Page 46 of Tainted Love

He looks down in shame before meeting my gaze again. “You’re right. I should have told them to fuck off. But I was young and stupid, afraid to stand up for anyone, including myself.”

I bite my lip, the salty taste on my tongue.

“At the time, I wasn’t sure if you cared about me at all," he admits.

A wave of disbelief washes over me. “How could you say that?”

He takes a deep breath before continuing, “A lot of time had passed. We didn’t know each other anymore. We had both changed so much. And let’s face it...you wear your ‘I don’t give a shit about you’ attitude like a crown.”

His words sting, but I try to brush them off, knowing deep down that they are true.

“I waited for even the slightest hint from you, Michael. A measly crumb that showed you remembered me. That you still cared. But all I got was radio silence for the entire eighth-grade year. It was like I never existed.”

He meets my gaze and holds it, his eyes filled with hurt as he confesses, “And I’ve been feeling the same with you ever since.”

My heart sinks at his words. It’s not just about who said what first anymore; it’s about the missed opportunities and unspoken feelings that have lingered for far too long.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been watching you from afar,” he admits, his voice low and hesitant. “I knew who you were spending time with, what you were doing. And all the while, I couldn’t stop caring about you.”

My head feels like it’s about to explode. Why couldn't we have just been honest with each other? But then again, we were only thirteen at the time. A mess of hormones and confusion.“What would you do differently today?” I finally ask, unable to keep the curiosity from my voice.

His face softens with sincerity as he answers, “Today? I wouldn’t let anyone get between us. I’d make it clear to the guys that if they tried to come near you, I’d fucking kill them.”

My mouth hangs open in shock at his declaration.

Then he adds with a sly grin, “And then I'd kiss you so good, no one would ever be able to compete.”

My heart pounds like a drum in my chest, its rhythm erratic and unsteady. The air around us crackles with something electric, a tension that leaves me breathless. I’ve never been spoken to like this before, and the words that fall from his lips are like fire on my skin. My cheeks flush, and my palms grow clammy as I struggle to maintain composure. “Your lucky undies are in the bathroom,” I manage to blurt out, trying to ease the moment's intensity.

A sly smile tugs at the corners of his mouth, causing a flutter in my stomach. “Thank you,” he responds, his voice low and smooth like honey. In that moment, time seems to slow as we lock eyes and the world fades into oblivion.

A sly grin tugs at the corner of his lips as he leans in close, speaking in a low voice. “And Sash, if you ever want to see my underwear, just say the word.” His eyes twinkle mischievously before he turns and saunters out, gently shutting the door behind him with a soft click.

Chapter 20

“This Is The Day”

Taz - Age 18, 1988

“Tazman!” Coach yells from the other side of the ice.

Here we go. This is going to be a whole thing.

“What the hell is on your stick?”

I feign ignorance, hoping to diffuse the situation. “What do you mean, Coach?”

“Don’t play dumb, Taz. I’m not in the fucking mood,” he snaps.

“Yes, Coach,” I reply obediently as Delzy chuckles from somewhere behind me.

“It’s Hello Kitty tape, Coach,” I finally admit, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

He looks at me with his head cocked to the side, clearly taken aback. “You’re telling me you wrapped your stick in pink tape with cartoon cats on it?”

I rub the back of my neck. “I did, Coach.” I didn’t. Of course, I didn’t tape my stick, one of my prized possessions with this shit. This is retaliation for ‘the Johnny Depp incident.’ Sidenote—that would be a great name for a band.