Chapter 23
Taylor
Conner left in silence about an hour ago.
I think he’s got some things to figure out and prioritize.
It hurt to see him look so beat down, but there is no way I’m going to marry a man who puts work before me.
This was my only way of saying it delicately.
Conner loves my parents as much as I do, and he has always put my dad on a pedestal.
But Dad’s not perfect and neither is his marriage, and even though I know he dangles retirement like a possibility, I just don’t see it happening anytime soon.
Especially if Conner leaves the company like I’m suspecting he will.
Fuck it. I can’t worry about shit like this today. That’s a tomorrow trouble. I’m already behind on my booth setup and packing inventory for the Blossom Festival. Time got away from me too, I guess.
While packing, I call Carly to tell her everything. She doesn’t answer and my texts are left on delivered. Dang.
Bursting to tell someone my good fortune, I call Grace next.
“Hey girl! What’s up?”
“You got a minute?”
“Always!” Grace says something I don’t catch, but I quickly realize she’s not talking to me. “Damnit girl, you’re going to make me trip! Oscar! Stop! Ooof!” There’s more muffling. “You’re such a menace.”
Dean shouts in the background. “Damnit, dog! Leave Grace alone!”
Everyone knows Oscar doesn’t listen and does whatever she wants. She’s the most carefree creature on the planet.
I want a pet.
“So…” Grace clears her throat. “Does this have anything to do with why you canceled plans with me last night?”
Her teasing tone has a massive smile spreading across my face. “Yes.”
“I’m coming right over.” Grace yells to Dean about how he’s on his own for a while and to miss her like crazy while she’s gone and to not forget to post another thirst trap online today. “Taylor, I’ll be there in twenty!”
She’s here in fifteen.
Pulling up in a car that costs more than my house, Grace blasts a musical soundtrack with the windows down.
When she climbs out, I meet her in the yard because I’m excited to have someone to talk to about my love life.
I’ve missed Carly so much, but having Grace as a bestie has been such a joy.
We’ve grown super close since she moved here.
Grace lifts her sunglasses up. “Tell me it’s Conner. Please, for the love of all things hot and sexy, tell me you finally smashed that man.”
I cup my mouth and scream-squeal. She matches my energy instantly. Rushing over to me, we jump and yell in my yard like two crazy ladies. “Holy shit!”
“I know.”
“Finally!”
“I know!”
“The guys are going to flip!”
“I know.” There’s a pang in my belly, a worry that they might not be as excited as Grace is about me and Conner, but it doesn’t last. Our friend circle has to be tight enough to survive anything right?
RIGHT?
If Conner and I break up and he leaves town for good, will they hate me for it? Blame me?
“Hey, whoa.” Grace grabs my shoulders. “What’s that face?”
“Nothing.”
She’s suspicious but doesn’t push it. “Okay, let me ask one thing first.”
“Shoot.”
“Are you happy?”
That’s not at all what I thought she’d ask. “Yes.” Thinking about a future with Conner has my heart skipping all over the place. Tears spring to my eyes. “Big, colossal, massive, huge yes.”
“Then let’s pack your stuff up and you can tell me everything.”
She hooks her arm in mine, and we head into my shop.
After loading everything in one of my dad’s work trucks, decorating my tent for the festival, and grabbing a bite to eat afterwards, I text Conner.
Me: What are you doing?
He takes a couple minutes to text back.
Conner: It’s always WYD and never Come over and eat my pussy like a good boy.
My cheeks are on fire.
Me: Are you a good boy?
Conner: I’ll be anything you want me to be, baby.
Wow. That’s… yeah. I really love this for me.
Grace and I are at the café in town, treating ourselves to something sweet for having made the cutest booth for the festival. She sits across from me sipping an iced chai, checking her phone when her smile cuts clean across her face.
“What are you cheesing for over there?”
She shows me Dean’s latest thirst trap online. “He’s on fire.”
Dean went viral a while back and between his lumbersnack thirst traps and couples’ content with Grace, the man is making bank. He even has sponsors now, which is wild.
Out of curiosity, I pull up Conner’s account. He’s posted three times since I last looked, and each one has over a million views already.
Pride swirls in my belly about it. I never thought I’d be okay with other girls ogling my man, but honestly, I’m so used to it with Conner, it’s just second nature. I like them watching. I like that they want him.
Especially since they can’t ever have him and I can.
I’m the only woman he’s ever loved. The only one he’s ever wanted. Look all you want ladies and gentlemen, because my man is super hot and devoted to meeeee.
I need to perfect an evil laugh.
Two loops of his newest video, and I’m sucked into watching it on repeat, drool pouring out of my mouth, when my phone rings.
It’s Conner.
The interruption startles me as if I just got caught doing something naughty. “Hello?”
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
There’s silence and I tap the screen, closing the app with his thirst trap on repeat. Clearing my throat I wait and wait.
“We’re heading—”
“Are you—”
We both talk at the same time, stop at the same time, laugh at the same time.
“Your first.”
