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Erica gasped. “You met Avery?” she asked Callie. “What’s she like?”

Callie grinned at Taylor.

“So thereissomething going on between the two of you! We all thought so!”

Erica turned to stare at Taylor, and Taylor shook her head at both of them.

“There is nothing going on between the two of us, and you know that,” she said, with a pointed glance at Erica. She hopedthat glance said,You’re the only one who knows about the flirting lessons, keep your mouth shut.But now Callie was looking at her, wanting to know what Erica had meant. Fuck. She had to explain that, but how? Then she had a brain wave. “I am simply helping introduce her to queer society, that’s all. She had a dunce of a boyfriend for years, and now she’s gotten rid of him and is ready to date women. It’s like she’s a debutante, and I’m her chaperone.”

Callie, who has a weakness for historical romance novels, grinned. Taylor had to look away from Erica; her trying-not-to-laugh face was going to make Taylor crack up.

“That makes sense,” Callie said. “There’s no one better than you to launch someone into queer society. But how’d Avery manage to getyoufor that job?”

“Oh, I felt bad for her, that’s all. Plus, she’s great. I hope she finds some people to date who are good enough for her, they’ll be lucky.”

Someone else came up to hug Callie, and Erica dragged Taylor back to the food.

“Oh no, the turnovers are gone.” Erica shrugged. “I guess I’ll just have to get some of these adorable little sliders, then.” She loaded three onto her plate. “But also, I need to hear more about ‘introducing Avery to queer society.’ ”

Taylor grinned.

“Sorry, I just feel like Avery probably wouldn’t want me to tell the world that I’m teaching her how to flirt with women, so please, don’t tell everyone that. Callie and Liz and Rex met her because we ran into them when we did queer salsa lessons, and we also went to a bookstore event and a burlesque show. And I think next week—”

“You went to a burlesque show with her! Oh my God, Taylor, you didn’t tell me you did that!”

You didn’t ask. Maybe if you weren’t so absorbed by your new bestie Sloane and her little baskets and her perfect handwriting, I would have told you.

“Oh, it’s a better story for in person,” Taylor said instead.

“Taylor!” She heard Liz’s voice, and then felt Liz grab and hug her from behind. “I was wondering when you were going to show up!”

Taylor turned to her and returned the hug.

“I’d never get to one of Callie’s parties late; you miss all of the good snacks that way.”

Erica drifted off to the other side of the backyard; she and Liz had never been huge fans of each other. Taylor chatted with Liz, with Dani and Charlie, with Anya (one of the people Erica had accused her of “exchanging looks with”) and Zoe (the other person). Which, okay, fine, Taylorhadsort of given them each a look thatpossiblysaid that she’d like to see them naked. And yes, fine, Zoe had whispered a little something in her ear that indicated that Taylor could do that—and many other things to her—as early as tonight. But she wasn’t planning on doing any of those things until after Labor Day. She did not want to lose this bet with Erica.

Speaking of Erica…Taylor looked around the party for her and didn’t see either her or Sam. Maybe they were hanging out inside? She poked her head in, but she still didn’t see them. They must have left. And even before Callie cut her cake, which was a travesty. Callie’s cakes were always fantastic.

Erica hadn’t even said goodbye to her. So much for her wanting so badly to know about how stuff with Avery was going.

Taylor looked across the party and saw Kelsey checking her out. She grinned at her as she tried to brush off the hurt she felt. It wasn’t like Erica owed her anything. It was fine for her to not say goodbye when she left a party, she was an adult, she had a wifenow, she didn’t need to check in with Taylor when she left somewhere and when she got home like they used to do.

But still, it stung. She pulled out her phone to see if maybe Erica had texted. She hadn’t. But Avery had.

Avery

How’s the party? what are the good snacks? who is flirting with who and is there anything I could be learning from this? there are at least two more hours in this event before I can go home, and I need all the hot gossip.

Taylor laughed out loud and immediately texted Avery back.

Taylor

Oh my friend, everyone is flirting with everyone, i’m sad you aren’t here, it would be so educational

But don’t worry, I have a plan

Taylor knew what Avery’s response would be. Sure enough.