Chapter 30: Family Talk

[Chapter 30: Family Talk]

"On Friday, they faced Gallatin High School's football team at Clay Pevler Stadium. Austin made his debut in the third quarter, pushing a full 70 yards on six plays, just like Louis Tomlinson from the Chargers, who was the best running back in the NFL in '07. He helped Hendersonville defeat their arch-rival, and of course, the team invited him to celebrate tonight. You saw the result; he only had one drink, just a tiny glass." In Swifts' elegantly decorated living room, Ryan explained this while holding a cup of Ceylon tea brewed by Taylor's mother.

Taylor's parents exchanged glances from their spot on the loveseat, not sensing anything was amiss.

"So why didn't he answer his phone earlier?" Taylor's mother asked, a worried expression on her face.

"Maybe he forgot to turn the ringer back on," Ryan suggested, though the real reason was the noise at the nightclub.

"Where were you guys hanging out?" Taylor's mother pressed.

"Uh... where else would we go at night? We found a restaurant nearby," Ryan quickly changed his story.

Taylor's mother nodded, letting Ryan off the hook.

But Taylor's father abruptly spoke up. "You said they celebrated their victory, so why weren't you at the game?"

Ryan shook his head.

"What position do you play?"

"Tight end."

"Then where were you?" Taylor's father asked immediately, seeming to latch onto a gap in Ryan's story.

"He was at school, studying. He's a transfer student, right?" Taylor jumped in, sitting across from Ryan.

"Yeah, that's right. You know, it's tough to keep up the grades at this time," Ryan nodded earnestly.

Taylor and Ryan worked together to brush the whole matter aside.

However, Taylor's father was not easily fooled. He turned to his daughter, "Do you know him?"

"I don't know him," Taylor quickly shook her head.

"Don't know him?"

"Uh... I know a little, through Abigail," Taylor quickly corrected herself, a nervous smile creeping onto her face.

The middle-aged adults who had watched Taylor grow up could easily spot her discomfort, as if they sensed something was off.

"Taylor, your mom and I are here. You need to tell the truth -- what's your relationship with him?"

"Nothing, really. Well, he is somewhat related; he's Trey's nephew..." Taylor smiled.

"No connection at all?"

Taylor firmly shook her head.

"Then why did you slap him?" Taylor's father raised his voice.

"I... I did it by accident," Taylor mumbled.

"Apologize to him right now."

'I have to apologize to him?!' Taylor thought, filled with reluctance.

"Your dad is right; he kindly brought your brother back, and you should be thanking him," Taylor's mother chimed in.

Under her parents' pressure, Taylor ultimately begrudgingly apologized to Ryan.

Taylor's father nodded, then started to chat with Ryan.

This time, the questions got unusually detailed, covering Ryan's relationship with Trey, his academic performance, where he had lived before, and plans for the future. Ryan didn't mention he was a former model or was presently working at the nightclub; instead, he crafted an image of a typical "kid from a troubled family, coming to Nashville to get back to school, striving to land a scholarship as a football player" -- just the sort of child middle-class parents adored.

Taylor scoffed inwardly, silently cursing Ryan's shamelessness.

Then Taylor's mother even suggested Ryan stay over for the night.

"He has his own car; don't complicate things," Taylor quickly stood up, leading Ryan away.

...

"Who told you to get close to him? What are you trying to do? If you keep this up, I'll... I'll..." Taylor suddenly fell short of a threat. Ryan had once needed her, but now everything had changed.

"Help me sort out my MySpace layout, ideally with the same management company as you," Ryan straightforwardly demanded.

With how busy Taylor was, someone behind the scenes certainly took care of that operation.

"Need me to get you a PR manager too?" Taylor sneered.

"That would be even better."

"Whatever." Taylor waved her hand dismissively.

"And restart the collaboration with Trey," Ryan added, needing to ensure Trey got a resolution since this situation began because of him.

"Please!" Taylor burst out, crossing her arms.

"What?" Ryan didn't react for a moment.

Taylor smiled, "I mean, you have to swear you won't bother me anymore, including my family and Abigail."

"Bother? Without me around, your brother would still be at the club," Ryan reminded her.

"Then break up with Abigail!" Taylor said commandingly.

"Okay, I'll tell her tomorrow that due to the pressure from your friend, I have to end it, because your friend doesn't like me."

"So what? I'm just looking out for her," Taylor feigned nonchalance, though she felt a twinge of guilt.

"Don't even think about it. She's more gentle, considerate, and caring than you, and in that aspect, she's ten times more passionate. We're a great match," Ryan smiled.

"Bullshit!" Taylor finally lost it and shouted.

...

Just then, while Ryan and Taylor were arguing, in the room, a middle-aged man who had not yet slept stood by the window, peering through the blinds and observing everything.

"How's it going? Scott, they aren't making out in the car, are they?" Taylor's mother tiptoed closer; she had just come from her younger son's room.

"No, but it looks like they're deep in conversation," Taylor's father reported.

Unlike Ryan, who hadn't called his own mother in six months, Taylor's parents were deeply attentive to their daughter, surpassing the responsibility of most parents in both practical and emotional senses. They had already noticed something unusual between their daughter and this boy but hadn't stated it outright.

"That's not a good sign; she has never hidden her new boyfriends from us before," Taylor's mother expressed concern.

"Taylor growing up with her own ideas is normal, and besides, they don't seem to be acting too close; it's possible they just established their relationship. As for the slap earlier, she was probably too eager to notice the boy was stunned. That reaction wouldn't be typical," Taylor's father analyzed, remembering moments from earlier, ultimately crafting a reasonable explanation.

"What's this kid's name again?"

"Ryan."

"Tall, matched well with Taylor, ambitious, polite, even drove Austin home," Taylor's mother seemed quite impressed with Ryan.

"Just a shame about his family background. Maybe we could sponsor him through college?" Taylor's father thought to himself.

"Yeah, right," Taylor's mother joked, shaking her head.

...

"Let's negotiate, how about... I can make your brother a real tight end!" Ryan joked.

"You can't get close to him!" Taylor firmly maintained her stance.

Ryan shrugged. "His legs are his own, many things will not develop in the direction you imagined."

Taylor sighed, unable to form a solid retort.

Watching Ryan's car pull away, Taylor turned and headed home.

"Is Abigail prettier than me? Is she more talented? I won't fall for your tricks," Taylor muttered to herself, recalling Ryan's earlier words.

*****

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