Page 68 of The Princess

“You really don’t mind that I want to live alone?”

Damon leaned over and stole a kiss. “I want you to have what you need, and if that’s a place of your own, I support it a thousand percent. And so does Nash.”

“I do.” Nash met Damon’s gaze and pointed to the blanket at the other end of the couch. Damon grabbed it and hauled it over to cover Taylor with it.

Taylor yawned and sank into the blanket, pulling it up to his chin. “What I need is a nap, dinner, and more of that.”

“Whatever you need,” Damon promised.

CHAPTER 31

TAYLOR

Taylor was allergic to the gym, but for Colby, he could brave anything. Colby had texted him and practically begged him to come to the gym to meet him. It was Colby’s safe space. Taylor might have refused, but Colby had been MIA since he’d stepped in it with both feet.

At first, Taylor had been too full of anger to notice how weird it was to simply not talk to one of his brothers. But once the initial anger faded, Taylor was left with this odd-shaped hole in his life and he knew that he’d forgive his brother. He also knew that Colby was sorry because Colby wasn’t a mean person. He wasn’t the type to jump at someone and make accusations, but his papa bear instincts had been a little off and, well…everyone makes mistakes.

Taylor thought of tracking Colby down at home or asking him to come by the restaurant, but Taylor had talked himself out of seeking Colby out until Colby made the first move.

It had been a long time since Taylor had stepped foot in there, the last time being during Colby’s first ever CrossFit class, because he’d been worried that no one would show up. But his fears had been unfounded. Taylor had half-assed that class but still been brutally murdered by it.

The gym looked no different now. Nothing had changed except for the people who frequented the place. It was still intimidating, even though Taylor wasn’t there to work out. The tightness in his chest eased when he spotted Colby across the gym. He was talking to someone, probably a client, so Taylor leaned against the wall and waited for him to finish.

It took a few minutes for Colby to wrap things up before approaching Taylor. He looked sheepish and apologetic and a little bit happy to see Taylor.

“Hey, little brother.” Colby glanced at his watch. “Did you want to come to my office?”

Taylor nodded and set out after Colby, who hadn’t waited for Taylor’s answer before striding away. When Taylor entered Colby’s office, he stopped dead in his tracks. All the plants that he’d secretly sneaked in here, and into the main area of the gym, had been shuffled into the office. The entire space had been rearranged to allow the plants to have the natural light that came in the window.

Taylor dropped onto the couch and let himself stare at the plants. “You kept them.”

“I wasn’t going to just throw them out. That’s murder.”

Taylor laughed. “They’re only plants. It’s not actual murder.”

“It’s plant murder. Besides, they’re important to you.”

Taylor shrugged. They had been important to him. They still were. “It’s silly.”

“It’s not. Even if I’ll never understand the obsession.”

Taylor swallowed around a thick lump in his throat. “I don’t even know if it’s real, because we lost her when I was so young. But I remember being in a garden with her. Dig a hole. Plant a seed. Cover it up,” Taylor whispered. “I don’t even know if it’s a real memory, or just…wishful thinking.”

Colby moved next to Taylor and slung an arm around him, pulling him close. “We don’t talk about her enough, do we? I don’t remember a whole lot either, but Jonah and Dad do. We should’ve done better by you, and her, and talked about her more.”

“I didn’t want anyone to feel bad. Besides, I don’t really remember her, so it’s not like I miss her. Just…I guess I miss the idea of having those memories. I didn’t want to tell anyone why I started growing things in case you or Jonah or Dad told me that it never happened.”

“And now?”

“Now I don’t care. Well, I care a lot less. I want you to know that I’m not mad at you anymore and that I understand why you’re such an ass sometimes.”

Colby burst out laughing and his grip on Taylor tightened. “You’re an asshole, but I love you. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry I’m a meddling shithead and I’ll try to do better to stay out of your business. Because you’re a grown man and I need to come to terms with that.”

Taylor turned and looked at Colby, eyes narrowed. “Milo?”

Colby nodded. “He had a few choice words for me.”

Instead of chastised, Colby looked absolutely syrupy. It was clear to see that he was head over heels for Milo. Which made Taylor think of his own men.

---