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“It’s nothing,” he said, holding the phone to his side. “Do you need any help?”

“Nope, just bringing up some cheese and grapes sound good?”

“Perfect.” He took them from her, and they headed back upstairs.

Did he have an alarm set to call her? He had been so attentive this time. Was it because he set an alarm and not that he was thinking about her? No. That was not a thought spiral she was going to go down. She was going to enjoy her time with him while she could.

The next morning, they woke up slowly in bed together. His phone alarm went off, and she happened to glance at. It was called “Good Morning, Rainbow.” And it was right around the time she got her good morning texts. His eyes flew to her, and he saw her peeking at the screen. With a sheepish expression, he bit his lip.

“Did you set an alarm to remember to call me?”

There was something in that that made her bristle. He needed to be reminded to think of her.

He nodded and eyed her carefully.

She nodded and moved away from him. She was so confused.

“Alice,” he said, reaching for her. “I promise, you’re important to me.”

She nodded again. “And that’s why you set the alarm?”

The relief of his face was clear.

“Yeah, I know I can get wrapped up in things, but you are a priority. This was my way of making you that priority.”

“Oh.”

When he put it that way, it wasn’t so bad. In fact, when she thought about it like that, it made her smile. It wasn’t that he didn’t care enough to remember but rather that he knew his tendency to hyperfocus and stick to the routine he’s had for years. He’d taken action to make sure she didn’t feel neglected. Their relationship might be different from what she thought it would be, but it was better that she could have dreamed.

He slid his arms around her, pulling her to him. A grin spread across his face as he pulled his hand out from under her pillow... holding her rainbow unicorn dildo.

“Hello, old friend,” he said with a smile. “What do ya say?” he asked her with a wag of his eyebrows.

“Just kiss me already,” she said, reaching for him.

“With pleasure,” he said before getting lost in her kiss.

She had waited her whole life for someone who made her feel the way Taylor did, and it was even better than she could have imagined.

33

Alice

Alice was walking into a little Italian bistro the day after the team left for their West Coast road trip. She was sad Taylor was leaving again, but she just reminded herself this was part of it, and this would be a good time to focus on her art.

But with dread, she was looking for her mother and sister.

“Alice, over here,” her mom called.

She made her way through the crowded restaurant to her mother and sister. She wasn’t really looking forward to this. When Taylor had asked her if she was like him, it had been a moment of awakening for her. Maybe there was something to it. It definitely explained how she felt, but a nagging voice told her he was wrong, and she just needed to work harder. And that voice sounded a lot like her mother’s.

“Hi, sweetheart. I’m so glad we were finally able to make this work. I don’t feel like I’ve seen you at all lately,” said her mom as she stood to envelop Alice in a hug.

Yeah, thought Alice,that was on purpose.

“I’ve just been busy with work,” Alice said cheerfully.

She slid into the booth across from her mother and sister. Both women looked polished. Her mother sat across from her, whose blonde bob was perfectly styled, wearing a navy and white striped sweater. Her sister’s dark-brown hair pulled back in a flawless ponytail wearing a light blue button-down shirt. While Alice wore a vintageMy Little PonyT-shirt and a purple cardigan. The difference between them was noticeable, and for once, Alice felt okay about it.

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