Page 63 of Swept Up In You

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” She bit her lip. “Maybe still just keep it on the down-low back at home. I don’t care if you tell Jess and your games crew we’re maybe seeing each other?”

“Maybe seeing each other?” She grinned widely.

Sam laughed. “Definitely seeing each other.”

“Okay, thanks for the confirmation there. Phew.” This night was just getting better.

Sam pushed some leftover rice around on her plate. “It feels good to be away from the marina and the shop tonight, where I don’t know anyone. I feel like I can just be me. I feel more relaxed than I have in weeks. I can’t believe how much I needed this.”

Taylor frowned. “I’d hope you’d be able to feel like yourself when you’re at home.”

“I know. I do, usually,” she rushed. “Once I’ve sorted things with Dad, I feel like I’d be getting back closer to that point.”

While Taylor wanted to say more, she also knew it wasn’t her place. Sam needed to do this on her own, at her pace.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Sam was having the time of her life. Also, she was, apparently, now officially seeing Taylor. The thought made her giddy. When Taylor had introduced her like that to her ex, she didn’t think she could swoon any more. If she did, she’d start feeling like a cartoon character with hearts floating above her head.

Then she’d gone and called herbabe. She didn’t even know where that had come from. All she knew wasLizgave her the ick factor, and she was extremely jealous in that moment.

There was something so different about this date compared to ones she’d been on with guys in the past. A feeling of everything clicking into place, a neon sign lighting up to say: “This is how it’smeantto feel”.There were no questions floating around in her head, like: Should I say this? Should I do that? Should I look like this? Everything currently whispered…yes. And she was just going with it.

They were now wandering around the other half of the festival, hand in hand, with no particular place to go. Her head was bopping along to the current dance beat as she watched the DJ, completely immersed in her own track, dancing along with a few young kids in front of her as they giggled and showed off their best moves to each other.

“Think you can fit in dessert?” Taylor squeezed her hand and gestured with her chin over to an ice-creamery stall.

“There isalwaysroom for dessert,” she replied. It was one of her favourite quotes her mum always used to say, and the thought made her smile. They meandered over to join the line, reading the board of flavours.

“Muhallabia sounds good.”

“Muhallawah?” Sam asked, looking around.

Taylor pointed to the bottom of the board. “It’s a medieval flavour. How cool is that?”

“Well I still don’t even know what it is, but I’m in.”

“Bowl or waffle cone?”

Sam gave her a look.

“Cone?” Taylor guessed.

“Duh!” Sam grinned.

Two cones later, they stood around a fire pit, people-watching, Sam also unapologetically Taylor watching. She’d call her more handsome than pretty tonight, and it was more of a turn-on than she ever thought possible. What could she say? She liked a woman in black jeans and a sweater. It was simple and so damn huggable. Especially as she stared straight back at her across the fire, licking that cone like it was in another spot entirely. She squirmed. Taylor smiled. Then it widened as her eyes grew darker.

Oh. She knewexactlywhat she was doing.

Sam crossed her legs and tried to concentrate on her own ice cream. She was unfortunately one of those messy eaters though, and this damn thing was melting all down the sides and all over her hands. Standing in front of the fire probably wasn’t helping either. Taylor handed her a napkin from her pocket, chuckling away.

She’d just popped the last bite of waffle in her mouth when Taylor’s eyes lit up.

“Oh! I love this song!”

Sam tuned in to what was playing. She didn’t recognise it, but it had a cute beat. She didn’t have a chance to think about it any further before Taylor grabbed her and dragged her through the crowd.

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