Page 52 of Then There Was You

“You can have that, Seb. Hell, you might have already met that person and you’re just too terrified to acknowledge it.”

“No, Nash.”

“I think you’re in denial.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” My voice is tinged with annoyance, and I know Nash hears it when he raises his hands.

“Okay. Okay.” He takes a pull of his beer before placing the empty bottle on the table. “So, if Jackson asked me to give Taylor his number, you’d be okay with that?”

My jaw clenches, and the hand that isn’t holding my beer balls into a fist.

“Didhe ask you to give her his number?”

“Yes. He’s spent the last week asking me questions about her.”

“What did you tell him?”

He smiles knowingly. “Not much. I don’t know a lot about her. Why are you bothered?”

“I’m not,” I lie.

It’s not as though I can say Jackson is an asshole. He’s not. He’s a great guy. I’ve known him for years and we’re friends. He grew up in Hope Creek and drinks in Eden sometimes. I don’t want him to go out with Taylor, though, but that’s not my decision to make. We’re not together. She can do what she wants.

“I’ll give her his number, then.”

“You do that.”

“You’re an idiot, Seb.”

“Thanks! Do you want another drink?” I ask, trying to move the conversation along.

“No. Looks like the girls are ready.”

He’s looking past me, and I follow his gaze. My heart thunders in my chest and all the air rushes from my lungs as I watch Taylor walk toward us. She’s wearing an electric-blue pencil dress that falls a few inches past her knees. The material hugs her body in all the right places, and she looks nothing short of incredible. The dress has a deep V at the front, and I can’t take my eyes off the swell of her breasts that are escaping the material. I swallow thickly as my mind takes me back to how it felt to roll and pinch her nipples between my fingers. Despite the material of the dress covering her, I know exactly what’s hidden underneath, and it’s etched into my mind no matter how hard I try to push it away. It’s always there. Front and center.

“All of Wyatt’s teammates are going to be falling over themselves with her looking like that,” Nash mutters as Taylor and Paisley stop in front of us. I have no idea what Paisley’s wearing. It could be a trash bag for as much notice as I’ve taken. I can’t drag my eyes off Taylor long enough to look. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Nash pull Paisley into his arms, leaving Taylor standing alone.

“What do you think?” Taylor asks, spinning in a circle, her curled hair fanning out as she turns.

I can’t get my brain to function enough to pull a sentence together, so I continue to stare at her.

“Is it that bad?” she asks with a giggle.

Her laughter pulls me from my daze. “God, no! You look beautiful, Tay.”

Her cheeks flush pink. “Thank you.”

I can’t help but think Nash is right. I’ve been out with Wyatt after a game enough times to know how his teammates act around women. Although it’s normally the women falling over themselves to get close to the players, Taylor won’t be like that. I know for sure guys will be hitting on her, though, especially in that dress. I’m going to need more alcohol.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

Taylor

“Ican’t believe how busy it is for a Thursday night. I’m glad we don’t have to wait in line,” I say, shivering as we walk past a huge crowd of people waiting to get inside.

Seb chuckles. “Getting used to the VIP treatment already?”

I laugh. “I’m just cold. I should have brought a jacket.”

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