Family Talk

"Friday, they faced Gallatin High School's football team at Craven Shorter Stadium. Austin got on the field in the third quarter and racked up a full 70 yards on six carries—like Tomlinson for the Chargers (the best running back in the NFL in '07). He helped Hendersonville beat their archrival, so of course the team had to invite him to tonight's celebration. You saw the result: he only had one drink, just a small one."

In Taylor's tastefully decorated living room, Ryan explained all this, holding a cup of Ceylon black tea that Taylor's mother had brewed.

Taylor's parents, sitting on the loveseat beside him, exchanged a glance and didn't find anything off.

"Then why didn't he answer the phone earlier?" Taylor's mother asked, still shaken.

"Probably forgot to turn the ringer on." Ryan pretended to think, though the real reason was the noise in the club.

"Where were you all gathering?" Taylor's mother pressed.

"At a... well, where else at night? We found a nearby restaurant." Ryan quickly corrected himself.

Taylor's mother nodded, letting Ryan's excuse slide.

But Taylor's father suddenly spoke up: "You said they won the game and were celebrating. Weren't you at the game?"

Ryan shook his head.

"What position do you play?"

"Tight end."

"So where were you then?" Taylor's father immediately followed up, as if catching a hole in Ryan's story.

"He was at school, studying. Transfer student, right?" Taylor jumped in, sitting across from Ryan.

"Yeah, that's right. You know, it's tough to pick up credits at this point." Ryan nodded repeatedly.

Ryan and Taylor worked together, trying to gloss over the whole thing.

But Taylor's father wasn't the type to be easily fooled. He suddenly turned to his daughter: "Do you know him?"

"No." Taylor quickly shook her head.

"You don't?"

"Uh... a little. I met him through Abigail." Taylor quickly corrected herself with an awkward smile, her nervousness practically written on her face.

The middle-aged man who had watched Taylor grow up could easily see her tension. He seemed to sense something.

"Daughter, your mother and I are both here. You need to tell the truth now. What exactly is your relationship with him?"

"No relationship at all. Well, technically, a little. He's Trey's nephew..." Taylor smiled.

"Really no relationship?"

Taylor shook her head frantically.

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

"I... it was an accident." Taylor mumbled.

"Apologize to him right now."

I have to apologize to him?! Taylor was furious inside.

"Your father's right. He was kind enough to bring your brother back. You should be thanking him." Taylor's mother chimed in.

Under her parents' forceful orders, Taylor reluctantly apologized to Ryan.

Taylor's father nodded, then started making small talk with Ryan.

This time, the questions were much more detailed, covering Ryan's relationship with Trey, his grades, where he'd lived before, his future plans, and so on. Ryan didn't mention that he used to be a model or that he currently worked at a club. Instead, he painted a classic image of "a football player who suffered family misfortune, had no one to look after him, came to Nashville to return to school, worked hard, and aimed to get into a top university"—exactly the kind of kid middle-class American parents loved.

He really knows how to polish his own image. Taylor sneered inwardly, cursing Ryan's shamelessness.

Then Taylor's mother even offered to let Ryan stay the night.

"He has his own car. Don't make things complicated." Taylor quickly stood up and dragged Ryan out.

"Who told you to get close to him? What do you want? If you keep this up, I'll... I'll..." Taylor suddenly couldn't think of a threat. Ryan used to need something from her, but now the situation was completely different.

"Help me handle the Myspace decoration part. Preferably with the same agency you use." Ryan didn't waste words and made his request directly.

With Taylor's busy schedule, there had to be someone handling her online presence.

"Should I get you a PR manager too?" Taylor sneered.

"That'd be even better."

"Tch." Taylor waved her hand.

"Then restart the collaboration with Trey." Ryan made his second request. This whole thing started because of him, so he had to give Trey some closure.

"You beg me!" Taylor crossed her arms and blurted out.

"What?" Ryan didn't catch on at first.

Taylor smirked: "I mean, you have to swear you'll stop harassing me, including my family and Abigail."

"Harassing? If it weren't for me, your brother would still be lying in that club." Ryan reminded her.

"Then break up with Abigail!" Taylor said in a commanding tone.

"Okay, I'll tell her tomorrow. Under pressure from your friend, I have to break up with you because your friend doesn't like me."

"So what? I was looking out for her anyway." Taylor's voice carried a hint of guilt.

"Don't even think about it. She's gentler than you, more considerate than you, better at caring for others, and ten times more passionate in that department. We click perfectly." Ryan smiled.

"Bullshit!" Taylor finally snapped, cursing out loud.

While Ryan and Taylor were locked in their argument, inside the house, the middle-aged man who hadn't yet gone to sleep stood by the window, pulling the blinds open a crack to observe everything in secret.

"How is it, Scott? They're not already kissing in the car, are they?" Taylor's mother crept closer, having just come out of her younger son's room.

"Not that, but it looks like they're chatting up a storm." Taylor's father reported the situation.

Compared to Ryan's biological mother, who hadn't called even once in six months, Taylor's parents showed meticulous concern for their daughter—more responsible than most American parents, including in matters of the heart. The two had already sensed something unusual between their daughter and this boy, but hadn't called it out.

"This isn't a good sign. She's never hidden a new boyfriend from us before." Taylor's mother looked worried.

"Our daughter's grown up. It's normal for her to have her own thoughts. Besides, they don't seem to be doing anything intimate—maybe they just got together. As for that slap at the start, she was too hasty. Didn't you see the boy's stunned expression? That's not how someone would react under normal circumstances." Taylor's father analyzed the scene, recalling what he'd witnessed when they first stepped out, and pieced together a reasonable explanation.

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

"Ryan."

"His height matches Taylor's well. He's ambitious, polite, and he even brought Austin back on his own." Taylor's mother was fairly impressed with Ryan.

"His family background isn't great, though. Maybe we could sponsor his college tuition?" Taylor's father had a sudden idea.

"You're insane." Taylor's mother laughed and scolded him.

"Let's change the terms. How about... I make your little brother a real Tight End?" Ryan gestured as he spoke.

"You can't get near him!" Taylor held firm on that point.

Ryan shrugged. "His legs are his own. A lot of things won't go the way you plan."

Taylor sighed, unable to argue.

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

"Is Abigail prettier than me? More talented than me? I'm not falling for your tricks." Taylor muttered to herself, recalling Ryan's earlier comparisons.