Chapter 21 - Taylor
By the time I pull up to Ivory’s house, my heart rate has almost returned to normal, and my cramps are manageable. This morning took a wild turn, and while I hate how Grant walked away, I can’t bring myself to regret it.
He’s been wearing our wedding band this entire time.
When he was wearing it at Ivory and Preston’s wedding, I thought he brought it to make a point, but no, he wears it every damn day.
Mine is in my safe in New York. What does that say about our dynamic that he never lets it out of his sight and I’ve locked mine away?
And holy shit, the tattoo. He tattooed his penis with a star to represent my nickname. And named all his business ventures for me too. It’s too much.
It’s the ultimate demonstration of pining. Isn’t this everything a girl should want? Why am I still hesitant?
Because you’re worried he’ll change his mind and decide it’s not worth it when he finds out the full truth about your endo diagnosis, that kids are not in your future. I can’t handle the disappointment.
The reminder has me jumping out of the car. I can’t think about this right now. I need to be present with my friends. The best part of this year has been reconnecting with them, attending cookouts, going to games.
Taking a deep breath, I walk up the steps and into the house.
From the front door of Ivory’s house, I can see all the way to the backyard with the way the living room flows seamlessly into the chef’s kitchen.
Now that Ivory knows how to cook, she’s always in the kitchen and looking for a reason to host us all at their house.
“The party has arrived.” I shimmy my shoulders joining everyone huddled around the island like I’m not absolutely dying from menstrual pain and my husband coming all over me in the bath this morning.
“Think the party was already here this time,” Miller says from the kitchen, nodding toward Gabby and Chase.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Hip-checking Gabby, I turn to the guys. “Out. We have things to discuss, and your presence is not allowed.” I point to the back door.
“Man, I always miss the fun stuff,” Miller whines, but lets Preston push him out of the kitchen and onto the back patio.
“Come on, Rook,” Preston calls behind him.
Chase presses a kiss to Gabby’s temple then follows the guys out.
I wait for the door to click shut before turning to my bestie. “It was the trench coat, wasn’t it?” I pop a grape into my mouth and smirk when Gabby turns the brightest shade of red.
“Spill.” Ivory waves a knife in her direction, still chopping up vegetables for a salad.
Gabby looks at Ivory, guiltily. “Chase and I had a one-night stand after your wedding.”
Ivory waves her off. “Pshh, old news.”
“You knew?”
“Please, I love Preston, but he sucks at keeping secrets from me. Remember how I already knew he was the silent investor in Serentia and let him think I didn’t know.”
She winks, and I smile at the memory of Preston thinking he could surprise Ivory by being a silent investor in her new production company a few years ago.
“Plus I kinda pieced it together with the way you seemed familiar with Chase when he was called up, and your reaction to him getting arrested wasn’t exactly ‘I’m worried for the team.’ It was personal. Then there was the whole BDE commentary.” Ivory eyes me and I simply shrug.
“She said he had the goods, so I told our girl to get it because that man is fine as hell.”
“Yeah, he is,” Ivory agrees. “So, what’s the trench coat about?”
“Taylor told me to show up at his place in nothing but a trench coat and see how fast he makes a move.”
“Taylor,” Ivory laughs and shakes her head.
Grabbing a soda out of the refrigerator to help with the sudden wave of nausea I’m feeling, I try to hide how poorly I’m feeling today with another witty remark. “Manifesdick or whatever they call it.”
Gabby rolls her eyes at me. “I don’t think that’s how manifestation works.”
“In this case, it did.” I give her my best ‘tell me I’m wrong’ look, but she can’t because she totally got dicked down and I am here for it.
At least one of us is getting some dick.
“Don’t hold out on us. Was it good?” Ivory washes her hands, finished prepping lunch and fully invested in girl talk.
“Good wouldn’t be the way I’d describe it. It was insanely hot. He pinned me up against the window wall in his condo and fucked my brains out.”
“Hell yes.” I hold my hand out for a high five.
“I love when Preston throws me around. So hot.”
“It was better than I remember, and our hook up on the island was filthy. He planked over my face that time.”
I fan myself at the image. What would it feel like for Grant to pin me against the windows in the penthouse?
What would it look like to have him hovering over me, the chain dangling between us while I took him in my mouth?
Shoving another grape in my mouth, I focus on the burst of sweetness on my tongue.
Fuck, now I’m thinking about him coming in my mouth.
“Earth to Taylor.” Gabby waves a hand in my face.
“Hmm? Sorry, I was picturing what that would look like.”
“Should I get some paper? We can draw it,” Ivory teases.
“Oh my god, you guys.” Gabby covers her face with her hands, and we all laugh.
“But seriously, G. He seems good for you. You’re more you than we’ve seen you in a long time.” Ivory wraps Gabby in a hug.
