Page 34 of That: Taylor & Brooks

Staying in.

Laying her out like a gift and unwrapping every inch of her. But she wasn’t ready for that.

“You look beautiful,” he said, voice fading. “And this…”

He reached out, fingers grazing the ends of her freshly cut hair.

“I like that shit. It’s sexy as hell.”

She leaned into his touch, her face turningslightly until her cheek rested against his palm. The simple gesture made his heart jump. Every time she looked up at him through those lashes, his body responded, his mind got loud.

She stepped back, smoothing her hand over her hip. “You’ve got good taste,” she said. “Though you already knew that when you dropped it off.”

He smiled, chest rising with that slow pride he didn’t bother hiding around her.

“But full disclosure,” she added, glancing up at him, “I was gonna look good regardless. It’s my birthday. The big three four.”

He blinked. “Your what?”

“My birthday,” she said it too casually, like it hadn’t hurt her to admit.

“I wasn’t gonna say anything. Didn’t want it to turn into a thing.”

Brooks tilted his head, stepping in just a little closer. “Too late. It’s officially a thing now.”

He wanted to ask why she didn’t say anything. Why she hadn’t told him it was her birthday. He could’ve pressed her about the new haircut, the way her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

But he didn’t need to.

He watched her closely instead—saw it in her shoulders, the way she moved with more confidence, she was arriving, more intentional.

And even without a word, he knew today had meant more than she let on.

He didn’t need the details. Just knew he was supposed to honor the moment and share it with her.

Brooks stood there for a beat too long, fighting the knot forming in his chest. That shit hit him harderthan it should’ve. Not because it was her birthday, but because she didn’t feel like it mattered enough to say it. He didn’t want to become just another man she couldn’t trust with the softest parts of herself.

“I mean... you did plan the whole night,” she said with a small shrug. “So I guess you were kind of on to something.”

He leaned in, brushing his lips against her cheek.

“Tay... I would’ve moved mountains if I’d known. But it’s alright. I’ll make it up to you.”

“Thank you, but you’ve already done enough.” she whispered. “And you look good, Brooks.”

His eyes stayed locked on her. Her haircut was robbing him of his focus.

“Tay, I love this hair. Forgive me.”

“No, I’m glad you like it. I was nervous about cutting it. But it was time,” she said inadvertently touching it herself.

She’d woken up on something new. She’d spent her morning cutting ties with everything that no longer served her, cleaning her home from top to bottom, replacing old energy with new, buying herself things she didn’t need but deserved. Hell, she even called Blake for a last-minute chop, needing her outside to match what was shifting inside. And he was making sure she knew her day hadn’t been in vain. She wasn’t playing anymore, and he could feel it.

“You ready?”

“Where are we going?” She asked, curious but smiling.

“You’ll see.”

---