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“Do you need to be outside in the streets for a bit?”

“Absolutely not. I’m afraid of his certainty. What if I don’t live up to his expectations? He’s so certain. So sure. I keep waiting for him to see all my broken pieces and change his mind.”

Blake’s laughter surprised her. “Girl, please. My brother knows broken. He’s lived it. Our parents dying, his time in the streets, building his business from nothing. You think he doesn’t have scars? The difference is, he’s not afraid of yours.”

“That’s those psychology classes you took.”

She reached for Taylor’s hand, squeezing gently. “Look, I’m not saying drop everything and marry him tomorrow. I’m just saying, if you love him, really love him, then let yourself have this. All of it. Not just the parts that feel safe.”

“I do love him,” Taylor whispered, the words feeling both terrifying and freeing.

“Then tell him that. Show him that. Whatever that looks like for you.” Blake squeezed her hand again. “Because Taylor? Men like my brother don’t come around often. And I’m trying be a sister in law soon and an auntie. Please get it together.”

Taylor nodded, wiping at her eyes. “I need to fixthis, don’t I?”

“Only if you want to keep him,” Blake said simply.

Taylor sat with that truth, letting it settle in her bones. All these months dancing around labels, keeping one foot in her old life while reaching for Brooks, what had it done but create distance where there should’ve been closeness? The last twenty four hours had been brutal for her. He hadn’t even reached out to her, hadn’t said good morning or anything.

“I was married for so long,” she said softly. “Even when it was bad, it was familiar. With Brooks, everything is different. Better, but... unknown.”

“That’s called growth, honey,” Blake said with a gentle smile. “Stepping into something new always feels a little like falling.”

“What if I’m not ready?”

Blake shrugged. “Then you’re not. But be honest about that, with yourself and with him.”

Taylor nodded, her mind already racing ahead. She reached for her phone, checking the time. Brooks would be at the shop for a few more hours. Time enough to figure out what she wanted to say. What she needed him to know.

“Thanks,” she said, looking up at Blake. “For the talk. For forgiving us from keeping secrets, and for caring about both of us. It was torture not having my best friend, but I had Brooks and I need him to know that I’m still in this.”

“Always,” Blake replied. “Just don’t tell his big head ass I was advocating for him. Can’t have him thinking I’m on his side. Because it’s always chicks before dicks.”

“Girl, shut up with all that lying. You left us atlunch for dick.”

Taylor laughed, the tension breaking.

“I was like twenty minutes late, y’all need to let that go.”

Taylor hugged Blake and headed out. She needed to see Brooks and make sure they were okay. The revelation that perhaps her caution, meant to protect herself, had been hurting them both made her chest ache with regret.

As she drove to Bishop Towing, her mind raced with everything she needed to say. No more hiding. No more running. No more pretending this was casual when it was the most serious thing she’d felt in years.

Taylor made it to Brooks in record time, parking haphazardly in her rush to get inside. The doorbell chimed as she entered, causing heads to turn in her direction. She offered a small, tight smile, her eyes already searching the space for him.

Marco nodded toward the back, wordlessly letting her know Brooks was in his office. She felt the weight of curious eyes on her back as she walked the long hallway, her heels clicking against the polished concrete floor, each step bringing her closer to the conversation that could change everything.

She paused at his door, taking a deep breath before knocking lightly. Brooks looked up from his paperwork, surprise flickering across his face before it settled into something unreadable. But then he smiled, that rare, genuine smile that transformed his entire face, and relief washed through her. She’d been sure he’d be cold, distant, putting her on ice for the way she’d been acting.

“Are we okay?” She asked, her voice barely abovea whisper as she stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

Brooks leaned back in his chair, eyes never leaving hers. “Why wouldn’t we be?”

Taylor took a deep breath, gathering her courage. This was no time for half-measures. “Because I’ve been unfair. Because I kept dodging the truth. Because I’ve been screwing this up with all my back and forth.” She moved closer, perching on the edge of his desk instead of taking the chair opposite him. “You going home last night stung.”

“Taylor.”

“No, let me finish,” she interrupted, reaching for his hands, needing the connection to ground her. His palms were warm, steady against hers. “I’ve been keeping you at arm’s length, pretending this, us, isn’t what it is when it’s convenient for me or when I get scared. I’ve been letting fear drive, and that’s not fair to either of us.”