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“She’s my superpup! Plus she hates the water, so it’s a win-win for her. She gets to come out adventuring with her mum AND not get her paws wet. What a princess.”

“I can’t wait to see it in real life,” Sam said as she leaned around Taylor to check out the new game boxes, brushing their shoulders as she moved past.

“Oh, you guys heading out together?” Jess asked Sam.

Taylor caught Jess eyeing her from the couch over her drink, giving her a look she couldn’t decipher.

“Yeah, I’ve never been. Taylor’s going to teach me sometime,” Sam replied. There was that smile aimed at Taylor again.

Once Sam turned back to watch the next game as it was set up, Taylor widened her eyes back at Jess. She just rolled her eyes in return and started up a conversation with Heath about Adam’s bad habit of wearing mismatched socks. Adam, being used to their antics, just sat there smiling all smug while he sipped his drink. Taylor had no idea whatthatwas about, but she’d no doubt be hearing all about it later.

Marie started explaining the rules to Sam, the only one yet to playDice Throne, as she finished setting it all up. This time, everyone was assigned their own characters in an all-for-one, one-for-all battle.

Taylor was unfortunately taken out first by a very lucky Ultimate roll from Adam. Sam was out soon after. While she’d tried her best, being her first go, she just didn’t know the strategies yet, and Taylor’s friends were monsters when it came to these game nights. There was no holding back, even for new meat.

That left the two of them sitting there, legs under the table, chilling together. Taylor grabbed a spare blanket from the couch and draped it over the both of them while they spectated.

“Thanks.” Sam snuggled in and got comfy. It was amazing how natural they acted around each other; it felt like Sam was an old friend, even as she realised this was the first time they were officially hanging out together in a non-work-related capacity.

They were touching all the way down their sides now, and Taylor wasn’t really sure where to put her arm, so she just left it under the blanket between them, slowly packing up their characters with her free hand. It wasn’t long before she felt Sam’s fingers tentatively brush hers again.

This time, she knew it was deliberate. She heard the intake of breath at the contact, like Sam was testing the waters. She sat still, her whole body felt like it was vibrating at the touch. What was going on with her? She didn’t usually react this way with women, especially just friends. Sam’s finger ever so slowly moved along the edge of Taylor’s hand. She felt her pinky twitch in response, her heart starting to hammer in her chest.

Up.

And down.

“No!” Marie cried, after she went for a roll and missed. Taylor almost jumped at the outburst.

“Thank god!” Jess exclaimed, her character narrowly missing out on losing a bunch of health from Marie’s failed turn.

Taylor watched on in amusement, trying her best to be present but finding it harder and harder. She licked her lips and swallowed, trying to keep her breathing even, eyes still on the game. She carefully turned her hand over as Sam started to trace her palm instead. The movement started sending waves through her body as she felt herself heating up, which was ridiculous. Sam was just touching her hand for god sake.

Two could play at that game.

She turned Sam’s hand over then ever so slowly slid her fingers up to the tips, back down to the palm, then in between her fingers. She repeated the motion, sneaking a glance at Sam’s face. She was playing along watching everyone, but she could see a faint curl of pink making its way up the side of her neck.

Boy, did she just want to push that hair aside and?—

A Malteser smacked her straight between the eyes. “Hey!” Taylor shouted, accidentally whacking one hand on the table, game pieces scattering everywhere, the blanket launching into the air with the other.

“That’ll teach you for spacing out.” Jess popped another Malteser in her mouth, glaring.

“You can talk, Miss Munchies over there.” Taylor folded her arms playfully.

“At least my character is still in the game, sonyeh!” Jess pulled a face, making them both crack up. God, she loved her friends.

“Hey, careful with the game, you two!” Heath scolded, sending them both daggers before cleaning up the table.

“I didn’t even touch anything,” Jess whined. Heath ignored her, planning out which cards to play on his turn.

Taylor changed positions, sitting up on her knees so she could give herself a little space from Sam and somehow try to keep focused. Get her heart rate back down to somewhere in the range of normal. This night was turning out more interesting than she ever anticipated.

Adam ended up the winner, continuing his lucky streak and taking everyone down. Next came a few rounds of various card games, of which Sam managed to win a game or two, then they finished off the night onWingspan.

Before Taylor knew it, people were stretching, starting to yawn and packing everything away, ready to call it a night.

“Thank you so much for having me! Your house is so lovely. I had such a great night.” Sam looked relaxed and happy, the weariness of a big night starting to show around the edges.