“You have two friends named Taylor?” I take the woman’s hand in mine. “I’m bad with names. I call my own sister-in-law Debbie.”
Taylor’s eyes flicker with curiosity. “Her name is not Debbie?”
“No. Her name is Christabelle.” I look past the pair, searching. “Where’s the other Taylor?”
“There is no other Taylor.” Raquel pulls the black-gowned woman closer, twining their fingers together. “This is the only Taylor in my life.”
“You’re embarrassing yourself, Minnnka.” Archer drapes his arm over my shoulders. “Try again.”
“I don’t…” I look from one woman to the other. From blinding, bright blue eyes, to a pair verging toward gold. “You said you were bringing Taylor to the wedding.”
“She brought Taylor to the wedding,” Taylor snickers. “I’mTaylor.”
“But you’re a woman.” I swing my gaze up to Archer. “She’s a woman.”
His cheeks blaze with the laughter he keeps trapped in the depths of his chest. “Astute observation. You’ve got the dots, babe. Now connect them.”
It’s like lightning bolts slamming into my chest, a ferocious gasp bursting along my throat as realization hits me. Then I look at the pair again. “Oh! You’re Taylor!”
“There it is,” Archer chuckles. “Proud of you, Chief.”
“Taylor’s a woman! You’re Taylor, and Taylor’s a woman.” I shake her hand, like the intensity of my grip could somehow fix the foot lodged deep in my mouth. “I assumed Taylor was a man, but I don’t… I didn’t…” My eyes flare wide. “I’m not homophobic or anything! I swear.”
“She’s not,” Archer snickers. “Just socially inept.”
“Eli is a dude, and he’s into dudes! I went to their wedding a few months back, so it’s not like I don’t like dudes who like dudes or chicks who like chicks.”
“You can stop now?—”
“Just caught me by surprise, is all.” Warmth floods my cheeks, mercilessly humiliating me. “You’re a woman!”
Taylor’s eyes dance with humor. “I am. And I suppose this is the first time you’ve been made aware that Raquel dates women.”
“You’re a very pretty woman.”Shut up, shut up, shut up! “Aesthetically speaking, your bone structure implies strong, almost Nordic beginnings. Your face is symmetrical. Traditionally, that’s a sign of beauty. And your eyes are lovely. Your family bred well a hundred years ago. It’s not that I?—”
“You can stop now.” Archer wraps his arm around and claps his hand over my lips. “Shhhhh.”
Oh, thank God.
“She gets nervous meeting new people.” He extends his free hand and takes Taylor’s. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard wonderful things.”
“Mmmhm.” A soft blush works along her chest. “Nice to meet you, too, Detective.”
“I didn’t know,” I mumble behind Archer’s hand. His intrusive palm makes my words garble together until they sound like ‘I-ddn-knw’.
“She has gay friends,” Archer adds. “She’s totally fine with it.”
“Feel like I was set up.” ‘Fel-li-wuz-sedup.’ I hit Doctor Raquel with a fiery glare, and, grabbing on to Archer’s hand, I drag it down until my mouth is free. “You purposely didn’t sayheorshethis whole time. You knew I assumed she was a dude. In fact, you didn’t correct me when I calledherahe. You’re testing me.”
“Having a little fun, mostly.” She flashes a taunting smile and presses a kiss to Taylor’s knuckles. “Knew you’d fumble it, no matter who I introduced you to. Even warned her you’d make a dick of yourself.”
“She did,” Taylor agrees playfully. “She made me promise not to be offended. Something about a pure heart, but a brain that struggles to adapt to the unexpected.”
“You’re an asshole.” I glare at Raquel. “You think I’m not already stressed enough?! I have stitches in my knee, an old man healing from a heart attack, a husband who thinks he’s a know-it-all, and a brother-in-law who has been staring at my tits all night.”
“Aesthetically…” Taylor looks straight down at my rack. “I mean…”
Archer guffaws.
