First Crush, My Forever

Chapter 102

  Sunday morning comes slowly, sunlight creeping through the curtains. My whole body feels heavy, sore in ways I don't even want to admit, and I shift carefully against the sheets.

  Behind me, Taytum stirs, her arm tightening around my waist. "Easy, baby," she mumbles against my hair, her voice still thick with sleep. Then she chuckles, smug. "Told you I was gonna wear you out."

  I elbow her half-heartedly, heat rushing to my cheeks. "You're impossible."

  She presses a kiss between my shoulder blades, humming like she's proud of herself. "Maybe but you love me."

  She's right, and the thought alone makes my chest ache in the best way.

  I stay still for a moment, letting her breath warm the back of my neck. Her arm is heavy around me, but in a way that feels safe, like she's holding me together. She always runs a little hot in her sleep, and I breathe her in, the faint mix of her shampoo and the woods from last night's fire pit. I don't think I've ever felt this completely at home in someone's arms.

  I roll to face Taytum, and she grins like she's been waiting for me to do it. Her hair is sticking up in every direction, her eyes heavy-lidded, but she still looks beautiful. She tucks a strand of mine behind my ear and murmurs, "Morning, gorgeous."

  I laugh under my breath. "You're ridiculous."

  "Ridiculously in love," she says, smirking, before kissing me. It's soft at first, lazy, then a little deeper, her tongue brushing mine in a way that makes me forget I'm supposed to be sore.

  She pulls back just enough to smile against my lips. "You should see yourself right now. I swear you're glowing. Might be the baby. Might just be me."

  I swat at her chest, blushing hotter. "You're so full of yourself."

  Her hand slides down to rest over my stomach, her thumb moving slow circles there. "Nah. I'm full of you." Her voice softens. "I don't ever wanna wake up without you next to me."

  That steals my breath for a second, the weight of her words heavier than anything else in the room. I press my forehead to hers and whisper, "Me either."

  We stay tangled up longer than we should, kissing slowly, her fingers tracing lazy shapes on my hip that make me shiver even through the soreness. She notices, smirks, and whispers, "I could make you forget all about that ache before we have to leave."

  I bury my face in her chest, laughing. "Taytum!"

  Her laugh shakes both of us, warm and low. She kisses my hair. "Fine. I'll behave. For now."

  The drive home is quiet in the best way. My body aches, the kind of soreness that makes every shift in my seat remind me of last night. Taytum keeps sneaking glances at me, her smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth like she knows exactly why I'm squirming.

  "You good over there, baby?" she teases, her hand sliding across the console to squeeze my thigh.

  I roll my eyes, though it comes with a smile. "I'm fine. Just... sore."

  Her grin widens. "That's 'cause I did my job right."

  I swat at her arm, laughing even though I'm blushing. "See, you're ridiculous."

  She lifts my hand to her lips, kissing over my knuckles like she's trying to make up for the teasing. "Nah. I'm in love. Big difference."

  That shuts me up, leaves me staring out the window with my heart swelling against my ribs.

  The miles slip by, radio humming soft in the background, Taytum humming along under her breath. Every so often, I catch her sneaking glances at me, soft and proud, and it makes me wonder if she'll ever understand what she does to me.

  By the time we pull into the driveway, my heart feels steadier, though my body protests the second I step out of the suv. My thighs ache, my hips sore, and I try to mask the limp in my step. Of course, Taytum notices.

  "You okay, baby?" she murmurs, hand hovering at my back.

  I nod quickly. "Just walking it off."

  Before I can say more, we both spot KK playing in the yard next door with Lauren and Kyler. She sees us first, her little legs pumping as she runs toward us, arms wide. "Mommy! Mama T!"

  I bend to greet her, wincing only a little as I pull her against me. Her hair tickles my cheek, her giggle spilling over my shoulder. God, I missed her.

  Lauren comes over, smiling knowingly, but it's Kyler who raises an eyebrow when I straighten up a little stiff. Her lips twitch like she's fighting back a grin. "Rough night?"

  My face heats instantly, but before I can answer, Taytum slips in smooth as ever, her arm sliding around my waist. "Just tired," she says, flashing a grin that makes both her moms laugh.

  Lauren shakes her head, chuckling. "Mm-hm. Tired. Got it."

  KK squirms loose, already tugging me toward the porch, chattering about the games she played and what she ate. I let her lead me, grateful for the distraction, while Taytum lingers long enough to hug her moms. I catch Kyler leaning in to whisper something that makes Taytum's ears pink, but she just laughs it off.

  Once we've gathered KK's bag and said our thank-yous, the three of us walk back across the yard to our house. Taytum's hand finds mine again, KK skipping between us, and for a second, it feels like the world is exactly as it should be.

  The rest of the afternoon rolls easy. We spend time with KK, coloring at the table, then I watch as Taytum chases her outside when she decides she's a racecar. Watching Taytum run after her, both of them laughing so loud the neighbors probably hear, makes my chest go warm. This is what I always wanted.

  KK finally tumbles into the grass, giggling so hard she can barely catch her breath. Taytum drops down beside her, pretending to be out of breath too, then glances at me with that same crooked smile that makes my stomach flip. KK scrambles up and shouts, "Mommy, Mama T's too slow!" I laugh, shaking my head, but the way Taytum winks at me across the yard makes it clear she's letting our girl win.

  When we go back inside, we unpack slowly, listening to KK's endless stories, and when neither of us feel like cooking, Taytum insists on picking up Chinese food. I curl on the couch with KK, watching cartoons while we wait, her little body pressed against me, and I swear I can still feel Taytum's warmth on my skin even though she's not in the room.

  When she comes back with bags that smell like heaven, and we eat at the table with KK talking a mile a minute about the fun she had with Nana L and Nana K. I keep catching Taytum looking at me like she can't believe this is her life, and it makes me want to cry in the best way.

  After dinner, Taytum cracks open one of the fortune cookies and reads it in an over-the-top voice. "You will soon receive great riches and even greater kisses." She waggles her brows at me until I snort, shaking my head. KK demands one too, and when she opens hers, she announces proudly, "It says I'm the boss." Taytum groans dramatically, and KK beams like she just won the lottery. The sound of their laughter together is the sweetest thing I've ever heard.

  Later, once KK is in bed asleep, I curl up on the couch with Taytum. My body feels tired, heavy, but my heart is light, floating. Taytum grabs the stack of mail she picked up when she came back with dinner and starts flipping through it.

  "Electric bill... junk... junk," she mutters. Then she pauses, brow furrowing as she pulls out a large envelope.

  She hands it to me. "Dani this is for you." No return address, just my name.

  I stare at it, my chest tightening. The paper feels heavier than it should in my hands. Taytum slides her fingers over mine, warm and steady.

  "Whatever it is," she whispers, "we'll go through it together."

  I nod, even though my hands are shaking.