“Go ahead.”
Again, we say at the same time.
“Taylor. Talk.”
“Do you want to round everyone up and meet Grace and I at the Salt Lick?”
He’s quiet and I wonder where he is. “Uh. Yeah, sure, if you want.”
I know that tone. “We don’t have to.”
“No yeah. It’s fine. I can be there in about an hour.”
An hour? “If you’re in the middle of something, don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal. I just finished setting up the booth with Grace and we were talking about grabbing a beer and shooting some pool.”
“I’ll be there when I can.”
Nervousness stirs in my gut. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Fine. Why?”
My tongue freezes in my mouth and I don’t know what to say.
“I’ll text the group chat,” he says.
“Okay. I’ll order your usual.”
“Sounds good. See you soon.” Just before we hang up he goes, “Taylor?”
“Yeah?”
“Are we telling them now or did you want to wait?”
I’ve already told Grace and tried to tell Carly, but they’re different from Nick, Dean, and Bennet. “What do you want to do?”
“I want to tell them. I’ve been dying to do it but kept my mouth shut in case you weren’t ready or in case we…”
Didn’t work out. Blew up. Chickened out.
“No, let’s tell them tonight. Together.”
“See you soon.” He hangs up.
“Seven in the right pocket.” I lean on the pool table and take my shot, effortlessly sinking the ball.
My Spidey senses go off, and I look up, locking gazes with Conner the instant he walks through the door.
My heart gallops as he storms through the packed bar, eyes still on mine, and heads right for me. I have just enough time to straighten my spine and turn towards him when he cups the side of my face and kisses me hard enough to arch me backwards just to take it all.
Okay. Wow. That’s one way to tell all our friends that we’re officially a couple.
Nick starts the slow clap. Dean and Bennet join in.
And then the rest of the bar follows suit.
Oh. My. God. The whole damn bar watched us kiss like that!
“It’s about time!” Nick shouts, putting one arm around me, the other on Conner. “I’ve never seen a slower burn in my life.”
Conner playfully knocks him back and wraps his arms around me again. His breath tickles my ear when he whispers, “I’ve missed you.”
I swear I’ve sprouted wings and can fly. “Missed you too.”
Grace leans against Dean and sighs. “I love this.”
“Well. When’s the wedding?” Nick grabs his beer. “Tonight? Tomorrow?”
“Uhhh.” Conner’s cheeks turn red, and he breaks away from me. “That’s…”
“Not happening anytime soon,” I quickly say, hoping to spare Con any pressure. When he looks at me with his brow furrowing, I wink to let him know it’s all good.
“Carly’s gonna shit when she finds out.” Nick chugs his beer and puts the empty bottle on the table. “Did you tell her already?”
“We haven’t had a chance to catch up yet.” I ended up texting her with, Kissing your best friend trend = epic results. Call me! I still haven’t heard from her though.
Nick nods like that’s not surprising, and I notice he pulls his cell out as he heads to the bar to order a round of drinks.
Meanwhile, Bennet knocks his shoulder against mine. “You finally put our boy out of his misery, huh?”
“Geez. Was it really this obvious to everyone but me all this time?”
“Yes,” Bennet says flatly.
“Did you also know I’ve loved him for just as long?”
“We had a feeling.”
Oh my god. “And no one thought to help us see the light?”
Bennet shrugs. “You can only lead a horse to water, but...”
“Who’s the horse?” Conner asks, cutting into our conversation.
“Obviously you, big dick!” Oops. I said that too loud.
Nick chokes on his drink and three women swivel their heads in our direction.
“Oh dear God.” Bennet covers his face. “What have you just done, Taylor?”
“You heard her.” Conner loops his arm over Bennet’s shoulder. “I’m Big Dick.”
Dean smacks Nick’s back because he can’t stop choking.
Better to just roll with this and lean all the way in. “That python in your pants should come with a warning.”
“Stahhp!” Nick cries, doubling over, still coughing.
Conner slaps my ass and heads over to help Nick. Or to gloat more. I don’t know.
Meanwhile, Bennet shoots me a smile that’s all warm and charming and I just love him to death.
It makes me scared that I’ll lose him if things go south with Conner and me.
Our leveled-up relationship is brand new, wild territory.
I’m still terrified it’ll go up in flames because we have so much history.
“Hey.” Dean is suddenly next to me, tipping my chin towards him. “Don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried.”
“You’ve always been a terrible liar, Taylor.” His eyes soften as he looks at me. “You guys have always been destined for each other, and you know it.”
Do I?
Dean’s words, so calm and sure, wash over me. He might have been the last person to join our circle, but he’s the strongest and most logical too. And he’s right. Every path I’ve walked has led me to Conner.
Every. Single. Time. Since we were five years old.
I glance over at my man, who’s with Nick and talking a lot with his hands. Peace overflows my soul.
In this moment, everything is perfect. We’re exactly where we’re meant to be and the serenity and joy of being in the middle of the moment is pure bliss.
Please make this last… please make this last…