Page 50 of Tailored for Them

“I think his name is Tom,” I said.

Did she…not know I was friends with them?

“Tom!” She snapped her fingers, “Yes! I knew it was something basic like that. Anyway, did you know he and the drummer have been dating for years?”

Ididknow that.

Tom and Kyle were married as of last year.

Kyle dyed his hair purple for the occasion.

They both wore matching cream suits, and I might have shed a tear during Tom’s heartfelt vows.

“No way.” I grinned down at her, “That’s so cute.”

“I know. That’s actually how I discovered this band, I was watching the drummer and bassist do an interview together and—” Nicole turned to look up at me again under her lashes, “Sorry. I know the manly screaming music isn’t for everyone.”

“Their acoustic stuff is pretty good,” I shrugged under her.

“Oh, hard agree,” Nicole’s eyes brightened, “Wait, you listen to them, too?”

I stared at her for a moment, studying her face.

This entire conversation confused me.

NicolemetJosh.

At my rugby game all those weeks ago. Sure, he was wearing sunglasses and a baseball hat and a hoodie, specifically disguised tonotbe recognized by fans. But still. He had come to my games a few times before. I thought for sure word would get around about who he was.

I started mentally scanning conversations with everyone at rugby, realizing in that moment that—oh my god, I don’t think anyone hadrecognizedJosh yet.

Maybe that’s why he kept bringing Susie.

His anonymity there was still alive and well.

“Taylor?” Nicole asked, adjusting so she could look at me more directly, “You okay?”

“Oh yeah,” I blinked back to the present, “I listen to them. My friend got me into their music.” Technically, Beck got all of us into their music.

Nicole’s smile widened, “Oh my god! No way!” She shifted so that she sat up off me. I missed the feel of her warm body against mine, but watching her adjust her position so that she was on her knees next to me on the couch, excitement sparkling in her eyes, I decided to allow it. “Apparently, they haven’t toured for a couple of years. But there are rumors that they might tour again in a year or so—and I’ve never had anyone to go to those kinds of concerts with before—”

I cut her off by placing both of my hands on her cheeks, leaning in, and kissing her.

She kissed me back, both of her hands wrapping around my wrists as she let me interrupt her excitement by brushing my lips against hers. My tongue gently tasted her plump top lip, then I nipped at the bottom one, before I leaned back and looked her in the eye.

“I’d love to go with you to their concerts.”

Nicole likes Carbon Cut, so I added it to my mental Nicole jar.

Nicole’s smile widened, showing all of her teeth as she happily shimmied in her seat.

“I know it’s a little thing,” Nicole settled, scooting closer to me again so she could wrap her arms around my shoulders, “But this is cool for me. Dating someone with my same musical tastes…planning something like that with you so far in advance…”

“To be fair, I do prefer their acoustic stuff more than his screaming songs,” I brushed my nose against hers, “But I still appreciate the art. And,” I kissed her more intently, trying to force my seriousness from my lips to hers, before I pulled back and said, “I like that you’re planning things with me far inadvance. Because I want to plan things in advance with you, too.”

Nicole gently brushed my hair off my forehead before pressing a soft peck to my nose.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

---