“He suggested we film here when I was telling him about the documentary. He says the center is doing good things.”
I bunch up my mouth. “Huh. That’s…surprising.” I didn’t know Kyle valued my work. Maybe I should bake him a cake or something.
Taysom’s smile stretches across his face. “He loves his sister, even though he doesn’t show it.”
I lift a shoulder. “He shows it sometimes. He’s more chill the older he gets.” And then, because I catch a gentle whiff of Taysom’s spicy, musky cologne, I realize I need a short break from this beautiful man. “Let me check with the assistantdirector. Maybe she’s heard something,” I say. When I leave the room, there’s an absence in my very soul from not being around him anymore.
Which is stupid.
Tracy pushes her reading glasses onto the top of her head when I enter her office. I close the door behind me. Grief hangs heavily around her shoulders. She frowns and studies me. “Charlotte, are you okay? I know this is all—”
“Uh…”Please, heart, stop beating like this.“Taysom Reed is here?” My voice rises at the end, like I’m asking her about the end of the free world.
“Oh! I thought that was next week. I…did you not hear about this?” Tracy scratches the top of her head when she notices my confusion. “I apologize. With all this hard news, I mixed up the dates, I guess.” She pads around her desk, lifting papers.
How Taysom Reed could escape anyone’s thoughts is beyond me, but Tracy doesn’t have the history I have with him.
And not being told about stuff is nothing new. I’m not in charge of anything here, and I don’t have any seniority. Why would they tell me anything?
But it’sTaysom Reed, San Antonio’s sweetheart. You’d think it would have slipped out somehow.
“We’re all a little discombobulated with Ron gone and the…news,” I reassure her. Tracy doesn’t need to feel guilty about not telling me.
“Yes, well.” Tracy stands. “It was all thrown together last minute. Mr. Reed’s foundation reached out about filming something in our office for some documentary he’s filming?” She shakes her head at her desk. “I don’t really know. Ron was thrilled about him coming. It’s too bad he’s not here for it.”
“Yeah, just pour salt on his wounds. First two broken arms, then not getting to meet an NFL star.” I whisper that last part. Taysom doesn’t need to hear me call him a star.
Tracy opens her door and joins Taysom and the film crew in the lobby. “Mr. Reed,” she says, reaching out to shake his hand. “Welcome. We’re all a little stretched thin today, with Ron being out of the office so suddenly. But come on into my office and we’ll get started.”
“Charlotte, it was cool seeing you again.” Taysom is standing near me, and the sheer mass of his body takes on a different tone. He’s still a solid, muscular, lithe wall. But suddenly, the way he’s looking at me is softer, causing my heart to gallop again. Why has this attraction never died away? You’d think it would, but no.
Actually, only a fool would think my old crush would just dissipate into thin air. Taysom is gorgeous. And back when I used to know him, he was kind. He noticed people, you know? Like,reallynoticed them. My mind darts around flashes of after-school and backyard games and hot dogs on a little charcoal grill.
No. No dwelling on all that.
“Do you know Charlotte?” Tracy asks, her brows rising.
He nods, a slow smile taking over his face. “I’ve known Charlotte since she was this tall.” He measures the air at his knee.
I’m still just a little kid to him. Just his best friend’s little sister.
This is good because, see, crush? You can dry up now.
“Really?” Tracy is grinning now. “Well, with Ron gone, and with the…news of the day…I have a lot of extras to take care of now, so…” She steps into her office but pokes her head out. “Can you help him and his crew for me?” She gestures to the man and woman flanking him.
“This is Raj, my foundation’s president,” Taysom says. “And the genius behind the camera is Natalie.”
They both wave, and I wave back. “The problem is, my client will be here in…” I glance at my durable, waterproof, kid-proofwatch with the bright blue plastic band, hoping the movement doesn’t show my sweat stains.
“You’ve got fifteen minutes, though, right?” Tracy asks.
I thought it was much later than it was. Time must have slowed down in that meeting of doom. I could have sworn it was one o’clock now, but it’s only twelve forty-five.
I struggle to find the words, opening and closing my mouth. Tracy stares at me as if I’m being rude. I cannot have Tracy thinking I’m not a team player.
Chapter 5
Charlotte
