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“And Brooks, breathe, it’ll all work out.”

∞∞∞

Taylor moved through the hospital corridors with purpose, heels clicking against the polished floors like a woman on a mission. People stepped aside, reading the determination in her quick moving legs. Taylor on a mission wasn’t someone you wanted to fuck with, especially now that Brooks had let her in and allowed her to help. She had to own this moment. He deserved that from her.

Felicity Parker, the head of administration, looked up as Taylor entered her office without knocking. They’d been friends since Taylor started at City, their relationship built on mutual respect, the occasional covered shift, the kind of quiet loyalty built over years. Felicity owed her, and they both knew it. Taylor had never asked for a favor. Until now.

“You need what, exactly?” Felicity asked, adjusting her glasses as she scanned Taylor’s face. Taylor had texted ahead with a vague heads-up, but now her tone was all business. She was leaving herewith something.

“Any and all incident reports tied to Premier Carry Towing,” Taylor said, voice cool and collected despite the fire in her veins. “Complaints from staff, delays, patient safety issues, facility damage, anything logged in the last 12 months.”

Felicity blinked. “Taylor, you know Premier Carry’s on the hospital’s vendor list. You’re asking for internal records.”

“I know exactly what I’m asking for,” Taylor replied. “And I know those reports exist. You’ve flagged them in staff meetings before. This isn’t just personal, it’s about liability. And we both know this hospital doesn’t play when it comes to public image.”

Felicity hesitated, then exhaled. “You really think this will help?”

“I know it will,” Taylor said firmly. “Someone’s trying to undermine my, uh, friends company. I’m not letting them win. Not on my watch.”

Felicity sighed, the sound weary with memory. “They left Mrs. Levin stranded for four hours last month. And that ambulance delay in February nearly cost us a life.”

“So, let’s put that to good use.” Taylor leaned forward, resting her elbows on Felicity’s desk.

“If Premier takes this emergency services contract, we could be dealing with even more delays and bullshit. People could die waiting for a tow that never comes. You know it, I know it, and the city needs to know it before they make this mistake.”

Felicity hesitated, then nodded, something shifting in her expression. She knew legal would be getting involved soon, and they had the chance to stop itnow.

“Okay.” She turned to her computer, fingers flying over the keys with practiced efficiency. “I can pull some records. It won’t be everything, but it’ll be enough to make a case. Just don’t make me regret this, Taylor.”

Taylor exhaled in relief, her shoulders dropped slightly. This was the first victory in what would likely be a complicated battle. “Thank you.”

“You’re lucky I like you,” Felicity muttered, the printer hummed beside her desk. She gathered the documents, organizing them into a neat stack before sliding them into a folder.

“This is worth way more than my favor, so you and Brooks Bishop owe me a good bottle of wine. The expensive kind, not that grocery store shit.”

Taylor’s eyebrows shot up, surprise momentarily replacing her determination. “How did you—?”

“Please.” Felicity handed her the file with a knowing smile. “The whole hospital saw you getting into that car a few months ago. And Brooks Bishop isn’t exactly a man people forget once they’ve seen him.” She paused, studying Taylor’s face. “You’re good together. Different, but good.”

Taylor accepted the file, fighting the urge to twerk in excitement. It was the first time someone had acknowledged them, as something that made sense despite their differences. The validation felt sweeter than she expected.

“I’ll tell him,” She promised, already turning toward the door.

“Taylor,” Felicity called after her. When she turned back, her expression had grown serious. “Whatever you’re doing with this... be careful. Premierhas connections. Politics can get messy.”

Taylor nodded once, “So can we.” She winked before clutching the file against her chest.

Taylor left and made it to her car in record time, adrenaline propelling her forward. She couldn’t wait to be of use to Brooks. He’d been showing up for her from day one, even when she had done everything to push him away. She appreciated him for not asking anything of her, understanding that she was still working through her changes.

She’d lived that life with Tyree, giving everything, getting nothing.

And she refused to carry that energy into something new. Not with Brooks.

She pulled away from the hospital and floated to Brooks shop.

Brooks was pacing the length of his office when Taylor’s car pulled into the lot.

Through the window, he watched her emerge from her car, the sight of her making everything but her feel less urgent. She moved with purpose, the file clutched in her hand, her eyes already searching for him. In that moment, he realized he’d never had someone show up for him like this before not because they had to, not because they were family or not because they owed him, but because they wanted to.