Page 109 of That: Taylor & Brooks

They stared for a moment, caught up in the swirl of constellations and floating angels, until Blake’s voice cut in, soft and slick.

She grinned; eyes locked on Taylor’s dress. “Y’all clean up nice. Okay, emerald. I see you.”

Blake and Emon had arrived earlier, already looking like the blueprint. Emon stood behind her with one arm casually around her waist like it was second nature. Blake, calm and proud, wore her joy like perfume. The four of them together didn’t just blend in; they elevated the entire room.

Taylor smiled. “That was all him,” she said, motioning to Brooks. Her mind drifted briefly to Denver and the whirlwind of what they’d built since.

“Yeah, I got good taste,” Brooks added with a grin, pulling out Taylor’s chair before joining the men who’d gathered near the bar. They’d been inseparable lately, talking strategy, family, and building quietly. It was something Blake and Taylor both noticed. A real bond.

“You two look like you own the whole city,” Blake whispered, clinking her glass of water against Taylor’s.

Taylor smirked. “Not yet. But he’s working on it.”

Blake tilted her head, eyes knowing. “Taylor, come on.Y’all. You’re already a Bishop. He just hasn’t said it out loud yet.”

Taylor laughed. “I’ll admit it, your brother shocked me. I knew he had money, but I didn’t know it was that kind of money. I met Elise in Denver. Private shopping, presidential suite. I felt like I was walking in a movie.”

“Oh, yeah he did his big one if you met Elise.”

“We need to go as couples. That trip changed my life. Or maybe it was just Brooks who did it.”

“Probably, both but I need to find out for myself. And just so you know, I stopped trying to keep track of his businesses after he opened the sixth ice station. He moves in silence. I let him. My brother knows what he’s doing.”

“Agreed, sis. He owns part of a strip club, which blew my mind,” Taylor said, lowering her voice.

Blake’s head snapped around. “He took you to The After?”

Taylor nodded, grinning. “He did. That place is exceptional. I had so much damn fun. Girl, I got a stage name and everything. That’s a secret between me and my man, though.”

“Okay. I’m gonna kick his ass. He didn’t tell me that.” Blake laughed. “Y’all out here living. I’m not mad at it, sis. I love it. I love y’all together, for real.”

Before Taylor could respond, the room dimmed. A hush fell across the crowd as a voice came over the speaker. Brooks and Emon made it to their seats next to their women just in time for the announcing of the evening’s awards.

Fifteen minutes later…

“And the recipient of this year’s Best Towing Service and Community Impact Contract is... Bishop Towing.”

Applause broke out, loud and genuine. Taylor stood Blake followed behind her, clapping hard as Brooks kissed her and made his way to the stage. Clean as a whistle. Unbothered. Every sacrifice he’d ever made was finally recognized by the very city that once tried to count him out.

“Brooks Bishop is not only the owner of Bishop Towing, but a man who has reinvested into the very streets that raised him. Community clean-ups and youth apprenticeship programs. this man is proof that good men and leaders still exist.”

Brooks took the stage and looked out at the crowd. His eyes landed on his woman and his family. She held so much adoration in her eyes, and that was the ultimate award. But he couldn’t sleep on his accomplishments because he could’ve gone down a completely different path, but he hadn’t. He was thankful.

“First, giving honor to God, I’m blessed to be here. Blessed to be of service to my community and men that look like me,” Brooks began, his deep voice commanding the room’s attention without effort. The microphone almost seemed unnecessary; his presence alone could fill the space.

“Today, Bishop Towing isn’t just fifteen trucks and a city contract. We’re thirty-five employees with healthcare and benefits. We’re scholarships for kids who might otherwise slip through the cracks. We’resecond chances for brothers coming home after paying debts that society never lets them finish paying. And we plan to do more, give more.”

The room had gone completely silent, captivated by the raw authenticity in his voice.

“I stand here tonight not just as a businessman, but as a son who accomplished what his father couldn’t. As a brother who believes in lifting as we climb. As a man who understands that true success isn’t measured by what you acquire, but by what you give back.”

Brooks gripped the sides of the podium, leaning in slightly as if sharing a truth too important to miss.

“This contract, this award, they matter. They represent hard work, dedication, and excellence. But what matters more is what we do with these opportunities. How we use them to create more doors, more windows, more pathways for those coming behind us.”

His voice softened, becoming more intimate despite the size of the room.

“I want to thank my family. My team at Bishop Towing, who put in the work every single day, rain, sleet, snow, or shine. The city officials who recognized that quality and community investment matter more than connections.”

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