Tayvis: Twists of Fate

Chapter - 23 : Guilty as sin?

The next morning, Taylor woke up to the news that Donna and Andrea were both coming over to help take care of Travis.

"Mom's arriving soon," Travis mentioned with a forced smile. "She'll probably want to take me home."

Taylor noticed his conflicted expression. "Are you okay with that?"

"Yeah, sure," he replied, though secretly hoping Donna would have a last-minute work emergency that would allow him to spend more time with Taylor. He couldn't quite understand the strange feelings that stirred within him whenever he looked at her.

Later that morning, as Taylor was feeding Travis breakfast, she accidentally spilled some food on his shirt.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, quickly moving to remove his shirt and clean him up.

"It's fine, really," Travis said, but as she wiped his body, he felt an overwhelming urge to pull her closer. Unable to resist his feelings, he wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tight.

Taylor was taken aback but didn't push him away. "Travis, what's going on?" she started to ask, her voice gentle but curious.

Just then, the front door opened, and Donna and Andrea walked in. They both stopped in their tracks, eyes wide at the sight before them. Donna and Andrea exchanged amused glances and smiled knowingly.

Andrea cleared her throat, "You two can continue that later."

Taylor and Travis quickly pulled apart, their faces flushed with embarrassment. Taylor's cheeks were a deep shade of red. "You misunderstood the situation," she stammered.

Donna chuckled softly, a knowing look in her eyes as she turned to Travis. "Sure we did. It's good to see you're being well taken care of, Travis."

Travis gave her a confused look, struggling to process his emotions and the situation. "I—uh, thanks, Mom."

Andrea stepped closer to Taylor, her smile warm and motherly. "It's okay, Taylor. We're just glad you two are getting along so well."

Taylor glanced at Travis, who seemed equally flustered. "Really, it was nothing," she insisted, trying to regain her composure. "I was just cleaning him up."

Donna, sensing her son's inner turmoil, patted his shoulder. "Travis, it's good to see you're healing. And it looks like Taylor has been a big part of that."

Travis nodded, still feeling the warmth of Taylor's embrace. "Yeah, she has. More than she knows."

Andrea turned to Taylor with a gentle smile. "You've done a great job taking care of him, Taylor. But you also need to take care of yourself."

Taylor nodded, appreciating the concern. "Thank you, Mom. I'll make sure to do that."

Travis left with Donna, his heart heavy with reluctance. As they drove away, his mind replayed every moment he had spent with Taylor over the past few days.

At home, Andrea sat with Taylor, who seemed lost in thought. "Are you moving on with Travis?" Andrea asked gently.

Taylor shook her head firmly. "No, Mom. He's just a friend. I can never catch any feelings for him. It's impossible."

Andrea gave her a concerned look. "Sometimes, feelings can sneak up on you, Taylor. Just keep an open mind."

Taylor sighed, wanting to believe her own words but feeling a twinge of doubt. "Trust me, Mom. I know what I'm saying."

Meanwhile, back at his own place, Travis was struggling with his increasing heartbeats. He couldn't stop thinking about Taylor. The way she had held his hand all night in the hospital, the meals she had prepared for him, the tender care she had shown—everything played on a loop in his mind. The awkward yet intimate moments when she had helped him with his shirt and even the time she helped him to the bathroom lingered in his thoughts.

His mind kept circling back to the last thing he had done—pulling Taylor by the waist and holding her close. It felt so right, and now, the memory was a constant, pleasant ache in his chest. Travis limped to the restroom, trying to clear his mind. He freed his pants, but all he could think about was Taylor. It felt wrong to think of her this way, yet he couldn't help himself.

He stared at his reflection in the mirror. "I can't see her as just a friend anymore," he murmured to himself. "But I don't care. I just want her close."

Travis replayed the sensation of her body against his, the warmth of her touch. He knew it was inappropriate, but his mind was consumed by thoughts of her. He finished up and headed back to his room, feeling more restless than ever.

Grabbing a pillow, he hugged it tight, imagining it was Taylor. The thought of her brought a strange sense of comfort and longing. "Taylor," he whispered into the pillow, his voice filled with yearning. He knew it was foolish, but he didn't care. He needed to feel close to her, even if it was just in his imagination.

As he lay there, he thought about her smile, the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed, and the softness of her touch. These thoughts made his heart race. He hugged the pillow tighter, feeling a warmth spread through him.

Travis knew things had changed between them. He wasn't sure how or when it happened, but he could no longer deny his feelings. He drifted into a restless sleep, dreaming of Taylor and hoping for a future where they could be together.

The next morning, Travis woke up feeling a strange mix of anticipation and dread. He knew he needed to talk to Taylor, to sort out his feelings and see where they stood. But for now, he hugged the pillow one last time, whispering her name as he got up to face the day.