Page 130 of Charmed, I'm Sure
I didn’t know what I would have done if I’d lost Aunt Evie.
I didn’t know what I would have done if Taylor hadn’t shown up in that hallway when he had.
I’d never felt more alone in my life than I had in that moment. And justseeinghim had saved me.
Slipping my hand from beneath the covers, I latched onto his before he could walk away.
I could feel the tears streaming down my cheeks.
Mother above, I’m so tired of crying.
“Stay. Please,” I managed around a suppressed sob. “I… I know I haven’t been the best girlfriend, and you deserve so much more, but could you just… hold me? Just for a little while, at least.”
Taylor dropped to his knees beside the bed, lacing our fingers together with one hand while gently sweeping away my tears with the other.
Andsweet baby cheeses, the way that man looked at me—like the sun rose and set with every beat of my heart—was intoxicating. It wasaddictingin the best way. He may not havesaidit, but he’d shown me love in every other way I could imagine.
“Baby, I’ll stay as long as you need me to. I just didn’t want to… overstep. You asked for space—”
“I don’t want it. Not anymore. I didn’t really want it in the first place, I just… I didn’t know how to process everything. I’m sorry.”
Taylor’s lips were soft against mine, his touch grounding me in a way nothing else could.
I wascompletelygone for this man.
And there was no turning back.
Not that I wanted to.
It didn’t take long for him to join me in bed, his strong arm draping across my middle and pulling me until I was nestled against his body. “Goodnight, sunshine.”
“Goodnight, cowboy.”
“You’re here early,” Aunt Evie whispered, wincing as she adjusted in the hospital bed.
“I got a ride with Taylor this morning since he had to work.” I grabbed her uninjured hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by a car,” she joked, her lips tugging into a wry smile.
I glared at her.
She let out a small laugh. “Too soon?”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“Yeah, well, one of us has to have a sense of humor about this or we’d both be a mess. How’re your sisters?”
“Maddie’s on her flight home, and I’ll call Meredith after her last final.” I hesitated before adding, “How are you feeling about surgery? It’s this afternoon, right?”
When we arrived at the hospital this morning, Taylor had gotten the rundown from Dr. Fredmont. Miraculously, Aunt Evie only had a mild concussion—not that I was surprised, given the amount of protective charms she wore on a daily basis. But she also had a displaced fracture in her left arm that needed surgery, meaning at least one more night in the hospital.
Aunt Evie shrugged. “I’m not worried about it. Did I hear you say that Taylor dropped you off this morning?”
“You did, but we’re talking about you right now.”
“No, we’re talking about that hunky doctor who looks at you like you hung the moon and all the stars.”
“Aunt Evie—”
