-CHAPTER 14-

Taylor stood in the middle of the room and brushed his hair back. "Zac, just forget it."

Zac paced up and down. "If she did anythin-"

Taylor grabbed his brother and swung him around, shaking some sense into him. "Look, all you need to know is that it was all me. I did it, not Kris."

Zac could see that Taylor was right. He sighed and his anger slowly melted away.

Taylor released him.

Zac resumed his pacing. "God, I just yelled at her."

Isaac nodded and then shook his head. "What went on, Taylor?"

Taylor leaned against the wall, breathing in deeply. "I did something I will never forget but I regret it greatly." He closed his eyes.

Zac stopped. "Did you smack her around?" he asked, shocked. "I noticed that bruise on her throat. Did you try to choke her?"

Taylor's eyes snapped open. "What?" He had not seen any bruises on her throat ... last night.

Zac nodded. "It was almost like a rug burn. Bright red." He thought. "It looked like a hickey."

Taylor groaned and fell down the wall into a crouching position. Zac stared down at his brother. "You hickied her?" he asked, stunned.

Isaac fell onto his chair. "You ...?"

Zac's mouth just hung open. "Oh my God."

Taylor held his head in his hands. "That's what she said when she woke up." he mumbled miserably.

Isaac nearly throttled his younger brother. "I can't believe you'd be that stupid, Taylor! Do you have any idea how she feels at the moment?" he walked around his crouching brother.

"Do you have any idea how I feel?" Taylor yelled.

Zac broke in quietly. "What about Taryn, huh?"

Taylor just sighed loudly and rested his head on his arms.