Here & Now // T. Hall Sequel

Chapter 8

I still wouldn't tell Taylor what really was on my mind. We were distanced, but not so far that he would go out and bring home a different girl. He was done with that. He held me close at night, making me feel safe. He kissed me goodbye when he left for practice or a game. He told me I was his good luck charm, as the one game I wore his jersey to, he got a hat trick.

It was a good night for both of us, but a sore morning for me.

He was finally doing everything he said he would, minus the marriage, and I was getting ready to pull away. As wonderful as it felt to be his one and only, I was scared to death.

Christmas was coming up soon and That only made things worse. I knew he wanted to get me something for Christmas, but I hated the idea of the holiday without my family. I didn't want to celebrate it or my birthday even though I knew I would have to if I was down in Georgia. My cousins wouldn't let me go without barbecue and pie on my birthday.

"What do you want for Christmas?" He would ask.

"Nothing, what do you want for Christmas?"

"A new roommate." A new watch it is.

"I can't buy you a roommate, Taylor."

"I want you to move in with me. I mean, you practically already live here. I know you found a place you really like, but I want you to stay here. I want to come home to you every night."

"Taylor, can we just get this Georgia trip done and see where I stand with my life? I love being with you, but this trip is going to be hard for me." He nodded, leaving the conversation where it ended. We silently did the dishes together before I made a cup of tea and grabbed my magazine to join him on the couch.

"Oral tips to try tonight. Ooh let me read that." He tried taking the magazine from my hands. "17 reasons to have sex tonight."

"Taylor." I whined, almost spilling my piping hot tea on the two of us.

"Not tonight, I know."

"That's not what I said." I was thinking it, though. "I just want to drink my tea and read while you do your thing before we both climb in bed and I fall asleep."

"I could help with that." Taylor's hand trailed from my knee to the inside of my thigh where it rested. He smirked while his eyes were still on the tv.

"You are good with your mouth." I flipped the page of my magazine, only to find ways of keeping off winter weight.

Yeah. Fuck that.

Taylor picked me up, bringing me into the bedroom with him. "You didn't spill my tea. You're getting better at this."

"I've had lots of practice.. but if you do decide to move in with me, we can get a different apartment. I'm moving out of this one in January anyway."

"Yeah, I'll think about it."

"I love you Annabelle Paisley."

"Yeah, okay Taylor." I turned on my bedside lamp, hoping he would just go to sleep.

"You know if you don't want to tell me what you want, I'll get you something big. Like a car."

"Okay first off, I'm not related to you or married to you. Don't buy me a car. Second, I can buy my own damn car if I wanted but it's too fucking cold for a jeep here."

"Then what do you want?"

I sighed. he wasn't going to give up until I told him and I knew how stubborn and obnoxious he would be. "You know what I want? A nice evening with a bottle of wine, a fireplace, you and maybe a kitten or puppy but really, after my family dinner on Christmas, spending time alone with you and some wine will be good enough." I set down my magazine and turned to Taylor who was looking up at me with wide eyes. "You are the closest thing I have to my family right now. That's good enough. I don't need anything more."