yours sincerely, daisy. - taylor swift

12

The city lights flickered past as Taylor drove, her eyes flicking to Daisy every so often, watching the way she leaned against the window, her breathing soft and steady. The tension from the after-party still hummed between them, but Daisy seemed calmer now, the alcohol finally loosening its grip on her.

Taylor's thoughts were racing, though. She replayed the moment at the bar, the way Daisy had leaned in, the words she'd whispered—Maybe I like it when you save me. It had hit Taylor hard, harder than she wanted to admit. There was something about Daisy's vulnerability, the way she let herself be seen in moments like that, that drew Taylor in, even when she knew it wasn't wise.

She had always prided herself on being in control, on keeping her emotions in check. But when it came to Daisy, that control felt like it was slipping. Tonight had been too close, too charged, and she didn't know what to do with the way her heart had raced when Daisy had touched her, when her lips had been so close.

Her grip on the steering wheel tightened as she turned onto her street, pulling into the underground garage of her apartment building. She parked the car, glancing over at Daisy, who was half-asleep by now, her head resting against the window. For a moment, Taylor just watched her, the soft rise and fall of her chest, the way her lips parted slightly as she breathed. There was something so fragile, so breakable about Daisy in these moments, and it made Taylor feel fiercely protective.

She got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side, opening the door gently. "Hey, come on," she whispered, touching Daisy's arm lightly. "We're here."

Daisy stirred, her eyes fluttering open, and for a second, she looked confused, disoriented. But then she blinked up at Taylor, her lips curving into a soft, sleepy smile. "Tay," she murmured, the nickname slipping out without thought.

Taylor's chest tightened at the sound, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she helped Daisy out of the car, wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her as they made their way to the elevator.

The ride up to her apartment was quiet, the air between them filled with unspoken words. Taylor could feel the weight of it all pressing down on her, but she pushed it aside, focusing on getting Daisy inside and settled.

When they finally reached her apartment, Taylor guided Daisy to the couch, helping her sit down. "Stay here," Taylor said softly, disappearing into her bedroom for a moment before returning with a spare set of clothes.

"You'll feel better if you change," Taylor murmured, handing the clothes to Daisy. She watched as Daisy took them, her fingers brushing against Taylor's for a brief moment, sending a spark of something electric between them. Daisy met her gaze, her eyes still hazy, but there was something there, something that made Taylor's heart race again.

"Thank you," Daisy whispered, her voice softer now, the vulnerability returning.

Taylor nodded, stepping back. "I'll give you some space," she said, turning toward the kitchen to give Daisy a moment to change. Her mind was racing, thoughts tangled up with feelings she wasn't sure she wanted to face.

A few minutes later, Daisy appeared in the doorway, dressed in Taylor's clothes, the oversized shirt hanging loosely on her smaller frame. She looked at Taylor, her eyes softer, more sober now, but still tinged with that same vulnerability.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," Daisy said quietly, her voice raw in a way that made Taylor's heart twist.

Taylor looked at her, the weight of everything settling between them again, heavy and unspoken. "You don't have to," she replied softly, her voice barely a whisper.

For a long moment, they just stood there, the silence between them thick with everything they weren't saying. Taylor could feel the pull again, that magnetic force drawing them closer, but she didn't move. She couldn't. Not yet.

"I'm going to bed," Taylor said finally, breaking the tension with a quiet sigh. "You should get some sleep too."

Daisy nodded, her gaze lingering on Taylor for a second longer before she turned and curled up on the couch. Taylor watched her for a moment, then she decided to speak up

"You can sleep in my bed if you'd like, it would be more comfortable."

Daisy hesitated for a second, processing Taylor's offer. The words hung in the air between them, soft and unexpected. She blinked up at Taylor, her mind still swimming in the haze of alcohol, but clarity seeped in through the fog. Taylor was always so thoughtful, so careful. It was one of the things Daisy admired most about her—how she always seemed to know when Daisy needed something, even when Daisy didn't know herself.

For a moment, Daisy wanted to decline, to keep the distance between them, to stay safe on the couch, where nothing could happen, where they wouldn't be stepping any closer to the edge they had been dancing around for months. But the offer was tempting. It was more than just the comfort of a bed; it was the quiet intimacy of being near Taylor, of sharing a space that felt warm and safe.

"Are you sure?" Daisy asked, her voice soft, hesitant. She searched Taylor's eyes, looking for any sign of hesitation or discomfort, but Taylor just nodded, her gaze steady.

"I wouldn't offer if I wasn't," Taylor replied, her voice calm, even though Daisy could sense a deeper undercurrent of something else—a quiet intensity that made her pulse quicken.

Daisy swallowed, then nodded. "Okay," she whispered, her heart thudding in her chest as she stood up from the couch. Taylor's eyes followed her, and Daisy felt the weight of her gaze, the quiet tension building again between them, but neither of them said anything more.

Taylor led the way down the hall to her bedroom, her footsteps soft against the hardwood floor. The room was dimly lit, cozy, with soft linens and muted colors that reflected Taylor's calm, organized nature. Daisy hesitated at the threshold, feeling like she was stepping into something more than just a bedroom—something deeper, something more intimate.

"You can take the left side," Taylor said, her voice soft as she gestured to the bed. "I'll sleep on the right."

Daisy nodded, her throat tight as she walked over to the bed. She slipped under the covers, the softness of the sheets against her skin a welcome comfort. Taylor climbed in beside her, keeping her distance, but the warmth of her presence filled the space between them.

For a few moments, they just lay there in silence, the quiet hum of the city outside the only sound in the room. Daisy could feel the tension in her body slowly begin to ebb, replaced by a strange sense of calm. But there was still an awareness between them, a charged energy that neither of them could ignore.

"Goodnight, Tay," Daisy whispered, her voice barely audible in the stillness.

Taylor turned her head slightly, her eyes finding Daisy's in the darkness. "Goodnight, Daisy," she replied, her voice soft, almost tender.

Daisy closed her eyes, trying to will herself to sleep, but the weight of Taylor's presence beside her made it hard to fully relax. Her mind kept drifting back to the way Taylor had looked at her, the quiet intensity in her eyes, the way she had said you don't have to when Daisy had thanked her earlier. There was so much between them that went unsaid, so much that lingered in the spaces between their words.

As the night wore on, Daisy felt her body begin to relax, the warmth of the bed and Taylor's steady breathing lulling her into a state of near-sleep. But just as she was on the edge of drifting off, she felt it—Taylor's hand, barely brushing against hers under the covers. It was a soft, tentative touch, but it sent a ripple of awareness through Daisy's entire body.

She didn't pull away. Instead, she let her fingers curl ever so slightly, just enough to feel the warmth of Taylor's skin against hers. It was such a small, simple gesture, but it felt like so much more. Daisy's breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest as the quiet intimacy of the moment wrapped around them like a cocoon.

Neither of them moved, neither of them spoke, but in that moment, everything between them felt magnified, the quiet pull of their connection undeniable.

For the first time in months, Daisy didn't feel alone