Page 18 of Tailored for Them

I didn’t realize how thrilling the idea sounded to me until later, when I was fixing myself some dinner and heard my phone vibrate on my kitchen countertop.

An unknown number had just texted me.

I stopped what I was doing to swipe at the notification with trembling fingers.

Hey, it’s Taylor.

Chapter Six

TAYLOR

Me: Hey, it’s Taylor.

Me: I got your number from Jacqueline. I hope that’s okay.

Nicole: Hi! That’s okay (:

I drummedmy hands on the legs of my jeans, wondering how best to respond.

I never continued the conversation last night. Nerves coated my veins, and part of me was still struggling to figure outwhatexactly I wanted from this exchange.

“Hi T,” Violet Thompson’s voice echoed through my office, so I was already smiling by the time I turned around in my chair to greet her and little Gracie.

“Hi!” I jumped up from my chair, collecting Gracie’s favorite items from the cabinet while she and her mom settled around the little table in the center of the room. “Are you all packed and ready to go?”

“Almost,” Violet sighed as she watched her daughter dig her hands into her favorite sensory bin. Beans and rice, with little marbles for her to collect if she so desired. Gracie’s eyes lit up assoon as her little hands disappeared into the bin, so I took my time thinking about what I wanted to work on with her today.

“What else do you have to pack?” I asked.

“Just Gracie’s room. And the bathroom,” Violet sighed as she pulled her electric blue hair out of her ponytail and started to braid it, her green eyes on her daughter to ensure the little stinker didn’t shove any dried beans into her mouth, “The kitchen—oh, and my bedroom, I guess—”

“Don’t you live in a two-bedroom apartment?” I chuckled as I set my items on the table in front of Gracie and her mom before I took my own seat next to them, “Isn’t that just your whole apartment, then?”

“I guess one could argue that I haven’t started packing yet,” Violet gave me a sly smile as she slowly trailed her fingers in the sensory bin with her daughter, “But my dad has.”

“Good on Frank,” I smiled. I had only met her dad a couple of times over the years, but the man was a silver fox.

“He’s very excited,” Violet nodded. “Anyway, what do you have planned for us today?”

“I was thinking—” my phone buzzed on the tabletop. I became distracted as soon as I saw Nicole’s contact show up on it. I snatched the device in my hands, swiping the notification without thought.

Nicole: I just wanted to thank you for helping me deal with my ex the other day. You didn’t have to do that, but I appreciate it.

I stared at her message, wondering how to use this to keep the conversation going.

“Who’s that?” Violet asked over her daughter’s blonde head. I jerked my gaze up from my phone to see her not-so-subtly peering to look at my phone screen.

“It’s Nic—” I cut myself off. Nicole was Violet’s superior. She worked at the same company as Leo and Jacqueline. Was this what it was like dating in your late thirties? Everyone knowing everyone?

“Nick?” Violet asked.

I stared at her for another moment.

To tell her, or not to tell her?

I shook my head; I was a grown adult.

“It’s Nicole,” I cleared my throat as heat stained my cheeks from the admission.Fuck. I never blushed like this.

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