I shiver and shove him away. “Now you sound like a fuckboy.”
He laughs, stepping back. “Okay, well you better take a cold shower when you get home.”
“Fuck you,” I say, shoving him playfully.
“I meant for your muscles, girl. Damn, what did you think?” he says, making me laugh. “I tell you what… How about you go out with me on a date?” He tosses the question that I’ve been wanting him to ask me for a few years out there so casually.
“I’m not sure dating my personal trainer will be smart. What if we have a bad date, and then he takes it out on my body during our next workout?” I’m pulling out my vixen side and playing with fire.
“I think you and I both know that the date will go well.” Taylor takes a step closer to me and continues in a whisper, “So well in fact, if I take anything out on your body, it’ll definitely be enjoyable.”
Fuck me runnin’!
Chapter 5
Taylor
The moment I push through the heavy, wooden door of Mickey's, I feel like an old friend is greeting me. I scan the pub, spotting Tyler and Jordan sitting at our usual table.
"Taylor! Over here, big guy," Tyler hollers over the noise of the sports playing on the televisions hanging throughout the pub.
"Hey, man," I reply, giving him a solid pat on the back before turning to Jordan. She offers a smile. "Jordan," I greet, and she stands to give me a brief, warm hug.
"Excited much?" Tyler teases, eyeing the bounce in my step. He leans back into the booth; there's a sharpness in his gaze. He knows me too well.
"Can't help it," I admit, sliding into the seat across from them. The old wood of the chair creaks under my weight. "I need this first date with Harper to be spot-on."
"Yes you do," Jordan chimes in. "Harper's lucky to have someone who cares so much about making it special."
Before we dive into planning strategies, Peyton arrives, notepad and pen in hand. Peyton is the girlfriend of my teammate and friend, Reed Anderson. She’s also the pub’s owner Mickey’s daughter and the sole reason that the media is not allowed in this establishment. If they dare to enter, she scares them off with that shotgun hanging above the bar. "Hey, Taylor, the usual?" she asks.
"Sounds good, thanks, Peyton." I nod, glancing over at my friends. "You guys sticking with the usual too?"
"Sure am," Tyler confirms, and Jordan nods her agreement.
"Coming right up," Peyton says before turning to fetch our drinks.
"Alright, let's get down to business," I say once Peyton is out of earshot. I lean in closer, lowering my voice despite the privacy Mickey's offers. "I want to hear everything—what's going to make Harper's heart race."
Tyler cracks a playful grin, leaning forward. "Prepare for some top-tier romance, my man. We've got ideas that'll knock her socks off."
"Or more than just her socks, if you play your cards right," Jordan adds with a wink, reminding me why I value her advice so much. She’s the one person who knows Harper better than anyone since they’ve been best friends for a long time.
"Let's hear it then," I urge, but have to wait a minute as Peyton has returned with our drinks. She sets them down quickly and scurries off to other patrons in the pub.
Jordan leans back, tapping a finger against her chin. "Harper is all about the personal touch, you know? Something that shows you really get her."
I nod, encouraging her to continue.
"Picture this," she begins. "A picnic in Klyde Warren Park. You spread out a blanket, have a basket filled with her favorite foods—artisan cheese, fresh fruit, maybe some of those gourmet truffles she loves."
My mind races through the details as I take a sip of my beer.
"And the kicker?" Jordan adds with a knowing look. "Time it so you can watch the sunset together. In that park, you’ll see the sunset behind the tall buildings as airplanes fly right overhead, low in the sky, to land at Love Field close by. It's the kind of romance she reads about but never expects."
"Sunset in the park, her favorite foods..." I repeat, considering the idea.
"I think that’s perfect. It sounds exactly like something Harper would adore," I admit.
