Page 10 of Tailored for Them

Colleen’s brows lifted after seeing Sarah’s reaction, “Really?”

“I mean, can you blame me?” Taylor laughed, using their free hand to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear, letting the cool air hit my blazing hot cheek, “I tried to wear her down, but you know Nicole.” Taylor gave Colleen a look as if they were both inon some kind of well-known knowledge about me. Based on the way Colleen nodded, I realized exactly what Taylor meant earlier when they said they were good with exes. “She wasn’t about to settle. Either I needed to step up and be with her or let her seriously date other people. But I couldn’t just let a woman like her go.”

I blushed at their words, knowing it was all a lie, but they warmed my heart regardless. “Stop it.” I rolled my eyes and gave Taylor a playful shove. They responded by taking a finger and tracing the shape of my jaw, before turning my head to face them directly.

Their expression was soft; their deep blue eyes darted between both of mine in what I later realized was a check-in before they pecked the tip of my nose with their lips.

I practically swooned.

“…You, Taylor Desmond, are monogamously dating one person?” Sarah lifted an incredulous eyebrow, her lips stiff in a way that reminded me how I felt a few moments ago, “Really?”

“I can’t believe it either,” I gave Sarah a wide-eyed look, “It still feels like I’m dreaming.”

“But Taylor doesn’t seem like your usual type,” Colleen was practically frowning now.

I froze.

Taylor froze.

How dare she?

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“It’s just—” Colleen shrugged her shoulders, her facial expression much less amused as she studied the two of us, “They don’t seem like your type. You’ve always liked femmes, Nic.”

Like her, she meant.

I gaped, ready to rip into Colleen for being an insecure mean girl when Taylor squeezed me against them once more andmurmured, “Wow. At least Nicole had the decency to wait until I was comfortable bringing up my gender identity myself.”

Behind us, I thought I heard Leo snort.

“Youcan call me Nicole.” I reached over and wrapped an arm around Taylor’s waist, too, trying to claim them as much as they were claiming me right now, “And you have no idea what my type is.”

“We dated for a year,” Colleen gave me a sad, fake smile, “I know you.”

“I’m sorry,” Taylor lifted a hand between us, “You’re telling me that you had this goddess of a woman for a year, and you still managed to fuck it up? What did you do?” Then they looked directly at Sarah, and I held in a gasp.

Colleen’s jaw dropped, and Sarah glanced down as an embarrassed flush stained her cheeks.

“I think we should get back to our friends,” I gestured behind me, where Jacqueline and Leo sat watching this train wreck of a conversation, “It was…something, seeing you.” I went to pull Taylor with me, encouraging the two of us to return to our seats.

“I didn’t mean to offend you,” Colleen stepped forward, ignoring when Taylor and I sat down. She practically towered over us, “I’m just surprised to see you with someone like…them.” She was blushing, and it took me a second to realize it, but Colleen was embarrassed.

Not me, Colleen.

As she fucking should be.

“Well, youdidoffend me. And Taylor.” I rested my hand on their thigh again, and they returned their arm to the back of my chair. “You lost the right to know anything about me or my partners as soon as you brought another person into our bed without my consent. Goodbye.”

Leo let out a low whistle, and Taylor silently took a sip of their beer. Everyone at the table was looking at Colleen and Sarah, the former slowly inching away as if she wanted to escape.

Colleen opened her mouth again, but I turned away.

Not toward our friends, but to Taylor specifically.

They had just placed their bottle of beer on the tabletop before turning to face me too, a delighted sparkle in their eyes that quickly morphed into surprise when both of my hands cupped their face.

Then, without any warning, I pulled their mouth to mine.

---