Chapter 8 Taylor
Taylor
Taylor picked up her phone and read the text from her best friend, Melanie Dixon: Hey, girl. Are you free to meet for lunch today?
Melanie worked in an office a couple of blocks from the rehabilitation center, and they typically had lunch once or twice
a week. She replied: I’m off today and heading out of town.
Her phone rang a minute later. “I knew you’d call,” Taylor said when she answered.
“I can’t believe you took the day off and didn’t tell me last week at lunch.”
“It totally slipped my mind.” She added the last of her toiletries to the overnighter.
“Well, don’t keep me in suspense. Where are you going? And with who?”
“I’m going to visit Austin.”
Melanie screamed. “Oh my goodness! Are y’all finally hooking up after all these years?”
“Girl, screaming in your office isn’t a good look.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not in my office,” she said. “I’m outside. Now answer the question.”
Taylor chuckled. There was never a dull moment with Mel.
They’d been friends since middle school, and Mel had been with her through all of the ups and downs, from consoling Taylor when her mother passed away during high school to talking her through the guilt when she had to place her father in an assisted-living facility due to early-onset dementia two years ago.
It had been hard to make the decision, but after he wandered off twice, Taylor felt as if she had no other choice.
The stark fear she’d felt when she couldn’t find him for nearly ten hours had made for the most agonizing day of her life.
Even now, the memory made her emotions surge.
She’d always been a daddy’s girl, but the two had grown even closer after her mother’s death.
These days, Taylor felt as though she’d lost both parents because she had a fifty-fifty chance that her dad would recognize her whenever she visited and took him a few of his favorite oatmeal raisin cookies.
“Yes, we are.” She zipped the bag and carried it to the living room.
“It’s about time. I know you guys were best friends, but every time I saw you two, I always thought you belonged together.
I’m surprised it never happened.”
Taylor sat on the sofa. “It seemed like the timing was never right. Either he was involved with someone or I was, and then,
at least on my part, I didn’t want to mess up the friendship. We kissed once when we were fifteen—probably more experimenting
than anything else—but nothing else.” The kisses they shared last month played in her mind on a loop, and truthfully, she
couldn’t wait for him to kiss her again.
“Actually, I can see that line of thinking. But how is it going to work with him being in the military? I thought you told
me he wanted to do at least twenty years.”
“He still does. I mean, we’ve stayed close since he’s been gone for the past nine years, so it should stay the same.”
“Yes, some things will be the same, but this time you’ll be missing him not only as a friend but also as the man you’re dating.
It’s not the same. As friends, it’s fine if you don’t hear from him for a time, but with this change in your relationship,
you’re going to want to see and hear from him more often. Not to mention, you’ll be craving his touch and kiss. Wait, have
y’all kissed yet?”
“It’s time for me to get off this phone.”
Taylor heard everything her friend was saying, and parts of her wondered if their change in status would indeed be harder
on them. Would the relaxed camaraderie they’d always had morph into something neither of them intended? She still feared losing
the closeness they shared, but she wanted this chance with him. She, more than anyone else, knew that life wasn’t promised.
“Sooo, what you’re saying is the man ain’t kissing like he’s fifteen anymore.”
“Girl, not even close.” They both burst out laughing.
“I remember him being a cutie way back, but I can imagine he looks even better now.”
“Try six feet, four inches of chocolate fineness and muscles everywhere.”
“He had some brothers, right? I can’t remember their names.”
“Yes. His oldest brother, Shawn, has been married for three years. Tariq is getting married in less than three months. He
proposed to her at the dinner I mentioned to you when Austin was home. Apparently they’d only been dating for four months.
Only the youngest is single. Vincent is a year younger than us.”
“I guess he wasn’t wasting any time.”
“Kamryn is a real cool sister, and oh my goodness, she can bake her butt off. It was the first time meeting his parents, and she brought a homemade pound cake. I had two pieces and wanted more.” She chuckled inwardly, recalling all the guys being almost as happy about being able to get the pound cake as they were about the engagement.
Taylor checked the time. “Mel, I need to get going. You know there’s going to be traffic, and I want to get there while there’s still plenty of daylight. ”
“Be safe, enjoy yourself, and be ready to spill all the beans when you get back. Oh, and tell Austin hello.”
