Anna Stern stepped out of her bathroom running to the noise of her cell phone ringing. She looked down, smiling as she clicked the green button.
"Tell me something new?"
"I need your advice," he said, smiling into the phone.
"Kiss her, Ryan. Just do it"
"How did you know?"
She laughed, "Cause I know you Ryan. All these years have passed, you have changed into this amazing man but part of you has changed. You're not as impulsive as you once were."
"It's only been a couple of days but I'm in deep again with her, I don't think I can let her go this time. My heart can't take it, Anna."
"Just kiss her, Ryan but hey, I have to go, my girlfriend is waiting for me downstairs. Let me know how it goes."
He smiled, "Tell Kate I said hey and thanks again."
He closed his phone with a snap of the wrist. Ryan was about to take the next step in getting her back into his life.
He walked across the kitchen, into the living room, before stopping in front of Sandy's office. His hand hit the door just as Sandy opened it.
"Hey kid," he said, letting the younger man into his space.
"I need your help," Ryan said sitting down in a chair across from a now seated Sandy.
Taylor stood in front of the mirror in Summer's huge bathroom. Her red dress clung to every inch of her body. It had been years since she had worn anything this tight or sexy. She wondered yet again if the dress was too much. She looked at the mirror one last time before walking into Summer's room.
"Now that's what I'm talking about, hot mama much," Summer said, walking over to her. She grabbed one of Taylor's hand, gesturing for her to twirl around.
"I'm gonna need a lot of wine in order to leave your house looking like this," she said, running a nervous hand through her hair.
"Wine sounds good, and Cohen should be here soon," she said, grabbing a bottle of wine from her mini fridge.
"Did someone say my name?" Seth yelled, from the staircase outside of Summer's room.
Taylor instantly became nervous, as Ryan would be walking in the room any second. She patted her dress down for the third time and rolled her tongue over her front teeth to check for food or lipstick.
She watched as Seth entered the room, he walked over to Summer kissing her cheek. He then looked over to Taylor with a look of regret.
"Where's Ryan?" she asked in a small voice.
"Something came up, he said he would try to come but wasn't sure," he said giving her a weak smile.
She stood stunned, thinking of all the reasons why he wouldn't come. Summer was one of his best friends, he wouldn't do that to her she thought.
She cleared her throat, "Thanks Seth, and stop looking at me like I am going to break. I can see him tomorrow. We still have a day here, and anyways this is Summer's birthday, so how about we toast to the birthday girl."
Seth took the bottle of wine from Summer, opening and then pouring three glasses full. The three friends raised their glasses high in the air before Seth began to speak.
"Summer, you're my lobster," he said laughing, as she swatted him with her empty hand.
"No really, I love you and happy birthday to you, my personal wonder woman," he said clinking his glass against the two others.
Taylor finished her sip before speaking, "Summer, my roommate and best friend, wishing you a happy birthday is the least I can do for a person who pulled me out of my own personal hell and brought me back to life. I love you girly."
Again, they all clinked glasses before Summer with a tear in her eye began to speak, "I want to thank you both for being her for me, and I love you both."
She looked up, "And Marissa I know your up there somewhere watching us right now, wish you were here."
As they all finished there own glasses, Seth motioned for the door, "Let's get this party started my peeps."
"Your peeps, Cohen? No more talking tonight, just stand next to me and look pretty," she laughed, putting her hand over his mouth.
Taylor watched with a bit of jealousy in her eyes before shaking the thought from her face.
The loud music from the club was booming though every inch of her body. Her red dress swaying with the beat; her body sweating with every moment her dress made. It was only after her third drink did she notice her friends had left but for her the only thing that mattered at this moment was the music. Her body taking in every note; every boom like she had never heard a note of music before this night.
She was lost in a moment only to be brought back to life by a strangers hands on her waist. His large hands wrapping around her tiny waist was like heaven to her. His upper body grinded into hers as she lost a moment of reality to his hands; they were gliding down her back as she made eyes contact with the DJ.
He smiled at her; starting a song she hadn't heard in years.
Her body pushed against his; lost in the moment but then she remember she had no idea who she was dancing with and as he handed her another drink, it didn't matter anymore. She took the shot before throwing the glass to the floor. She could feel his smile on her neck.
Taylor had spent years being a good girl and she was done with that life; after all this was what college was about. Leaving her past in the past.
She took put her hand on his as it trailed along her neck bone. Every touch was an awakening she hadn't felt in years. Her body felt his electricity as his hands made their way down her sides. She wanted his hands in places that hadn't been touched in years but she wasn't one of those girls she told herself.
His breath on her neck; made her move her body closer to his. She wasn't one for dirty dancing but her body with his was almost poetry in moment. A moment like this doesn't come very often she thought.
Her body fit perfectly with his as they moved to the song. His every moment was tearing her apart inside. His hands moving back up her hipbones were making her body shiver with anticipation.
His hands twirled her around; her face making contact with his chest before looking up to see his face.
As her eyes trailed from his chest to his eyes; she gasped.
"Ryan," was all she could say, before his mouth covered hers.
It had been three years since she had kissed him.
His mouth overwhelmed hers with a passion he had never had before, she thought, as she dug her fingernails into his neck. The need for her mouth to stay connected to his was a feeling she had missed. Their bodies pushed through the crowds of people on the dance floor making their way some how thought an exit door. As the door closed silence fell but they hadn't notices as their kiss deepened.
His hands moved down to her rear end picking her tiny body up, she wrapped her legs around his body as her backside hit a wall.
She was brought back to life when someone walking by screamed, "get a room."
As she pulled her mouth away from his, he set her back on the ground still holding on to her. His large hands running slowly down her back stopping at the curve of her back, he looked down to her beautiful brown eyes.
"I want this to work, I want to be with you."
"Ryan, I want that too," she said kissing his chin while slowly running her fingernails from the back of his neck to his Adam's apple.
"But it's not going to work with you being at Cal and me at Chapman."
She pulled back from his body in shock. The vein in her forehead was pulsating with anger.
"What, so you come here, kiss me, and then walk away, I guess we're even now. You come here, kiss me, and stupid Taylor thinks everything will work out, but you're right Ryan. This can't work so you are right Ryan. Thanks for the kiss…"
He pulled her body into his again. Her face was on fire with anger as she tried to pull away from his grip.
"Taylor will you shut up for one second," he yelled.
Her body language changed in seconds, as Ryan's raised his voice. She took her hands covering her chest while she tried to take a step back but only hit a wall.
"You can't talk to me like that, Ryan."
"I am sorry Taylor, but I have good news. Hell we have good news but you just have to let me talk."
"There is nothing you say that starts with but it won't work, that will make me feel better."
"I am going to Cal for Summer and then Fall session, I worked it out tonight with Sandy and his friend the Dean at Cal."
Her faced changed as his words sunk in, Ryan was going to go to Cal with her.
Before Ryan could speak again her mouth covered his with hers before pulling back, "Thank you, Ryan."
Not my best chapter but its the holdays and my mind has gone to shit. Thanks to my beta Lex...
Lindsay