Broken Records | Tayley

Chapter 8: A Touch Too Close

Hayley's POV

The house felt emptier than usual as I walked in, my thoughts heavy with everything that had happened in the past few weeks. Therapy had been rough today, bringing up memories I'd rather forget, emotions I was tired of feeling. But it was necessary. I knew that. I was slowly starting to believe it too.

Alf greeted me at the door, his tail wagging enthusiastically as if he knew I needed a distraction. I bent down to pet him, letting his presence calm me.

The silence was too much tonight. Normally, I'd relish it, use it as a cocoon to wrap myself in, but tonight it felt oppressive. I grabbed my phone, hesitating for only a second before dialing Taylor's number.

"Hey," his voice came through the line, warm and familiar.

"Hey," I replied, a small smile tugging at my lips despite the heaviness in my chest. "Can you come over? I... I don't really want to be alone right now."

"Of course," he said without hesitation. "I'll be there in ten."

True to his word, he was knocking on my door a short time later. I let him in, feeling a strange mix of relief and anxiety wash over me. Taylor had always been my safe space, but lately, things had felt different. There was a new tension between us, something unspoken but very much present.

We settled on the couch, Alf curled up at our feet, and for a moment, we just sat in comfortable silence, the TV flickering in the background. But it wasn't long before Taylor broke the silence.

"How was therapy today?" he asked gently, his eyes searching mine.

I sighed, leaning back against the cushions. "It was tough. But I think it's helping... I'm just not sure how much more of it I can take."

He nodded, his expression thoughtful. "You're doing the right thing, Hayley. It's hard, but you're strong. You'll get through this."

I looked at him, feeling a surge of gratitude for his unwavering support. "I don't know what I'd do without you," I admitted, my voice softer than I intended.

He smiled, but there was something in his eyes, something that made my heart race. "You'd be just fine," he said, though there was a hint of something in his tone, like he wasn't entirely convinced.

I shook my head, suddenly overwhelmed by the emotions bubbling up inside me. "No, I wouldn't. You've been... you've been everything, Taylor. I'm scared to think about what would have happened if you hadn't been here."

His hand found mine, his touch warm and grounding. "I'll always be here for you, Hayley. You know that."

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "But what if... what if I want more than that?" The words slipped out before I could stop them, and I immediately regretted it, feeling a flush of embarrassment creep up my neck.

Taylor didn't say anything for a moment, his thumb gently brushing over my knuckles. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost hesitant. "Do you?"

I didn't answer right away, too afraid of what admitting it might mean. But the silence between us was thick, charged with something that had been building for far too long.

"Yes," I whispered finally, my heart pounding in my chest. "I think I do."

Taylor's eyes darkened, his grip on my hand tightening just a fraction. "Hayley..." he started, his voice trailing off as he leaned in slightly, his gaze flickering to my lips and back up to my eyes.

My breath hitched, my whole body trembling with a mix of fear and anticipation. I wanted this—wanted him—but it was so much more terrifying than I'd ever imagined.

But before I could second-guess myself, he closed the distance between us, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that was gentle at first, tentative, as if he was giving me one last chance to pull away.

But I didn't want to pull away. Quite the opposite. I leaned into him, my free hand finding the back of his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened. It was like nothing I'd ever felt before—warm and soft and electric all at once, a spark igniting something deep inside me that I hadn't even realized was there.

His hand slipped up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing against my skin as our lips moved together in a slow, intoxicating dance. The world outside of this moment faded away, and all that existed was Taylor—his warmth, his scent, the way he made me feel like I was finally home.

I sighed against his lips, my whole body relaxing as I let myself get completely lost in the feeling, in him. His other hand came up to cradle the back of my head, holding me to him as if he was afraid I might disappear if he let go.

We kissed like that for what felt like an eternity, the intensity of it growing with each passing second. It wasn't rushed or frantic—it was deliberate, tender, a slow burn that left me breathless and yearning for more.

When we finally pulled back, both of us were panting slightly, our foreheads resting against each other's as we caught our breath. My heart was pounding in my chest, my skin tingling with the aftershocks of what had just happened.

Taylor's eyes were dark, his expression a mix of awe and something else, something deeper that sent a thrill down my spine. "Hayley..." he whispered, his voice rough with emotion.

"I know," I whispered back, my fingers still tangled in his hair. "I know..."

We didn't say anything else after that, but we didn't need to. The kiss had spoken for us, had said all the things we'd been too afraid to admit.

But as the silence settled in, so did my doubts. My heart was still racing, but now it wasn't just from the kiss—it was from the questions swirling in my mind. What if I was just lonely? What if I was confusing comfort with love? I had been through so much, and Taylor had been there through it all. But was that enough to build something new?

I pulled back slightly, putting a small bit of space between us, my hand slipping from his hair. "Taylor... I don't want to rush into something and then realize it's not what I needed."

His expression softened, understanding flashing in his eyes. "I get it. We don't have to figure it all out right now. Just... let yourself feel whatever you need to feel. We'll take it slow. We have all the time in the world."

I nodded, grateful for his patience, even as a part of me felt like I was teetering on the edge of something I wasn't ready for. He gave my hand one last squeeze before letting go, as if signaling that we were hitting pause on the conversation.

As we sat there, side by side but not touching, I couldn't help but wonder if I was making the right decision—or if I was just too scared to take the leap.