Broken Records | Tayley

Chapter 12: Crossing the Line

Hayley's POV

The storm outside raged on, the steady rhythm of the rain against my window only amplifying the restlessness inside me. I tossed and turned in bed, unable to find any semblance of peace. My thoughts were a jumbled mess, a tangle of confusion and longing, all centered around Taylor.

I reached for my phone, my fingers hovering over his name in my contacts. My heart pounded as I typed out a message, the decision to send it fueled by an impulse I couldn't ignore.

"Hey, you up?"

I didn't have to wait long for his response.

"Yeah, can't sleep either."

Before I could overthink it, I sent another message.

"Do you want to come over?"

The silence stretched out for a moment, and I held my breath, wondering if I'd made a mistake. But then his reply came through, simple and to the point.

"On my way."

I barely had time to process what I'd done before I heard the familiar sound of his car pulling up outside. My heart raced as I jumped out of bed, quickly throwing on a hoodie. When I opened the door, Taylor was standing there, rain-soaked and breathless, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken.

"Hey," I greeted him softly, stepping aside to let him in.

"Hey," he replied, his voice low and slightly raspy, like he'd been replaying this moment in his head just as much as I had.

He stepped inside, shaking off the rain as I closed the door behind him. The air between us was charged, electric, and I could feel the tension that had been building over the past few weeks crackling in the space we shared.

"Sorry to drag you out in this weather," I said, trying to keep my voice light, but it came out more like a whisper.

He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You know I'd come no matter what."

There was something in his tone—something that told me he wasn't just talking about the rain. It made my heart ache with a longing I'd been trying so hard to suppress.

We moved to the living room, sitting on the couch like we had so many times before. But this time was different. This time, there was no escaping the conversation we needed to have.

"I've been thinking," I started, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Me too," he said, his eyes searching mine, waiting for me to continue.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady the whirlwind of emotions inside me. "About us. About what's been happening... and what happened that night."

His gaze softened, and he nodded slowly, encouraging me to go on.

"I don't want to lose what we have," I admitted, my voice trembling slightly. "But I also can't ignore what I'm feeling. And I don't know if it's real or if I'm just..."

Taylor reached out, his hand finding mine, the simple contact sending a jolt through me. His touch was warm, grounding, and it made everything feel a little less overwhelming.

"Hayley, you don't have to figure it all out right now," he said gently. "But I need you to know... I've felt this way for a long time. And I'll wait as long as you need to sort through it."

His words were like a lifeline, pulling me back from the edge of my fears. But they also scared me. It was one thing to acknowledge my own feelings, but knowing his had been there for so long—knowing he'd been quietly waiting—added a new layer of complexity.