“She’s right. The assholes are gone, and you’re getting the D.” I join their huddle and squeeze my two best girls. “August has been a good month for you.”
“I’m deliriously happy, but also scared about this all coming out.”
“It will be fine,” I assure her.
“I think I’m going to tell Grant I’ll take the general counsel job.”
“Well, this calls for something stronger than soda.” Ivory grabs a bottle of wine from the wine cooler while I collect three glasses from the rack.
“It’s not tequila shots, but I guess we’ve evolved.” I line the glasses up on the counter and wait for Ivory to pour the wine before passing a glass to Gabby over the counter.
“Don’t think I could handle tequila shots at noon,” Gabby cringes.
“To Gabby,” Ivory holds her glass into the air.
“Proud of you,” I add.
Gabby smiles and taps her glass to ours. “Love you girls.”
“Is the coast clear?” Preston pokes his head in the back door.
Ivory pulls him into the kitchen and plants an indecent kiss to his lips.
“We have company, Hollywood. Don’t start something you can’t finish.” He squeezes her ass with a wink. “Ribs are done if you girls are ready.”
“Let’s eat.” Ivory claps her hands together and we all help move the food and utensils outside to the long picnic table under their covered porch.
Miller and Chase are sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace with a TV mounted over it, but they both spring into action as we finish setting the table for a feast. Preston made ribs on the smoker and Ivory went overboard with a salad, fruit tray, potato salad, and coleslaw.
“Wow, this looks delicious. Thank you for having me,” Chase says politely sitting down next to Gabby.
“Glad you could make it Chase. Sorry it’s taken so long to get one of these together. We try to spend the off day together as much as possible, but our schedules have been crazy.” Ivory passes her plate to Preston where he’s dishing up the ribs.
“You outdid yourself, Ivey.” Miller places a kiss on her cheek before he sits down beside me.
“Is Daddy Mike coming by today?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
Preston answers, “Not today. He’s meeting Grant and Ben for lunch to go over the roster and see if there’s anyone in Triple A they should move to the active roster for the postseason.”
“He’s pretty involved for a team owner,” Chase comments, dishing up Gabby’s plate. I smile at him taking care of her. This isn’t some fling for him. It’s the real deal and I can tell Gabby’s already falling for him. She deserves that kind of love.
“Boss man is super involved. I think it was one of the conditions when Coach agreed to come to Nashville.”
I tilt my head. “What do you mean?” I hadn’t heard this.
“Dad would’ve stayed in Tampa for the rest of his career, or at least until they gave him the boot. There’s only one person he would’ve entertained an offer from.”
“Well yeah, you’re here, so obviously he’d want to be closer to you,” Chase weighs in.
“Not me.” Ivory smiles and looks back at me. “Grant.”
My mind is spinning. What does that mean? I want to ask more questions, but then that would draw attention to my secrets, and I’m not ready to share with them yet. Today is for Gabby declaring her relationship with Chase.
Sensing I need a change of subject, Gabby asks Ivory about her Christmas movie and the upcoming dating competition we’ve planned to create buzz around the release. I zone out while they talk about all the details I’m already intimately familiar with as Ivory’s agent.
“You okay, Blondie?” Miller leans over and whispers to me.
I nod. “Fine.”
“You’re quiet today.” He eyes me and my barely eaten plate of food skeptically.
“That time of the month, so I’m not feeling well.”
“Can I get you anything? You can leave if you want. I’ll create a diversion so you can sneak out.” He looks around conspiratorially.
“It’s okay, Mills.” I pat his shoulder. “But thank you.”
“I’ve got you, Tay baby.”
I tense at the nickname. Miller’s always giving us nicknames, but he’s never called me that before. That’s Grant’s name for me.
“Don’t call me that.”
He assesses me carefully.
“Please,” I beg.
“Sorry, Taytie Tot. Won’t happen again.” He may be the goofy one of our group, and we may like to take swipes at each other, but he’s an extremely loyal and vulnerable friend.
True to his word, Miller diverts attention away from me for the rest of lunch, and as soon as I’m able, I bail with the excuse of needing to get back for an urgent client meeting.
When I make it back to the penthouse, Grant’s still gone. Relieved to be alone for a while, I pad down the hall to my room and sink into the plush bedding for a nap, but before I can fall asleep, my phone chimes from the bedside table.
JOSH
Heard you moved in with Grant.
Ugh, shit. I didn’t think they talked as much anymore. I wanted to be the one to tell my brother before Grant had the chance, but per usual, I’ve been too chickenshit to admit it out loud.
ME
It’s temporary. I’m just helping with an event for the team
JOSH
Just don’t hurt him, Tay.
ME
And what about me?
JOSH
Either of you. Be careful, sister.
That’s the opposite of what we were this morning. We were careless and rash and impulsive, and that type of reckless behavior could end badly for both of us.