Page 62 of Tailored for Them

“I do, too.”

“Does this have a special meaning?” Susie asked. I shrugged.

“It means the drawing was cute and I wanted it on my body forever.”

“So can I copy it?” Susie asked me.

I laughed at her question before replying, “Um, sure.”

At that, Susie reached into her school bag she had with her and pulled out a pen, before holding it out to her dad. Josh sighed, handing the baby back to Courtney, before uncapping the pen and getting to work on his daughter’s request. She held her arm out for him while smiling up at me.

Joshua Madey is drawing my tattoo on his daughter’s arm.

“Oh my god, wait—” Courtney sat up straighter, looking intently over my shoulder, “Are you Signe Lange?”

“Stop it,” Signe replied, “Youknow whoIam?”

“I’m obsessed with your book!” Courtney lit up, adjusting her baby in her lap, “You’re friends with Eloise St. James, right? She told me to read your book, and I’msoglad I did!”

“Wait, really?” Josh glanced up from his drawing, “What’s the title?”

“Stop it right now!” Signe exclaimed. I looked over my shoulder, keeping my arm visible for Josh to view for reference, and saw Signe tugging at the collar of her sweater and hiding her face behind it.

Jacqueline and I shared a laugh, and the rest of the evening settled in like that. Me, geeking out over a famous musician drawing my tattoo on his daughter. His wife, Courtney, geeking out over meeting Signe Lange, her new favorite romance author.

Taylor checked in every few minutes as they took a water break, smiling brightly at the sight of all of us mingling. I tried to see it through their eyes, how it would feel to have everyone from different worlds come together. To support them like this.

This wasbig, I realized.

They weren’t just introducing me to their friends; they were introducing me to a very vulnerable friendship. They weretrustingme with the knowledge ofwhothey were friends with.

Taylor felt safe sharing their people with me.

Something warm bloomed in my chest, and I found myself slightly less interested in the rockstar beside me and moreinterested in my partner running around on the field, outdoing so many men on their team with their speed.

I needed to tell them tonight.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t scared to.

In fact, I was really looking forward to it.

Chapter Seventeen

TAYLOR

Nicoleand I walked into my apartment together later that night. We weren’t as chatty as we normally were, but I decided to give her some grace, considering who she just met today.

“Are you doing all right?” I asked, resting a hand on her back as she slid her sneakers off.

“Yeah, yeah.” She shook her head, before a giggle escaped her lips, “Oh my god. I just met Joshua Madey from Carbon Cut.”

“And his wife and kids,” I added, delighted that she was thrilled about the surprise.

“I just—,” Nicole’s dark eyes widened at me, “I feel so honored.”

I raised an eyebrow at her, “Honored?”

“Yeah.” She set her bag on the ground and stepped toward me. I was sweaty and disgusting, with a few grass stains on my shorts and knees. “You shared some special people with me.”

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