Call Me Michigan Read Online Free PDF

pressure beneath her ribcage. She turned away, watching the street outside, while her friend continued. “You were gone, Tay, and I found out why you had been crushing on him so hard. Sadly, even though things were amazin’ for the time being, it took me until he held our baby girl to realize that while he had everythin’ he wanted, I was the wrong woman for him. He looked at the girl, and I might as well have left the room. It didn’t matter. I wasn’t the right one.”
    Taylor spun back to her former friend, eyes wide. “You have a daughter together?” she choked out, not even noticing that her throat was so dry, she sounded as if she was on the verge of tears.
    “I … it’s his daughter. I signed away all rights soon after the birth. I thought a daughter would guarantee us a happy forever. It was the only reason I agreed to have a baby in the first place. Stupid, really, because I have never wanted children. Not once.” Ashley shrugged and then walked back around the counter. Taylor followed, taking out her checkbook absent-mindedly. She remembered her friend saying once that she had not one motherly bone in her body.
    “You really loved him.” It came out more as a statement than the question she had intended to ask, but Ashley nodded in confirmation nonetheless.
    “In a way, I did. I love the idea of what Mason and I could’ve and should’ve been, but once he held Rebecca, I knew I was dumb. While a daughter clearly is the most special girl in a father’s life, shouldn’t a girlfriend have been able to put a look of utter happiness on her boyfriend’s face, too? Just one moment when he looks at you and you know he’s happy havin’ you?”
    Taylor smiled wistfully. She had read about those moments in books; in fact, she could definitely see it in her mind. It was something a couple should achieve in life.
    “I knew exactly how it should’ve looked on his face. After all, I had seen it before, only it never was directed at me,” Ash went on.
    Not sure what to say, Taylor decided to stay quiet instead.
    “Anyway, I’m more than happy that you’re back because no one could be my best friend but you. Hey, will you come to the game tomorrow? First game of the season, baby! You need to come back and be you because, honestly, you look terrible, honey.” Ashley winked at her, and Taylor grinned. She wanted to go; she really did because she used to be one of those women who’d have died for football. Only that wasn’t part of her life any longer. She had seen exactly one game after leaving and that had hurt too much.
    “Listen, Ash, I’d love to go, but I won’t take Tim to a game where everyone’s staring at me like I’m the dog with two heads,” she explained ever so quietly, but Tim came over nonetheless.
    “People missed you, and Tammy never took me to a game. Max always gets to go,” he whined.
    “Max?” Taylor echoed.
    “The Rivers’ boy. I mean Kelly and John’s boy,” Ashley explained, and Taylor combed a hand through her hair, wondering if she’d ever catch up.
    “Exactly how many people of our group are married?”
    “Almost all of them,” Ash dutifully reported, and Taylor whistled.
    “Nice. Then again … we’ve never been normal.” She winked and then handed the check over, waiting for her cash.
    “Yeah,” Ash replied, counting out the money. “I’m gonna pick ya up at six. Wear somethin’ normal.” She eyed Taylor up and down, making her feel self-conscious.
    “Can we leave, Tay?” Timmy asked, grabbing her light sweater. He had been more patient than she had expected.
    “We’re going,” she promised, giving Ashley an apologetic smile while accepting the money Ash handed to her.
    “Six, Collins,” Ashley reminded her as the two turned away.
    “Call me Michigan. It makes me feel better. I barely remember the high-school me,” Taylor admonished over her shoulder.
    “You got it, babe,” Ash assured her, blowing her a kiss before waving her off.
    “Can