Chapter 23
The Next Day
Taylor and Blake decided to spend more time together after they left lunch with Paige at Mitchell’s. They were at Blake and Emon’s place again, lounging in the comfort of friendship and shared history.
“I’ve never witnessed my brother look at someone the way he looks at you,” Blake said, pausing mid-bite of sweet potato pie.
Taylor paused, a dessert plate in her hand also. She’d been craving sweet potato pie specifically Blakes. Her friend was multitalented, and she loved that for her. “Blake!”
“What? I’m not trying to meddle,” Blake cut in, raising her hands in surrender. “I just... I want you both to be happy. And it’s obvious you make each other happy.”
Blake leaned over, grabbing Taylor by the hand, “He looks at you like you quiet something in him he didn’t know was loud. My brother is at peace and so are you. I could never be upset about that.”
Taylor studied the intricate pattern on the dessert plate, avoiding Blake’s knowing eyes. “He does make me happy,” she admitted softly. “I’m just...”
“Scared,” Blake finished for her.
“Terrified.”
“I get that. After what you’ve been through with Tyree, anyone would be. But Taylor,” she waited until Taylor met her eyes, “my brother isn’t Tyree. Not even close.”
“I know that,” Taylor said quickly, almost defensively.
Blake nodded, her expression softening. “Then stop treating what y’all have like it’s what you left.”
The words hit Taylor like a physical blow. She hadn’t meant to make Brooks feel like he was the problem. He was mending a heart he didn’t break that meant something. She’d been so caught up in her own fears, her own need for control, that she hadn’t seen what she was doing.
“I didn’t think I was,” Taylor whispered, setting down her plate. “Is that how it seems?”
“A little bit friend. And listen I don’t know y’all history. I just don’t, but I know my brother is serious about you. I want y’all to work.”
“Denver changed everything. We had an amazing time but now, being back here, all my fear is telling me I’m damaged goods. I need to be alone. All these things that I don’t feel.”
Blake blinked. “Wait, Denver? I thought that was for work. Lying ass heffa.”
Taylor gave a sad little laugh, rubbing her hands down her thighs. “Yeah. It was work... working things out with Brooks.” She met Blake’s eyes, steady now. “He flew me out.”
“Yuck. Boundaries, please. I did not need to hear that you were working anything out with my brother. Lord.” She fanned herself with her fork. “I’m getting rusty. I should’ve known.”
“Too busy getting turned out by Emon Dowlen,” Taylor joked. Blake pushed her falling out in laughter. Because she knew it was true.
“Anyway, so what’s the problem, and I’m not judging you,” Blake continued, seeing the distress on Taylor’s face.
“Our chemistry is insane. And I love him, I really do. Your brother, girl… he’s so solid, so pure. And some days, I don’t feel like I deserve that.”
“Do you need to be outside in the streets for a bit?”
“Absolutely not. I’m afraid of his certainty. What if I don’t live up to his expectations? He’s so certain. So sure. I keep waiting for him to see all my broken pieces and change his mind.”
Blake’s laughter surprised her. “Girl, please. My brother knows broken. He’s lived it. Our parents dying, his time in the streets, building his business from nothing. You think he doesn’t have scars? The difference is, he’s not afraid of yours.”
“That’s those psychology classes you took.”
She reached for Taylor’s hand, squeezing gently. “Look, I’m not saying drop everything and marry him tomorrow. I’m just saying, if you love him, really love him, then let yourself have this. All of it. Not just the parts that feel safe.”
“I do love him,” Taylor whispered, the words feeling both terrifying and freeing.
“Then tell him that. Show him that. Whatever that looks like for you.” Blake squeezed her hand again. “Because Taylor? Men like my brother don’t come around often. And I’m trying be a sister in law soon and an auntie. Please get it together.”
Taylor nodded, wiping at her eyes. “I need to fix this, don’t I?”
“Only if you want to keep him,” Blake said simply.
Taylor sat with that truth, letting it settle in her bones.
All these months dancing around labels, keeping one foot in her old life while reaching for Brooks, what had it done but create distance where there should’ve been closeness?
The last twenty four hours had been brutal for her.
He hadn’t even reached out to her, hadn’t said good morning or anything.
“I was married for so long,” she said softly. “Even when it was bad, it was familiar. With Brooks, everything is different. Better, but... unknown.”
“That’s called growth, honey,” Blake said with a gentle smile. “Stepping into something new always feels a little like falling.”
“What if I’m not ready?”
Blake shrugged. “Then you’re not. But be honest about that, with yourself and with him.”
Taylor nodded, her mind already racing ahead. She reached for her phone, checking the time. Brooks would be at the shop for a few more hours. Time enough to figure out what she wanted to say. What she needed him to know.
“Thanks,” she said, looking up at Blake. “For the talk. For forgiving us from keeping secrets, and for caring about both of us. It was torture not having my best friend, but I had Brooks and I need him to know that I’m still in this.”
