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“You’re welcome anytime. Hopefully we see you at the next round. Jess, you guys are hosting next, yeah?” Marie checked, putting a few cans into the recycling.

“Sure are.” Jess swept past Taylor and swung an arm around Sam. “And youbetterbe coming toourgames night. You’re not bad for a newbie.”

“Pretty sure that was all Taylor in the first game.”

“Pfft,” Taylor chimed in. “You were the one egging me on to push our luck, and that’s what paid off. Team effort!” She threw up her hand, and Sam high-fived her back.

They said their goodbyes and made their way home. The drive back to Taylor’s house was quiet, neither of them bringing up what had happened back at Marie and Hayley’s. Sam stared out of the window for the most part, and Taylor was busy focusing on the road. While ignoring the obvious, things between them felt relaxed, and she hoped she hadn’t overstepped their friendship… or whatever the hell this was now. Her brain hurt thinking about it. Then her thoughts landed on Liz. Nope. Didn’t want to go there either. She let out a sigh.

“You good?”

“Yep, sorry.” She threw Sam a quick smile. “Game nights always zonk me out. So much thinking and all that jazz. Thanks for coming though. I enjoyed the company.”A lot.

“You were right about the new games; they were awesome. And your friends are great too.” A pause. “I guess your company wasn’t bad either.”

She caught Sam’s smirk out of the corner of her eye as she pulled into her driveway.

They got out, Taylor feeling sad the night was almost over as she walked Sam over to her car.

“Well, thanks again,” Sam said, shuffling her feet. “Have a good night Tay.”

Tay. That was new. She liked it. Especially when it was coming from Sam.

A car door shut behind them as Jess got home too. Aware of her within listening distance, Taylor knew this wasn’t the time to bring up what happened earlier.

“You too, Sam.”

Sam looked over Taylor’s shoulder, giving Jess a quick wave before Jess let herself into the house, Belle loudly declaring how excited she was to have them home from the front window.

“Well, I better get inside and shut my lovable dog up before she wakes the whole damn street.” Taylor chuckled, hooking a thumb over her shoulder.

“Yeah, no, of course.” Sam moved forward and hugged her goodbye, both holding on for a beat longer than necessary.

“Have a safe drive back. Message when you get home?”

“Yes, Mum.”

Taylor grinned as she watched Sam drive off, giving her a final wave she probably couldn’t see.

“What the hell was that all about?” Jess grilled her as soon as she walked in the door. She looked up from patting Belle.

“What do you mean?”

“NightTay,” she mimicked Sam. “You never let anyone call youTay. Do you like her? What happened to Taylor Time?”

“Didn’t realise we were playing twenty questions.” She walked into the lounge, Jess following behind her.

“That’s not an answer.”

“We’re friends.” A sigh. She knew Jess wouldn’t leave her alone until they talked.Reallytalked. “Iamenjoying this time by myself, work’s picking up—which I’m feeling really good about—and I’m not planning on jumping straight into another relationship…” She trailed off.

“But?” Jess prompted, not letting her off the hook.

“But… I’m not going to deny I’m attracted to her, yeah. I don’t even know if she likes girls!”

“She does give off straight vibes,” Jess agreed. “Although you guys did seem pretty close all night.”

“I mean, we were game partners half the time.”