Page 6 of Tailored for Them

I first met Taylor weeks ago at a girls’ night I attended at Signe’s apartment. They had shown up with another friend of Signe’s, only briefly, and the studio apartment suddenly felt too small.

It was the first time I felt attracted to someone since my breakup.

I didn’t think Taylor noticed me that night. There was some drama unfolding, and they quickly excused themselves to let us brainstorm with Jacqueline about what to do for Leo. But then Taylor and I officially met later at Laguna field, when they set up a speaker for Jacqueline to use while she danced her love for Leo.

Violet, another coworker of ours, also already knew Taylor. Her daughter had worked with them for a few years. So, whenthey brought up the fact that they were an occupational therapist earlier, I already knew about that.

I realized then that I probably shouldn’t pursue anything with them. Our friend circles were already too intertwined. If we started dating and broke up, I could lose these friendships I’d made with my coworkers. Our workdays could end up tense and weird. Uncomfortable. I didn’t want to risk losing what friendships I barely had over a broken romantic relationshipagain.

Obviously, this was assuming that Taylor reciprocated any attraction toward me. This was also assuming that their hypothetical attraction could lead to something more, because in my big fat romantic brain, attractionalwaysled to big feelings and love confessions.

But I enjoyed talking with Taylor, because I appreciated the sound of their voice. It was a warm, soft voice that soothed me.

However, I was fresh out of the mourning stage of my breakup. Just barely considering putting myself out there again. Taylor, however, seemed so confident in a way I couldn’t put into words. It was almost too intimidating, but against my better judgment, they thrilled me. I wasn’t sure if it was my hormones taking over or if it was my personal intuition, but Taylor seemed like the kind of person who knewexactlywhat they were doing in the bedroom.

I wondered if they triggered this visceral reaction in everyone around them, or if it was just me.

Was I ready for someone like Taylor Desmond?

Definitely not, I thought to myself.

“Here you go,” the waiter returned with a fresh bowl of guac, and I sat straighter in my seat. We were all sharing a four-person table, each of us taking a side.

“Let me just—” Taylor had a smile on their face as they swapped out the half-eaten bowl of guac in front of me and replaced it with the full one.

Embarrassment immediately flooded my cheeks, “Oh, that’s okay, I don’t—”

“Please,” Taylor shook their head, their dark blue eyes dragged over me in a way that heated my core, “Have at it.”

I pressed my lips together, glancing at Leo and Jacqueline, who also seemed happy to finish off the half-empty bowl while I started on the fresh one.

“Thanks,” I murmured before accepting my fate. I was more than willing to fill up on guac in between sips from my margarita. I took a drink, trying to focus back on the conversation.

“I still don’t understand,” Jacqueline frowned. Leo and Taylor were desperately trying to explain to her what “scrum” was in the game. I was confused too, because I knew nothing about rugby. Leo tried connecting it to software development scrums, like what the engineers at work did.

But Jacqueline was in HR, and I was the CFO.

We weren’t involved in any program development at all.

So, we were still lost.

Taylor started grabbing bottles of hot sauce to explain what had happened during their match, and I grinned before the sound of laughter sent cold chills down my spine.

I knew that high-pitched laugh.

Colleen was here.

I froze with a chip halfway to my mouth.

She was off to the side somewhere, and my head swiveled in her direction before I could stop myself. Colleen and Sarah were at the bar, sipping cocktails and having a great time together.

Shit.

Fuck.

Shit-fuck.

I lowered my chip, suddenly sick to my stomach.

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