Page 9 of The Princess

“No, Taylor.” Damon raked his hand through his hair. “I like you. I can’t think straight around you. You make me stupid. You’re so…and you make me…and I just…”

Taylor couldn’t wrap his head around what Damon was trying to say.

“I’m not sure I follow. You’re going to have to finish one of those sentences.”

Damon’s face was eight shades of red and only two or three were because of the cold.

“You’re so fucking pretty, Taylor. I can’t think around you. I feel like an asshole, like one of those idiot kids who pulls girls’ pigtails to get their attention because they were taught that being mean is a way of showing affection.”

“Wait.” Taylor shook his head. “Wait, wait, wait. You like me? Like…like me?”

“Don’t sound so incredulous, Taylor. What’s not to like? You’re smart and gorgeous, and you’re nice to everyone, and you have this uncanny ability to make anything grow. You’re like magic or something.”

Taylor gaped at Damon. “I think that’s the most nice things you’ve ever said to me.”

“I know. Because I’m an idiot. I don’t know how to act around you. I wanted to tell you so many times how nice you looked, or how brave I thought you were, but I didn’t want anyone to see through me, you know.” Damon hugged himself against the cold wind.

Taylor did know. He might not understand Damon’s exact reasons, but he knew a thing or two about hiding things from people. Just because you had a truth didn’t mean you were ready to speak it. It had taken Colby’s assistance to get Taylor to take that first step into being who he wanted to be. And he was still a work in progress. So he understood that sometimes you knew things and felt things and weren’t necessarily ready to talk about it.

“I forgive you.”

“There’s more.” Damon met Taylor’s gaze. “I want—I mean…I’m with Nash.”

Taylor rolled his eyes. “That’s not the secret you think it is.”

At Damon’s alarmed expression, Taylor softened his voice. “I figured it out when I saw you and Nash kiss.”

Damon sighed in relief. He took a step closer. “I talked to Nash about this. I talk to him about everything. I’d like to take you out. On a date. A real one.”

“And Nash is okay with this?”

“Nash and I are together, but we have rules about things. And we’re allowed to see other people.”

“And you want to see me?”

Damon nodded. “I do. I’m sorry I was a bastard to you. I want to take you out, but not because I was a bastard to you. I want to take you out because I like you.”

“And you don’t care that I’m your best friend’s little brother?”

Damon snorted. “I could take Jonah with my hands behind my back. And Nash would run interference with Colby. It’s fine. You’re a risk I’m willing to take.”

If Taylor hadn’t been sitting down, he would’ve fallen over. From inside the diner, Taylor heard his dad calling for him about an order.

“My break is over.” Taylor got to his feet and stared at Damon. “I feel like I’ve stepped into an alternate universe.”

Taylor couldn’t confess that he’d liked Damon since the moment he met him. He was suddenly at war with himself because he didn’t want to mess things up for Damon and Nash. Or Damon and his brother. Or for anyone.

“Don’t say no.” Damon surged forward and grabbed one of Taylor’s wrists. He looked down at his hand, as if he was just as surprised as Taylor that he’d done it.

Taylor opened his mouth, but Damon didn’t give him a chance to say anything.

“One date. One. One chance. Okay?”

For better or worse, Taylor couldn’t say no to Damon. Not when he was so fucking earnest and almost desperate. Not when it looked like Damon would fracture if Taylor refused him. Taylor could take any amount of personal suffering, but the idea of being the cause of Damon’s was too much.

“Text me later, okay?”

Damon smiled so bright it was like the clouds parting and the sun coming out. “That’s not a no.”

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