First Crush, My Forever

Chapter 8

As soon as we make it to my office, I unlock the door, walk in, move to the side and hold the door open for Taytum to walk in as well. When we hear the click of the door closing behind us, we both look at each other and happen to say "I'm sorry" at exactly the same time. Taytum laughs at the coincidence however I look at her confused at why she is apologizing.

"First of all Taytum, I'm sorry for being short with you in my class earlier. That was not my intention at all. I was still a little annoyed about the last minute meeting today then I received a message from my sister that just really got under my skin." Before I can say anything else my phone starts ringing. I take it out of my dress pants pocket and see it's my sister. "Speak of the devil." I jokingly say as I answer.

"What do you want?" Taytum laughs as I motion for her to sit down as I walk to my desk and sit down as well. "I don't care if that's no way for me to answer my phone. I knew you were the one calling and I am rather annoyed with you at the moment. This had better be important and not about the stupid blind date you text me about. I have already told you I do not want you setting me up on any more blind dates." Taytum laughs again at the face I make and I point a finger at her. "Hush, you," I playfully say. Of course Nic hears me and starts questioning who I am talking to. "Yes, someone is in my office with me, nosey. No, it's Taytum, miss question box. Yes, the same Taytum that babysits for me. She is actually my TA now as well."

I watch as Taytum stands up and walks to one of my bookshelves and starts looking at all the literature books I have. I am lost in thought as I watch her pull my Complete Works of William Shakespeare book out and notice the subtle flex in her bicep as she grips the big book. My eyes travel down her arm to her hand and I take in the way some of the veins in her hands stick out. I snap out of it as I hear my sister says my name. "Sorry, yes I'm still here. Look, I have already told you that I want to find a guy to actually date. I want to find a guy that I can see eventually being another parent for Kadence. I'm not looking for a fling or one night stand, that's your thing Nic, not mine. Well you can cancel it because I'm not going. I have a meeting in about 15 minutes anyway and I need to speak with Taytum first. Love you, mean it, bye."

After ending the call,I walk over to Taytum and she slides the book back on the shelf and turns her attention to me. "Sorry about that. My sister can be very annoying and nosey as you could probably tell. I know I don't have a lot of time left before I have to get to that meeting but again, I'm sorry for the way I came across to you. Now, I am rather confused about why you were apologizing though. You didn't do anything wrong."

Taytum looks at me for a second before speaking. "I apologized because I thought I had said something that pissed you off. I thought I was the reason for the short tone and I do not want to be the cause of you being upset or anything. It's all good with your sister, obviously I know how siblings can be. I understand you were already stressed so her trying to set you up on a date didn't help. Apology accepted but honestly not needed."

I spontaneously go in for a hug, knowing that it is not really appropriate but wanting to feel Taytum's arms around me again for some reason. As I wrap my arms around her back, she wraps her arms around me, hugging me back just as tight as I am hugging her. I realized at lunch that her hugs are very comforting and I guess I was just seeking a few seconds of comfort. As I pull back from the hug I place a soft kiss on her cheek not even thinking about how much more inappropriate that is.

"I promise you didn't make me mad. Also, thank you for agreeing to pick Kadence up for me. You are a lifesaver and I already know she will be excited to see you. I have to get to that meeting but let me send you the daycare location first. She is in the K4 room there but you will have to stop by the front office first when you get there. They will ask for ID to verify you are who you say." I grab my phone and share the location with Taytum before gathering up my stuff for this ridiculous meeting. "Okay, off you go missy and you can pick Kadence up by five that way you have free time beforehand. Thank you again sweetie, I really appreciate your help."

Taytum smiles "your welcome Dani, you know I don't mind helping you." As she opens my office door and holds it open for me, I realize my keys are in the side pocket of my purse and with my hands full it's impossible to get to them. "Where's your keys?" Taytum asks as I try to juggle my stuff so I can get to my keys.

I sigh "in my purse, the side pocket." Taytum quickly reaches into the side pocket of my purse, grabbing my keys and locking my office door. She drops them back into my purse once she is finished. "Thank you sweetheart. I will see you later and I hope Kadence isn't a handful for you." Just as we part ways, I realize Taytum has no way of getting into my house with my daughter. "Taytum!" I call out before she turns the corner.

Taytum quickly rushes back to me. "Are you okay? Is something wrong? Do you need help with your stuff?" I can't help but laugh at her rambling, concerned questions.

"No sweetie, I'm fine. I just realized you can't take Kadence home without a key. If you will grab my keys out of my purse again and I will show you which one is the house key. You can take it because I have a spare in my car."

Taytum starts to shake her head no and I already know she is going to decline. "Taytum, it's fine. Kadence is going to want to go home where all of her stuff is at." She sighs and takes my keys from my purse again. "It's the key with a faded puppy on it." Taytum starts to laugh when she sees the key I am talking about. "Hush, Kadence picked that key out. It was supposed to be my spare key but she wanted me to use it instead."

"It's cute," Taytum says as she gets the key off the key ring and puts it in her pocket. "I will take good care of this puppy key and guard it with my life."

I roll my eyes at Taytum. "You better be glad my hands are full" I playfully say. "Okay, I have to go but I will see you later when I get home. Thank you again." With that being said I walked as fast as I could so I could make it to the meeting and not be overly late. I hear Taytum's laughing as I am walking and quickly glance back over my shoulder to see her watching me. I was waiting for some short remark from her but she turned and headed for the parking lot.