Chapter 8 #2
“I know.” She pushed back from the table, standing. “I should get going. I only took the morning off. The hospital won’t run itself.”
Her mother smiled, eyes scanning Taylor’s face, looking for confessions she hadn’t spoken yet. “Alright. Be safe. Call if you need anything. ”
“I will.”
She kissed her mother’s cheek, gave her father a hug, and left before they could ask any more questions.
∞∞∞
Standing in front of her mirror, Taylor studied her reflection, loving what she saw.
Even Patti complimented her on her glow and pep.
The blue jeans she decided on hugged every curve, making her smile.
She’d paired the jeans with her favorite white button-down, knotting it just above her navel to reveal a teasing glimpse of skin and the dainty colorful waist beads she’d become obsessed with.
She was showing just a little cleavage, shirt unbuttoned, hanging off her shoulder a little. Her white and blue jean patch stilettos matched her outfit perfectly, lengthening her legs and adding ummph to her step.
Gold accents adorned her from head to toe. Big hoops hit her jawline and layered necklaces drew attention to her collarbones. The bangles that clinked lowly with each gesture, and rings that caught the light as she smoothed the base of her full afro puff, she was going the natural route tonight.
The whole ensemble was a mix between sexy and sophisticated, just right for a woman who was blossoming and coming out of her shell.
It had been a long time since she had been out for happy hour.
Her and her friends had all been busy, whether it was Blake in school, Paige climbing the ladder at work or Kennedi always chasing stories across the globe their girls’ nights had become rare.
But with Kennedi in town, they were ditching the excuses and finally linking.
Taylor’s fingers hovered over her phone, second guessing herself before confidence crept back in.
She angled her phone and tilted her head to catch that good light that made her skin glow.
The smile that spread across her face wasn’t practiced or posed, it was pure satisfaction at seeing herself looking as good as she did.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she sent the mirror selfie to Brooks.
Somebody was going to have to hype her up.
Taylor: Hey bestie, how do I look?
Her heart did a little two-step as she hit send. The dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again. Then, her phone rang.
She rolled her eyes but grinned, “Brooks, why are you calling me?”
“Because you know I ain’t with all that texting and shit. And ain’t no way a text was enough,” he said, his voice all heat through the speaker. “Lemme see you again.”
Taylor bit her lip but angled the camera so he could get the full view. His reaction was instant.
“Damn, Tay.” His deep inhale sent a shiver down her spine. “Yeah, that ain’t even fair. You trying to start some shit tonight?”
She rolled her eyes with a laugh. “It’s just jeans and a cute top. Calm down.”
“Don’t play with me. Your ass sitting right in them jeans, and them waist beads.” He tilted his head. Studying her through the screen. “Them beads got my attention. I like that. ”
She rolled her eyes. “I knew you were gonna say something to hype me up.”
“I ain’t said nothing but facts.” He leaned back, rubbing his beard as he kept his eyes locked on her. “Where you going looking that damn good?”
“Slicks. Happy hour with your sister and the girls.”
The vein in his neck became visible. “Please don’t make me have to hurt nobody tonight.”
Taylor shook her head, smirking. “I’ll be fine, Brooks.”
He sighed. She wasn’t leaving his mind anytime soon. And he was trying so hard.
“It ain’t you I’m worried about. I know you solid.”
“Oh,” she said feeling bashful all of a sudden. He spoke and she hung on every word.
He let his gaze linger a second longer before sighing. “Have fun. But don’t let nobody get too close.”
She rubbed the back of her neck, feeling a little too pleased at his reaction. “Yes, bestie.”
“Keep playing.” His voice dipped lower, warning her. “We both know I’m not your damn bestie. Bye.”
The call ended, leaving Taylor staring at her screen, her reflection smiling back at her. Her excitement for the night had already been high. Now? It was even higher. Because Brooks Bishop was watching. And she liked that.
Brooks had plans for her that went far beyond friendship, and they both knew it.
A man didn’t look at his bestie the way Brooks looked at her.
Didn’t get possessive at the thought of other men breathing the same air she did.
Didn’t call just to see her face, to hear her voice.
Nah they weren’t besties. They were far from it.
Taylor grabbed her tan and gold purse and headed to her car.
The drive to Slicks didn’t take long and she could feel the bass from inside vibrating from the sidewalk as she stepped out of her car.
Blake, Paige, and her friend Kennedi were already waiting by the door, all of them doing double-takes when they saw her.
