VICTOR
For the third time in the last hour, there was a knock at the door.
“I’ll get it!”
Victor hurried to the door before another knock interrupted the fun Taylor seemed to be having with her friends. It had been too long since he’d seen her laugh. Even though she’d put the evening together for his peace of mind, his true peace surfaced when he saw glimpses of the old Taylor.
As soon as his hand touched the knob, there was another knock.
“Hold on!”
When he opened the door, Gregor was on the other side carrying two cases of Heineken. Next to him was Emma balancing five pizza boxes.
“She got you too, hmm?” Victor chuckled.
Since he thought Taylor was going out, he’d given Emma the night off. And Gregor had been sent home to his sons after they left the office. Of course, he wouldn’t leave until he was tucked safely in the penthouse. Now there he was, standing in the doorway, wearing a Collin Kaepernick jersey and blue jeans.
“We come with provisions,” Gregor announced with a grin.
“I see that. Well, come on in. And thank you.”
“Not a problem,” Emma said. “We didn’t come to work. We came to hang. So, while we put these away, I’m gonna need you to fix me a drink.”
Victor laughed and nodded. “What’ll it be, Miss Emma?”
“I’ll take a Screwdriver.”
“Yes, ma’am. Coming right up. Gregor?”
“Nothing for me. I’m gonna grab one of these beers.”
“Alright.”
When Gregor and Emma headed toward the kitchen, he closed the door and scanned the room for Taylor. She and Bella were laughing, competing in what looked like a Running Man contest. Victor folded his arms and found himself staring. Taylor’s smile could lighten the darkness. Her glee traveled through him like electricity and comforted him like a warm blanket.
“You are really far gone,” Lincoln teased.
Victor hadn’t even noticed him standing next to him. “Yup, and it looks like you’re on your way too,” he rebutted.
“Nah. Donna and I have to keep things casual. Neither one of us is ever in one place for long.”
Victor turned to Lincoln and grinned. “Things like that have a way of working themselves out.”
“Maybe, but what’s more important…who’s the blonde with Xander? Her nose has been in the air since they arrived. She’s all like, ‘Governor who?’”
The twisted face Lincoln was making made Victor laugh. Xander’s date was a bit uptight, maybe even bit snobbish.
“They were already on a date when Taylor called,” Victor told him.
“Well, I hope she got a chance to eat. She’s like 98 pounds. soaking wet,” Lincoln snickered.
“That’s not nice, little brother.”
Lincoln shrugged. “I don’t like the way she's looking at our womenfolk. Liketheydon’t belong.”
Victor chuckled and nudged Lincoln with his elbow. “Forget how she’s looking at our womenfolk. Look how Xander is looking at NiYah Reed.”
“Oh, shit!” Lincoln breathed. “Who is she? I’ve seen her before, but we’ve never met.”
