Page 56 of Tailored for Them

My relationship with Taylor wasn’t athreatto any of that.

They were anadditionto all of my friendships.

It hit me then.

It caught me off guard. It happened so naturally.

I had friendships. Mine. Just because Leo and Jacqueline also happened to be friends with Taylor, it didn’t mean that they weren’t alsomyfriends. In my corner. Both could be true. The trauma of my past relationship made me want to draw all these clear lines in the sand, keeping my social circles perfectly organized so that if a hypothetical situation did arise, I’d be as protected as possible.

But…I was just holding myself back this whole time.

And Taylor was being so patient with me, too.

Even via text. They were giving me a chance to say I was busy with work by warning me what their intention was. To meet their friends.

I didn’t want to keep holding myself back. I couldn’t keep doing things scared. I needed to start doing things with a glass-half-full perspective.

So, I picked my phone up and replied to my partner.

Me: I can if you want me to.

Taylor: Obviously, I want you to.

I smiled, embracing the warm flutter in my stomach while reading their text.

Me: Then, obviously, I’ll be there.

The next text that came in was a picture of Taylor.

Their hair had grown long enough for them to tie into a ponytail on the back of their head, showing off their fresh fade. They were standing in their office at the clinic, giving the camera a silly smile with flexed nostrils and crazy eyebrows.

I barked a laugh before covering my mouth to smother the sound.

They were so unserious.

I glanced around my office before sitting in my desk chair and sending back a normal selfie. I angled my head to show off my good side. I kept the phone camera just below eye level, instead of high above my head like I used to do as a teenager. I smiled widely, letting my eyes crinkle a bit to show how their picture made me laugh.

I sent it.

They heart-reacted to it almost immediately.

Taylor: I love your smile lines.

My heart thumped in my chest.

Taylor Desmond had mastered the art of compliments. They gave them to me freely. As soon as the thought entered their head, they said it. I wasn’t used to it.

I loved it.

Me: I love getting your goofy selfies.

Taylor: Thank god. See you tonight, babe.

I sighed before setting my phone down and forcing myself to lock in for the rest of the day. I was experiencing the honeymoon phase with them. I was falling, quickly.

On paper, it all seemed way too fast.

But I didn’t want to care about that.

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