Page 42 of Swept Up In You

“Oh, you don’t have to do that. You live too far away.” Sam scrunched up her nose in an unfairly cute way, making Taylor smile.

“I live twenty minutes away. It’s notthatfar.” Taylor chuckled.

By the time they reached Sam’s place, it seemed the alcohol had well and truly hit. Taylor kept a hold of Sam while she fumbled with the keys to let them in.

“Wow, this place is amazing,” Taylor said as she stepped inside, looking up at the raked ceiling. Like the boat, the space was bigger than she expected. It was all open-plan—a cosy lounge nook off to the right, a black dining set straight ahead and a white kitchen beyond that with a large island bench.

“Yeah, I renovated it with my Dad. It was such a good project together, plus a super cheap house for me.” She was quiet for a beat, staring at nothing in particular. “I miss him,” she whispered.

“Things still awkward?”

“It’s just… he’s felt more like Matt the co-worker, and notDad. We haven’t spoken properly since my big reveal.” She huffed out a breath. “But I know one conversation is not enough. I think I’ve been avoiding it again because I don’t know how to fix things and I hate how unhappy it’s making both of us even if we’re pretending everything is normal.” She wiped at her eyes.“And now I’m just blabbing at you again. So embarrassing,” Sam said, almost to herself.

“Hey,” Taylor said softly, stepping closer and giving her shoulder a squeeze. “You’ll sort it out.” She found her eyes. “Be brave. Maybe you both don’t have the answers right now, but keeping it as an open conversation might be what you both need to figure things out—together.”

Sam really looked at her then. They both stood there as the words sunk in, more meaning in them than Taylor had originally intended. Sam swayed a little closer. Tonight was not the night, Taylor reminded herself. She cleared her throat, breaking eye contact and stepping back. The moment gone.

“Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

She gave Sam privacy while she did her bathroom routine, keeping close, making sure she didn’t pass out and end up on the floor.

“I’m fine, seriously,” she said, slightly slurring her words as she came out into the kitchen and leaned on the counter, almost falling asleep then and there.

“I’ll believe that when you’re in bed asleep.” She laughed lightly, coming around the corner to guide her up the stairs.

Once they’d made it over to the bed, Sam started taking off her clothes. Her boots went flying, then she dropped onto the bed and unzipped her jeans.

Oh lord.

Taylor spun around, squeezing her eyes shut. “Uh. Where’s your pyjamas?”

“Middle drawer of my dresser. Mmm, just a T-shirt please,” Sam mumbled, now taking off what Taylor assumed was her jumper.

Taylor swallowed.

She quickly found a shirt, and walked backwards holding it out without turning around until Sam grabbed it.

“Okay, all good.”

Taylor turned around.

It wasnotall good.

The shirt barely brushed her thighs… and those legs. Taylor tried to look everywhere else as she helped Sam slide into bed, pulling the covers up.

“Right, get some sleep you,” she said, bopping her on the nose again.

Sam let out a sleepy giggle at that. “Sorry for making you do this. Tomorrow me is going to be mortified.”

“It was terrible; I’msoput out.” She smiled, turning off the side light as Sam shut her eyes. “Seriously though, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about, it was a great night.”

Taylor stood up and turned to leave.

“I really like hanging out with you, Tay,” Sam said so quietly, she almost missed it.

“Me too,” she replied just as soft, as she made her way out.

Taylor had a great morning walking Belle, listening to the singing birds in the trees and thinking a lot about last night. She’d come to the decision to just see where things might go with Sam. She couldn’t deny the attraction, even if her thoughts on everything that had happened with Liz were still very much at the forefront of her mind.

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