“I plan to enjoy myself. It still feels a little weird, but we’ve been talking more.” She loved the texts he often sent in
the mornings wishing her a good day and the ones at night wishing her sweet dreams. She knew he wouldn’t be able to send them
all the time, but knowing he was thinking about her and serious about the change in their relationship status made her days
a little brighter.
“Just take it one day at a time. You guys are perfect for each other, and because you already know each other’s secrets, you
have a leg up on folks starting relationships with someone they don’t know.”
“Good point.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the two of you were married within the next couple of months. No need to waste time when you already
know each other better than anyone else.”
“Whoa. I think you’re getting way ahead of yourself,” Taylor said with a laugh.
“So if Austin asked you to marry him tomorrow, you’d say no?”
She didn’t want to admit that she’d probably marry him in a heartbeat if he asked, so she remained silent.
“Mmm-hmm. That’s what I thought.”
“Okay. Let me get on the road.”
Melanie chuckled. “You aren’t getting off the hook that easily, my sister, but I’m gonna let you go, and we’ll talk next week. I’ll text you with the days I can do lunch.”
“Sounds good.” Taylor disconnected. She stuck the phone in her jeans pocket, then went around the condo to make sure she’d
turned everything off, took out the trash, and loaded her things into the car. When she Googled the distance, it said about
an hour and a half. However, she figured there would be some traffic and expected to add at least another thirty minutes to
the drive. Barring any major hiccups, she should get to the base before four.
Later, as she got closer to the base, butterflies took flight in her belly. She didn’t understand why since she’d known Austin
for more than a decade and they had been close friends for most of that time. Friends, not significant others and lovers, her inner voice reminded her. When she got to the gate, the guard came out, and she was ready with her identification. While
the Marine checked her credentials, Taylor took a moment to text Austin and let him know she’d arrived. As the man returned,
Austin replied with directions on where to meet him.
She saw him as soon as she made it to the area he’d indicated. While she’d always considered him to be a handsome guy, Taylor
had never let herself go beyond that thought. But now as she watched him walk toward her with the sexy swagger that made all
the girls in high school swoon, she had to admit he’d top her fantasy man list every day, all day—tall, fine, with rippling
muscles that bunched with every movement and an easygoing way about him that would make it hard for any woman to resist. Even
more so dressed in the fatigues, boots, and T-shirt that stretched taut across his well-defined chest and washboard abs.
Austin was at the door and helping her out the moment she cut the engine. “Hey, beautiful.” He wrapped his strong arms around
her and held her tight. “I’m glad to see you. I missed you, girl.”
“I missed you too.” His familiar smile and warmth calmed her nerves.
“You can leave your stuff in the car. I just need to grab something, then we can go.” He took her hand and started walking
toward a building. “I’m off for the weekend, and my place is only about fifteen minutes away from here.”
Taylor followed him to an office, and she waited while he spoke to another soldier, then retrieved a messenger bag. Afterward,
he walked her back to her car.
“I’m going to get my car, and you can follow me.”
“Okay.” They made the short drive to his house, and he had her pull her car into the two-car garage next to his. “This is
nice,” she said as they entered. “How many bedrooms?”
“Two.” Austin carried her bag to what she assumed was the spare bedroom, then gave her a quick tour. “If you want to relax
for a few, go ahead. We can decide whether to eat in or go out. I’m going to change.”
“Does this feel weird to you?” Taylor blurted. “I mean . . . I have no idea what I mean.” She wrapped her arms around herself
and leaned against the kitchen counter.
He gave her a soft smile. “Sometimes. Then I remember that you’re my best friend, and nothing will ever change that.” Closing
the distance between them, he placed a lingering kiss on her forehead. “We’re going to take this one day at a time, sweetheart,
and not worry about the next day or week or month. But if you’re uncomfortable—”
“I’m not uncomfortable. It’s just that it’s going to be kind of strange to let my mind—” Taylor cut herself off.
Austin raised an eyebrow. “What were you going to say?”
“Nothing. I thought you were going to change your clothes.” No way would she tell him the earlier thoughts she’d had about
him.
“Tell me. You know I can get it out of you.” A wicked grin spread across his face.
“Austin, don’t even think about it.” She ducked under his arm and ran. He caught her three steps in and swung her up in his