Though with Taylor proposing to out our relationship this morning, I probably should’ve. I’m already way out of my comfort zone when the cocky bastard saunters in – and he does such a violent double take I’m surprised his neck don’t crack.
‘I’m not sure what shocks me more,’ he says slowly. ‘You with bows in your hair… or the fact you’re still here. Actually, scratch that, because it’s definitely the latter. Your hair was made for bows, buddy.’
‘Watch it, Tanner,’ I growl. ‘Or I’ll let you have the full salon treatment.’
‘This is nothing,’ he fires back. ‘Wait until she starts painting your toes. Then you’ll really have something to complain about.’
Behind me, Lottie giggles on the table like a tiny, evil mastermind. I sigh, tug off a sock, and hold up my bare foot. ‘Happy now?’
Theo lights up. ‘Oh my God, this is priceless. I need photographic evidence.’
‘Nope.’ I’m already jamming my sock back on before he can wrestle his phone out of his pocket.
‘Spoilsport.’
‘Who’s a spoil— Oh my God, Lottie!’ Sadie chokes into her hands as she joins us. ‘I’m so sorry, Ax.’
‘It’s fine,’ I mutter, even though I can feel my dignity leaking into the floor.
‘Wait until you see his feet,’ Theo adds, laughing so much, I seriously consider lamping him.
Then I catch Tay’s gaze behind Sadie – soft, warm, mine – and the irritation evaporates. I swear my insides turn to literal goo. Insane, but true.
I’ve loved her for years, but now… I don’t know. It hits different. I feel different.
A throat clears to my left: Theo. And I realise he and Sadie are glancing between us, curious gazes burning. Shit, how long was I out for?
‘And they’re back in the room,’ Theo teases as I shift in my seat, trying to rake a hand through my hair and giving up when it gets stuck –how many bows?
Sadie giggles and scoops Lottie up as Taylor steps in beside me. Her hand settles on my shoulder, quietly encouraging. ‘You ready to tell them?’
No. Not even a little.
But I nod anyway.
‘Tell us what?’ Sadie says, like she hasn’t already clocked this a mile off.
‘Ax and I…’ Tay audibly swallows – or maybe that’s me? ‘We’re together.’
They do the decency of gawping, eyes flicking between us, then?—
‘I knew it!’ they both blurt.
‘Why didn’t you say anything sooner?’ Theo asks.
‘This has been going on ages, right?’ Sadie cuts in over him.
I run a finger through the collar of my tee and glance up at Tay. She looks hot – though not the sexy, ‘we made out way too long this morning and she had to cover hickeys’ kind. True story. I’m wearing her marks too, only mine are… lower.
‘Yeah, well,’ Tay says. ‘We didn’t want you getting all carried away about it while we were still figuring it out ourselves.’
‘Carried away, as if!’ Sadie says, dropping Lottie as she lunges for Taylor. Squeezing her so tight, I think my girlfriend might need resuscitating.My girlfriend. Damn, that feels good. ‘I’m just so happy for you both!’
Then Sadie’s flying at me. Arms wrapped around my neck, blonde hair caught in my beard. ‘This is just thebestnews!’ She pulls back, blue eyes welling up. ‘I knew something was going on, but Theo kept?—’
‘I think you’ll findIalways knew,’ Theo corrects her. ‘You kept talking me out of it. Question is… does this mean my whisky is safe again?’
Taylor shoots me a look –you, whisky?
