Page 12 of The Princess

“I promise I am,” Nash reassured him.

After another couple minutes, he was finally able to get Damon at ease enough to get off the phone and go shopping for a gift for Taylor. Nash thought it was sweet the way Damon was so excited about his date.

An introvert by nature, it wasn’t unusual for Nash to spend the entire week in his apartment. It was why he went to the gym with Colby and why fire nights at the Bennett’s were so important to him. It was also why he didn’t do things like get grocery delivery. He realized that while he might do fine on his own, that not leaving his apartment was a very easy habit to get into.

Nash stuffed his feet into his sneakers and grabbed his keys off the counter. He didn’t need to shop yet, but he did need something to keep himself occupied so he didn’t spend the whole day staring at the clock, waiting to hear from Damon.

Growing up, Nash had spent a lot of time in the kitchen with his mom. She was one of those annoying people who could bake anything and have it look as delicious as the picture in the cookbook. Nash didn’t inherit her talent, but he wasn’t half bad. He also hadn’t baked anything in years.

He hadn’t stopped for any particular reason. There was no traumatic story to tell about why he quit. It was just a casualty of life and time and priorities. But Nash suddenly wanted something to give his attention to. Something, unlike his writing, that came with actual instructions. Something more instantly gratifying than penning a 100,000-word novel.

Nash was in the baking aisle of the grocery store when his phone started to blow up. He pulled it out of his pocket, expecting to see Damon’s name, but instead it was Taylor’s.

Judging from the frantic one- and two-word sentences, Taylor was mid-crisis about going out on a date with Damon. Nash hit the call button and waited for Taylor to pick up.

“Oh, my God, who still calls people?” Taylor answered. “That’s what texting is for.”

“Taylor, I want to tell you the same thing I told Damon earlier today. Are you listening?”

He heard Taylor take a deep breath. “Okay. I’m listening. Even though this conversation could have been a text.”

“I’m fine with you and Damon going out. I’m fine with whatever happens between the two of you so long as it’s safe and sane and consensual.”

“Oh, God, that sounds so fucking dirty!” Taylor sounded scandalized.

“Damon and I have talked about this long before today. We’ve always been open to dating other people, but there hasn’t been anyone worth it. Until now.”

“Oh.” Taylor exhaled. “Okay. But…are you sure? I saw you kiss one time, and you were sorta super into it.”

“Taylor, it’s fine. I’m fine. I want you and Damon to have a great time, okay? Don’t worry about me. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“But thanks for checking in,” Nash went on to say. “I appreciate it.”

“Thanks for…letting me date your boyfriend.” Taylor laughed. “That sounds so weird. Okay, I need to get ready. Now that I know you’re really okay with it.”

“I am.”

“Nash?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks.” Taylor ended the call and Nash tucked his phone away, only to have it buzz a minute later.

I still say it could’ve been a text

but thanks for calling

xo

Nash texted back, telling Taylor again to have a great time. Nash paid for his groceries and went home determined to keep his mind off Damon and Taylor and their date. He wasn’t successful, but at least his cookies were. And if he spent most of the night watching the clock, at least no one was there to call him on it.

CHAPTER 6

DAMON

He couldn’t be late. That was the thing that had run through his mind half the day. And the closer it got to the time he was supposed to pick Taylor up, the more he thought about it. That was how Damon ended up parked around the corner from the Bennett’s house at twenty to six. It was too early to show up, but now at least the goblin in Damon’s brain was satisfied that he wasn’t going to be late.

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