Bet.

five

 I hear quiet laughter as my body slowly wakes up from sleep. I open my eyes and see Taylor sitting on the couch holding... wait, my phone? I will my ears to listen to who he's talking to and recognize my Dad's voice. Taylor must've heard me rustling around because he looks up at me and stands up to walk toward me.

"Looks like sleeping beauty is awake." He smiles, and looks at me with a glimmer in his eyes.

"Hi Dad." I yawn at the camera, which Taylor has now focused on me and my bedhead.

"You look cute when you've just woken up." Taylor whispers, and I can't help but laugh.

"Oh man, Ann you better get over here they're flirting with me watching!" My dad exclaims, and I hear shuffling on the other end of the phone.

"Sorry Mr. Wilson. Sometimes I just can't stop myself sometimes." Taylor sits next to me on the bed.

"What time is it?" I realize that it's definitely bright outside and not early morning like I would usually guess.

"It's 2 already. Nurses said they just wanna check on you one last time though and then we're free to head home."

"Oh there's my girl!" My mom enters the screen, taking in my morning face.

"Hi mom." I smile weakly, my stomach churning a bit from embarrassment from this whole situation.

"Are you okay? What did the doctors say?" My mom quickly interrogates me, but my exhaustion left me way too wiped from yesterday to be able to really answer any of it.

"Sorry Mr and Mrs Wilson, I think El is just really tired still and a bit groggy from the drugs. But Mrs Wilson, I did tell your husband all about the situation and what's going on, and I'm sure he'd be happy to debrief you. For now I think we're going to call in the nurses and get El discharged." Taylor smiles, and I mouth a quick thank you to him.

"What he said. I love you though. I'll talk to you later?" I offer, but with little intention to follow through. I love my parents, but sometimes they seem to forget I'm an adult with my own independent life.

Taylor and I give my parents one final wave before he hangs up with them and I throw myself back onto my pillow.

"Are you really that tired still? You must be pretty messed up from all the medicine."

"Yeah. I think I'm also just still trying to wake up. Can we just sit here for a little bit then call the nurses and go?" I feel like a child asking their parent for a lollipop.

"For sure. I already called work and told them you'd be out today. So don't worry about anything yet, just relax so your foot can heal."

"You're actually the best. Come over here and let's just relax then for a little bit." I scoot over so he can climb next to me in the bed. Once he gets in I rest my head on his shoulder and he softly strokes my hair.

It's crazy how real us dating feels sometimes. Even if it's only been a week, I feel safer than I ever have in a real relationship. I'm not sure if it's because the safety blanket from it being fake dating or just because Taylor, but I like whatever it is. A small part of me hopes Layla and Carson never lose, so that we can keep living in this happy charade forever.

"Thanks Taylor." I mutter, so soft I wonder if he can even hear me.

"Anytime. I mean it when I say I'll always be here for you, El." He says it, and the familiar zing returns.

"Good. The longer we do this, the more I wanna keep you around."

"The longer we do what? Cuddle?"

"No, you know what I meant. Stop teasing me." I scrunch my nose and look at him.