Page 6 of Sharing Shadow Secrets (High Five Novella #6)

W atching her walk away, I really hope she is the good kind of trouble. I haven’t felt like this in a while—buzzing, smiling, intrigued. She’s interesting.

I walk over to Patrick and clap him on the back of the shoulder. “Well, I have a date on Thursday.”

“With?” he asks, shocked.

“Taylor Williams. She’s High Five’s social media girl.”

Rachel pokes me. “Looks like you might have to break your ban on High Five.”

“I don’t think so.”

I’ve spent too many nights in High Five. I’ve done a lot of shit in High Five. My memory flashes to a random hookup in a bathroom stall, then snorting cocaine in another. I’ve passed out there more than once. It’s too triggering of a place.

B ack in my River North condo, I slide off my loafers, now thinking of Taylor again. I step toward the sectional in my living room while staring out at the city skyline through the floor-to-ceiling window in my three-bedroom unit, then flop down on it.

I want to text her.

Brandon

Were you also in unbearable traffic on the way back to the city?

Taylor

Yes!!! But at least I finished an audiobook.

Brandon

What were you listening to?

Taylor

Too personal of a question.

Brandon

Oh! You listen to those books.

Taylor

Yeah. Those books.

I bite my lip, deciding what to say. We just met. I should not start sexting her.

Brandon

What’s the title? I’ll read it before Thursday, and we can discuss it over dinner.

Taylor

You’re going to regret that idea.

I’m not close minded. Far from it. But Taylor … What would she be into? Well, I know one thing she is not into. I chuckle to myself. Never has a girl referenced eating ass within minutes of meeting her.

Brandon

I’ve lived lives. Nothing shocks me.

Taylor

There’s DVP.

DVP? Googling, I laugh. Double vaginal penetration. Okay, Taylor.

Should I say what I’m thinking? Should I be this forward? Not that it’s forward because it’s something we would talk about at some point anyway. Agh!

Brandon

The first time I did that I was twenty-two. Send me the title already.