Page 74 of Sharing Shadow Secrets
“My fiancé. He’s a firefighter. They did a calendar shoot, and he’s August.”
“That’s cute! Can I have two waters, please?” As she pours me two glasses of water, I tap my phone, feeling anxious. It’s almost time to open the doors. My heart rate kicks up, and then I see Nicholas dressed as Santa. I deeply laugh, hoping Emily is Mrs. Claus.
I could take photos of them tonight and use it for promo for the next Christmas pop up.
“I see your wheels spinning, Taylor,” Nicholas says. “Emily and I are not dressing up for the next pop up.”
“Oh, come on!” I beg, and Claire slides the waters across the bar.
“Are we ready to open the doors?” Nicholas asks. Aaron and Claire nod from behind the bar. Then a couple of new people nod. Nicholas’s eyes lock with mine.
“Me and the vampire are ready,” I say, picking up the waters. Then I make my way back to Kyle. I kick the door a couple of times as a way of knocking.
“Trying to break the door down?” he asks with a laugh, opening it. He’s fully in costume, fangs and all. I extend a glass to him as I step in.
“My hands were full.” I blink a couple of times. The fangs are hot. Hotter than when I saw them in the photos.
He chuckles to himself, then taps his glass with mine. “Cheers.”
“Cheers to being the most hydrated ones here,” I quip.
“You’re not drinking?”
“Nah. I should stay fully alert.”
“This will be the first night I’ll ever fully remember at High Five,” Kyle says after a sip.
My mind drifts to how Kyle’s sober.Should I bring up Brandon?Do I need to bring up Brandon?
“You know …” Kyle starts, his big brown eyes glancing between each of mine. “We have a mutual friend.”
I giggle nervously at how we’re on the same wavelength.
“Ah.” He smiles, and we share a knowing glance. “Did he tell you I asked if you were single?”
“What?” I ask, the surprise making my pitch rise.I thought you liked guys!
“Oh …” Kyle shakes his head. “I just assumed since you knew who I was talking about that you two talked about me asking that.”
“I assumed some things too …”
“Like?” he asks, dragging out the word.
“I thought you were gay.” As I say it, I grimace.
Kyle chuckles. “You stalked me, huh?”
“Guilty.”
“I stalked you too, Taylor Williams.”
My heart’s racing, but no. You’re not flirting with Kyle Rathbone. “Well … you should know that Brandon and I are kind of dating now.”
“Fucking or dating?” he asks, too casually.
“It’s complicated … but not in the way you’re probably thinking. He wants me to be his girlfriend, and I told him once I have four clients, I’m ready. I have three and am anxiously awaiting a signature on a new client and then we’re going to be boyfriend and girlfriend.”
Way to overshare, Taylor.But he’s making me feel flustered. He’s just deeply staring at me.
