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“But there’s only a week left of school, so we said ’tis the damn season and celebrated it.”
TIS THE DAMN SEASON
“I don’t think I ever really broke up with him, Mom.” “No,” she said softly, reaching across the console for my hand. “I don’t think you really did either.”
I laughed so hard that seltzer spewed out my nose.
The senior prom—I couldn’t attend the senior prom, a night that I had built up over the years to rival Cinderella’s ball.
“I am so fucking furious with him, Lily, but I swear I will change my name and move to Montana before I let them kick Tag out of this school.”
“Smoosh,” I whispered into his chest. “What happened to you?” “What happened to me?” he sighed and pulled back to look at me with gray eyes. “I’d much rather hear what happened to you.”
How could I be the Jester? Tag would say if questioned. I was with Lily.
And I was with Tag, I’d tell others. How could I have known about the Almanacs?
“Lily.” Tag held out his hand. “Do you trust me?”
I DON’T NEED TO TALK TO BLAIR, HOPS, BUT I DO NEED TO TALK TO YOU AND YOU NEED TO TALK TO ME. OKAY?
“You are such a douche canoe!” I exploded. “You are the most narcissistic, uptight asshole, Daniel!”
Adrenaline coursed through my veins. Any qualms I had about stealing the Almanacs had evaporated. They were gone, and it felt amazing. You’re about to play him, a voice in my head said. You’re about to play him like a fucking violin…
I still couldn’t believe it. House arrest? Seriously? I couldn’t remember the last time any student had been put under house arrest. Did the rule even actually exist? I was going to find out.
I tried to will away the need to be with him right now—the need to bury myself in his warm chest and listen to his heartbeat while he softly kissed my forehead.
In her heart of hearts, she did have a soft spot for him.
“Stay,” he whispered back. “Please stay.”
“Yeah, Daniel. Look what you made me do.” I booped him on the nose. “Karma.”
TAYLOR SWIFT
“Draw me?” Tag comically quirked an eyebrow. “Like one of your Spanish girls?” “Okay, it’s French girls,” I’d sighed, unaware at the time that he’d purposely misquoted Titanic so I’d relax. “The line is ‘draw me like one of your French girls.’”
“It’s almost scary,” Pravika once said. “How you guys can understand each other without saying a word.” The sketch made me ache.
“You dropped his heart, Lily,” he said. “You dropped it and shattered it. And I tried to pick up the pieces and put them back into his chest, but one is missing and the others won’t work without it.”
“He desperately wants to find you, Lily.” “He doesn’t need to find me.”
“Okay, well, this is me trying,”
“God, I hate you,” I said, laughing. Alex shook his head. “I don’t believe you.” “Why not?” I asked. “Because,” he said, “you’ve got Tag’s favorite smile on your face.”
Don’t let him count you out.
Everything in me melted. Taggart Swell, Taggart Swell, Taggart Swell! I wanted to shout his name from the center of the Circle. Because I loved him. I loved him from my head to my toes, fully and faithfully—and dare I say it, forever.
His warm breath brushed my lips. “Hops?” I almost nodded. I almost nodded and leaned in and kissed him until my lungs fluttered for the final time. I almost did. After all, there was nothing holding us back. Except. “I know we still have a lot to talk about,” I murmured, turning so that he cupped my face in his hand, “but I need to tell you something.”
“I’m in love with you, Tag. Truly and totally and still falling in love with you.”
“I’m in love with you too. I love you and only you, Hopscotch. You’re it. No matter what’s happened…” His voice caught. “You’ve always been the one.”
If I had wings, I would spread them wide and soar over to him.
Flowers grew in my chest when he swept me up his arms and spun me around before blissfully kissing me. We had Alex and an audience, but I barely noticed. Hello, love, I thought as I laughed against his lips and kissed him back. I’ve missed you.
“What happened, Hopscotch?” he asked. “What happened to us? I know bits and pieces came out when we were at the boathouse, but I want to put the puzzle together.” He traced a slow circle on my knee. “Why did we end?”
“We’re human, so we all have our insecurities, but I’m not an insecure person. Blair turned me into one, and as much as I love you, I knew I needed to end things to go back to being myself.”
I was yours, Hops. Yours to the point where, even if you weren’t in the room, I could still feel you all over me.” His voice dropped. “You will always be all over me.”
“Because I didn’t,” I told him. “I didn’t want or need anyone; I wanted, needed, and burned for you.” Tag gave me a look. “Did you just quote Bridgerton?” I gave him a look back. “Did you just admit to watching Bridgerton?”
“This is the afterglow.”
“What we need to talk about, dearest daughter, is what Tag has done with our entire archive of magazines.”
“You paid a high price,” she whispered, “but damn am I in awe of you.” “Thank you,” I whispered back, and when she pulled away, she smiled and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear before clapping her hands together. “Now, when does Daniel get his first clue?”
It was only when Mr. Darcy helped Lizzy into her carriage that we froze. “The hand flex!” we squealed.
King of my heart, Alex said. And Tag: Let the games begin.
We giggled like little girls when Daniel crumpled up the clue and threw it across the lawn before rethinking such a strategy.
“Go!” we exclaimed, and once she flicked the switch, her bright lights streamed through her blinds and scared the shit out of Daniel. Was somebody awake?! You better run, Rivera, I thought while he sprinted up the street. You have that final clue to find…
Penny smiled. “Midnight,” she repeated. “He’ll be alone until midnight.”
“Tag Swell?” I said. “Lily Hopper here. How are you?” I didn’t give him time to answer. “I’m fine, even though I hate history. The debate today was awful, wasn’t it? I was too quiet, way too quiet. But you were incredible, really incredible. Anyway, I was wondering—” I closed my eyes. “Would you like to go to prom with me?” Tag was silent for a beat…then two, then three. “Yes,” he said after five seconds. “That would be nice.” I grinned.
“What a stupid place to sit!” I grinned. “Oh, but what a pretty place to fall!”
To me, Taggart Swell was the only someone to love.
“I’m so happy we’re here,” he said a minute later, our limbs entwined under my covers. “I know it wasn’t easy, but…” He held my gaze. “Aut viam inveniam aut facium.” “Find a way or make one,” I agreed, and then we kissed before finding a rhythm that made me crest like an ocean wave.
“You’re it!” I exclaimed when he held out his hand, and I quickly kissed him before darting off up the street. I knew he would follow. He caught me from behind within ten seconds, snaking an arm around my waist and pulling me close. Sweet and spellbinding shivers went through me. “Yes,” he murmured, lips brushing my ear. “You are.”
We’ll start with the creative genius in the room: Taylor Swift. You will never read this, but I wish you would. I grew up singing along to your songs, and I still do—but now I also ardently admire and am inspired by you. If I have writer’s block, you help smash it to bits. (Legally) incorporating your work into mine has been mind-boggling fun!
