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“See!?” Taylor exclaimed as Sam howled with laughter.

“Oh, I saw. The big, mean moth almost threw you overboard.” She was doubled over now. Taylor could see how stupid it looked from Sam’s perspective and set herself off, both of them ending up on their butts in uncontrollable laughter. Taylor looked at Sam, tears streaming down her face, and started up again.

“Oh… my… god… this… is… so…stupid!” Taylor cried between breaths.

“I know, I can’t breathe,” Sam wheezed, lying back and clutching at her stomach. “It hurts.”

As they settled down, Taylor moved to lie beside Sam on the blanket, catching her breath.

“Man, that was intense.” Taylor let out a slow breath and gazed at the sky above, knees up, an arm draped over her middle.

“Mental note—Tay hates insects of any kind and needs fierce protection from them.”

Taylor pouted. “Moths are the worst, though. They’re so… fluttery. And why do theyalwaysfly at your face?”

“That, I don’t have an answer for, but I’ll make sure to keep an eye out tonight for you.”

“Appreciate it,” Taylor sighed. “This has been a really nice night.”

“It really has.”

She felt Sam’s hand slide into hers, more confidently this time, feeling like home. Sam smiled at her with a small squeeze of her hand before looking back up at the stars.

“Thank you, for tonight and for what you said earlier in the cabin. I’m definitely, uh, figuring things out as far asthisgoes.” She flicked her hand between them. “And just following my gut. All I know is I really wanted—no,needed—to kiss you.”

“I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t had similar thoughts, but I really couldn’t gauge what you were thinking. So, I’m glad you made the first move, especially since I didn’t exactly know if you’d be into someone like me.”

“You and me both. I didn’t know I would be either until you came along. I can’t even really explain it yet, but…” She shrugged. “Here we are.”

“Take all the time you need, and I’m here to talk if you uh, you know, have questions.”

“Thanks, Tay. Let’s be honest, I probably will.”

Taylor rolled onto her side and took another breath. “Well, if we’re on an honest roll right now… remember how I mentionedabout my break up? You’re the first person I’ve kissed since then, which is kind of a big deal for me.”

“Oh wow. Well firstly, I’m honoured. And secondly, while I don’t know what happened between you two, it’s her loss.”

“I don’t want to bring the mood down tonight, so I won’t talk about it more right now, but thanks. That means a lot.”

They lay in companionable silence for a few more minutes, holding hands and staring up at the stars, Sam making sure she pointed out the brightest one.

Chapter Eighteen

“Wow, this is so cosy here at night. I love the fairy lights.” Taylor ran her fingers through them, causing the soft glow to bounce around the cabin.

“It’s pretty magical.” Sam looked around, tapping her chin in thought. “Now, I’ve got some spare clothes around here somewhere you can sleep in.” She finally found them in the compartment under the mattress. “Aha!”

She threw a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt at Taylor. “Not the first time you’ve borrowed my clothes.” Sam winked.

“Ha. Ha. I donotneed a reminder of that day. It feels like so long ago now.”

“Yeah, but just think—if you hadn’t been such a klutz, you wouldn’t be here right now, and we probably wouldn’t have met.”

“That is crazy to think about. Maybe I should bethankingthat coffee instead?” Taylor said, eyebrow raised.

“Maybe.” Sam smiled and grabbed her own pyjamas out of her backpack.

Suddenly, the cabin felt much smaller at the thought of getting changed in front of Taylor. She definitely didn’t have the nerves forthatyet. The butterflies in her stomach barely let herkiss Taylor tonight, let alone risk showing any more skin. Her body, on the other hand, was a traitor—clearly wanting much, much more.