to my mom about eating with you, and I never lie to my mother. And now I’m going to be with him.” I swallowed. “It could hurt my parents.”
“Are you going to see Hunter for a quick fuck, or is it something you think can be more?” she asked.
I didn’t have to think of an answer. I had it on the tip of my tongue. “I really like Hunter. Last night proved to me that our connection could be something real.”
“Okay, yeah, then you have to try. You deserve this chance. No one needs to know. This is about you and him,” Taylor said.
I looked at her, a little surprised. “I thought you would try and talk me out of it, not encourage me.”
“I wouldn’t be a good friend if I didn’t. What happens if he’s meant to be your one true love?” she asked.
I didn’t have time to answer her question because my phone buzzed.