“Ok sis, I see you!” Paige circled her, taking in the outfit. “You ain’t come to play tonight.”
“Girl, it’s just jeans, but no I didn’t,” Taylor laughed, trying to play it cool despite the flutter in her stomach every time one of them complimented her.
The happy hour crowd was thick but not overwhelming.
Their usual high-top was open, the perks of being regulars.
Taylor settled onto her stool, something about the familiar space and her girls helped her shoulders finally relax.
The weight of the morning’s courthouse visit felt like a distant memory here.
“First rounds on me,” Paige announced, already waving down their regular server. “We celebrating!”
They had no clue. She wanted so bad to tell them that she’d filed for divorce this morning but she just wasn’t ready.
“Us finally coming out of hibernation and Tay’s birthday is coming up,” Blake said, already scanning the drink menu.
“Feel like we haven’t had a real girls’ night in forever,” Taylor mentioned.
The music shifted, the DJ mixed in an old school jam that had them all swaying in their seats.
She let herself sink into the moment the laughter of her best friends, the perfect mix of lemon drop martini touching her lips.
She caught a few guys checking her out. Her confidence seemed to grow with each passing minute. But she wasn’t looking.
“So…you just gon’ breeze past this outfit like we ain’t all clocking you?”
Kennedi grinned, tapping her perfectly manicured nails against the table. “Mmhmm, real casual. Just jeans, my ass.”
Blake lifted a brow. “You got belly and cleavage showing. That never happens. But you look damn good friend.”
Taylor rolled her eyes, sipping her drink. “Y’all act like I don’t know how to switch it up and get cute.”
“We know you can,” Paige said, leaning in. “We just wondering why you did. Sis, you be all work, church, and no play.”
Taylor shook her head, biting back a smile. “Can’t I just want to look and feel good?”
“You can’t fool me. I'm not sure why folks be trying,” Paige said tossing a shot back. Paige was like a damn psychic she didn’t miss anything. There was no denying that Paige and Brooks were related.
Taylor ignored her. She couldn’t tell them that the way Brooks had been looking at her lately had her looking at herself differently. Brooks had her feeling comfortable enough to come out of her shell slowly.
“You can. Forgive us, we just minding your business that’s all. Don’t mind us,” Kennedi joked.
“I just got tired of dressing for Jesus or for work. I need to wear some of my other stuff.”
“Well, whatever the reason, sis, you eating the girls up tonight.” Blake lifted her glass. “A toast to Taylor.”
She exhaled, savoring a flicker of the life she used to have. The toast hit deeper than she let on.
She hadn’t even told them about the divorce—couldn’t yet. But somehow, they still saw her. Still saw the growth, the shift, the woman slowly coming back to herself.
That made her feel like she was on the right path.
The DJ transitioned into a ‘90s R&B set, and their entire table let out a collective “Ayyye!” When SWV’s ‘Anything’ came through the speakers.
Kennedi swayed in her seat. “I miss y’all. I may come back home soon. For good too.”
When Kennedi mentioned possibly coming home, the conversation shifted. This was their first time hearing their jet setting best friend was ready to hang up her legal pad and press pass.
“Ten years of chasing stories,” she expressed sighing, “and now everybody with a phone and social media account thinks they’re damn Gayle King or something.”
“I feel that. Well, come home. I’m sure your parents would love to have you close and back home. And I know we would girl,” Blake added.
“Yeah, I miss being in one place. I miss having furniture and random shit. But enough about me, fill me in on what’s going on with you. Taylor?” Kennedi said starting with her. It was just her luck that she’d ask her first.
“Uhm, nothing really just work and helping my parents at the church when I can. I’m still a homebody. Still at the hospital.”
“What about our brother in law? I haven’t seen him in years.”
“Nothing to note, still trying to start a gospel record label.”
“Still?” Kennedi asked causing Taylor to roll her eyes and nod in agreement. It had been a long time since he shared that pipe dream with anyone that would listen.
Taylor’s phone buzzed against the table, going crazy. She had a Zelle payment notification from Brooks and a text that followed.
Brooks: Don’t. You having fun?
She stared at the screen a little too long before replying.
Taylor: Don’t what? LOL
Brooks: Give me a hard time or send that money back. Now are you having fun?
Taylor: No hard time from me. And yeah. It’s been a minute since I had a night like this. It’s good to be out. Wyd?