Page 14 of Breaking Point

“Play nice,” Skar murmurs, opening the door wider to allow me inside.

“I am nice,” she argues, but as I duck my head and step inside, I’m too busy taking it all in again to bother listening to Skar’s sarcastic reply.

The same checkered marble floors greet me like before. The same portraits hang in every wing. It all seems foreign now. I skim the necklace beneath my shirt, usually glad for the comfort it brings. Instead, I find none.

Taylor Bishop stands at 5’9” but he’s still a mass of a man. Years of military training have honed him into something of a hulk. He’s dark-haired, burly, tattooed, and I’ve never met aman as honest. We shared the same squad back in the army, and now we co-own a company together.

He shakes hands with Skar as Charlotte crosses one ankle over the other and assesses him from afar…

Most people would squirm under a look like that, but part of the reason Taylor and I get along so well is because not much phases him. His steady demeanor doesn’t budge. Much.

“Military?” Charlotte asks.

Amusement has the lines by his eyes crinkling in a guarded smile. “Army.”

“Why’d you leave?”

Taylor crosses his hands behind his back, the only sign that her line of questioning is getting to him. His smile remains polite. “I decided to look for better things.”

“Better things?” she prods, and I smile.

“Char…” My voice is a mild warning.

Her eyes narrow for all of a moment before she claps, seemingly having made up her mind. “How do you feel about pizza for lunch, Taylor?”

Taylor glances toward Skar who is watching the scene unfold with mild amusement. But Taylor eventually smiles. “Pizza sounds great.”

“Wonderful,” Charlotte chirps before disappearing into the kitchen.

Taylor shakes my hand and pulls me into a hug, and I do the same with Skar once we’re all inside.

“How are you feeling about the new job?” Skar asks as we travel toward the kitchen. He already knows how I feel about the matter, which is why I assume the question isn’t for me.

“Part of me is feeling nervous. My wife is definitely anxious about it. But we’re mostly excited,” Taylor answers as the kitchen island comes into view.

Char’s hands are covered in flour and pizza dough.

It’s as Taylor and I sit that I realize Skar’s dress shirt is rolled to his forearms. His slacks are covered in flour too. It’s been ages since I’ve seen him cook, and he casts me a knowing look as he saddles up behind his wife and sprinkles more flour over the counter.

“Is that enough?” he whispers.

“For now.” She bumps his chest with a shoulder, smiling without looking up.

Skar eyes me out of his peripheral, and I know it’s because I’m practically itching with impatience. My knee bounces beneath the kitchen island, another nasty habit I can’t seem to shake. But he doesn’t comment on it.

Instead, Skar glances at Taylor, his usual demeanor falling into place. “So, tomorrow’s the day. I heard you’re both going to be living part time at the penthouse. Aspen house fell through?”

Charlotte tenses, and I know the mention of Olivia is painful for her. From what I’ve heard, they haven’t spoken since Charlotte came back. But we move a few things into Olivia’s apartment later today, and I plan on installing some tech. After dinner later, it should be smooth sailing.

“Job will be fairly easy.” Taylor shrugs. “It’s just about finding a routine. Crew and I will trade off for now. We’ll see how it goes.”

Routine.

I’ll be glad when we both finally find one.

“How are you feeling about it?” Charlotte glances over the tubs of sliced veggies, meats, and cheeses she’s taken out of the fridge.

Her question is well-intentioned, but it also hints at the fact that everyone here knows how difficult the change is for me.

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