Page 38 of Sharing Shadow Secrets
“That was great,” he says, happiness radiating from him. “Take as long as you need to get ready.” He picks up my blocks and his blocks, then returns them to their area. I check him out, considering this is what having a boyfriend is like. Doing things like this together. Regular day-to-day stuff.
26
Waiting for Taylor in the lobby, I try to catch up on a few articles, but I can’t get over the energy between us. We could do this every Saturday. Have this tradition of yoga, then brunch. I want that.
Taylor steps out of the locker room in a tennis skirt with a baggy T-shirt tucked in. Her hair is still damp and curly. She’s gorgeous.
“Ready for brunch?” I ask, reaching for her hand. She nods, adjusting the strap of her tote bag, and I pull her into me. I grab the back of her thigh and lean down to give her a quick kiss. “You never told me where we’re going,” I tease.
“Looks like you’ll have to let me lead.” She winks and squeezes my hand as we leave the studio.
Walking down the sidewalk in the Old Town neighborhood, traffic is nearly bumper to bumper as we pass storefronts and restaurants and dodge women pushing strollers.
“I’m getting the French toast,” Taylor says as we approach a restaurant with a sign of a gigantic piece of toast extending from the wall. “It’s my favorite.”
I feel euphoric, like I’m almost watching us from another person’s perspective. This is what a normal relationship is like. This is what it’s supposed to feel like. No chaos, just calm.
“Patio?” Taylor asks, bringing me back to the moment.
“Always.”
A hostess leads us to an open table on a crowded patio, the buzz of their conversations humming loudly. Passing various plates, this looks like a casual spot. We’re seated next to the barricade since the patio extends into the street. There’s only one hundred days of summer in Chicago and everyone takes it seriously. Scanning the menu, it’s a mix of healthy and comfort foods.
“What are you up to after this?” I ask.
Taylor cocks her head. “Aren’t we going to keep hanging?”
“If you want to,” I say easily, hoping she does.
“I want to.”
“My place then?” I ask, sensing she’s just as horny as I am.
“Do you have roommates?”
“No. I have a three-bedroom condo all to myself in River North.”
“Must be nice to live alone … And that seems like the best choice, then.”
I chuckle, and my phone buzzes in my pocket. Sliding it out, I freeze seeing the text displayed on the screen.
Kate Albert
She’s pretty.
I sharply inhale and turn off my phone. I sip my water and take a quick glance around the patio. I don’t see her, but my heart is nearly beating out of my chest. I look over my shoulder, glancing at the sidewalk and cars. Kate is absolutely not meeting Taylor. And I don’t want Taylor to meet Kate.
Taylor’s brows furrow. “Why did you turn your phone off?”
“Because I don’t want to be distracted,” I say with a noticeable edge.
Her finger plays along her lip before she asks, “Who texted you?”
“My ex.”
“Oh …”
The last thing I want is Kate’s dark cloud to turn this perfect day into a thunderstorm.