“Always,” Blake replied. “Just don’t tell his big head ass I was advocating for him. Can’t have him thinking I’m on his side. Because it’s always chicks before dicks.”
“Girl, shut up with all that lying. You left us at lunch for dick.”
Taylor laughed, the tension breaking.
“I was like twenty minutes late, y’all need to let that go.”
Taylor hugged Blake and headed out. She needed to see Brooks and make sure they were okay. The revelation that perhaps her caution, meant to protect herself, had been hurting them both made her chest ache with regret.
As she drove to Bishop Towing, her mind raced with everything she needed to say. No more hiding. No more running. No more pretending this was casual when it was the most serious thing she’d felt in years.
Taylor made it to Brooks in record time, parking haphazardly in her rush to get inside. The doorbell chimed as she entered, causing heads to turn in her direction. She offered a small, tight smile, her eyes already searching the space for him.
Marco nodded toward the back, wordlessly letting her know Brooks was in his office. She felt the weight of curious eyes on her back as she walked the long hallway, her heels clicking against the polished concrete floor, each step bringing her closer to the conversation that could change everything.
She paused at his door, taking a deep breath before knocking lightly.
Brooks looked up from his paperwork, surprise flickering across his face before it settled into something unreadable.
But then he smiled, that rare, genuine smile that transformed his entire face, and relief washed through her.
She’d been sure he’d be cold, distant, putting her on ice for the way she’d been acting.
“Are we okay?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
Brooks leaned back in his chair, eyes never leaving hers. “Why wouldn’t we be?”
Taylor took a deep breath, gathering her courage.
This was no time for half-measures. “Because I’ve been unfair.
Because I kept dodging the truth. Because I’ve been screwing this up with all my back and forth.
” She moved closer, perching on the edge of his desk instead of taking the chair opposite him. “You going home last night stung.”
“Taylor.”
“No, let me finish,” she interrupted, reaching for his hands, needing the connection to ground her.
His palms were warm, steady against hers.
“I’ve been keeping you at arm’s length, pretending this, us, isn’t what it is when it’s convenient for me or when I get scared.
I’ve been letting fear drive, and that’s not fair to either of us. ”
Brooks’ thumb traced circles on her skin, patient yet expectant. “And what is it? This thing between us?” His voice was low, rougher now, with an edge of something that might have been hope. The question hung between them, weighted with all the things they’d left unsaid.
“You’re my man,” she said, voice steady. “Not my situationship. Not my maybe. Mine. And I’m done pretending otherwise.”
Brooks was quiet for a long moment, studying her face. She forced herself to maintain eye contact, to let him see everything, the fear, yes, but also the love, the certainty that had been growing beneath the surface all this time .
Then he exhaled slowly, something shifting in his expression. “Is that what you really want? Or is this because of last night?”
She understood then that this wasn’t just about labels for him. He was asking if she was choosing this, choosing him, fully and without reservation.
“I want you,” she said quietly, moving to stand between his legs, her hands framing his face.
“Not because of last night, but because of every day since you picked me up. I want this life we’re building.
I want to wake up with you and argue about dinner and make up afterward. I want all of it, Brooks. All of you.”
His hands settled on her waist, drawing her closer. “Then say what you mean, Tay Marie. No more hiding and stalling. What am I to you, really?”
Her heart thundered against her ribs, but she held his gaze. “Everything,” she whispered, the word carrying the weight of a vow. “You’re everything to me, Brooks. My safe place. My second chance. The man I want to try something new with.”
The smile that spread across his face was like sunrise breaking over the horizon slow, radiant, transformative. He stood, lifting her effortlessly and setting her on his desk, moving between her legs.
“That’s all I needed to hear,” he murmured, resting his forehead against hers. “Titles, timelines, I don’t care. I just need you in this with me.”
“Blake helped me see some things,” she admitted, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. “About how I’ve been acting.”
“She did, huh?” Brooks’ eyebrow arched, though amusement danced in his eyes. “Remind me to thank her meddling ass later. ”
Brooks' expression became more serious. He kissed her deeply and thoroughly, leaving no room for doubt. His hands slid to her thighs, gripping firmly as he pulled her to the edge of the desk. When they broke apart, both breathless, his eyes had darkened with desire.
“My office door got a lock on it, you know,” he murmured against her neck. He was sick about going home alone last night but he had to put his foot down. He wasn’t some secret, she was going to keep in the shadows.
Taylor laughed, the sound turning into a soft gasp as his hands moved higher. “Is that your subtle way of telling me we’re not done with this conversation?”
“Oh, we’re definitely not done,” Brooks agreed, standing, moving backwards to flip the lock. “I figure we got plenty more to say to each other. Just might need to use something other than words.”
Brooks sauntered back to her. His hands roamed. Their mouths tangled. She moaned into him, and he groaned against her skin like he’d been starving and finally found his favorite meal. They were speaking each other’s language now.
And neither of them was holding back.