By the time I reached my street, the cool air had already settled something inside me, but not enough to untangle the mess in my head. I walked slowly, dragging out the last bit of quiet before stepping into the world where I had to pretend everything was fine again. The faint glow from my window told me Taylor was still awake, which wasn’t unusual, but tonight it made my stomach tighten. I knew he’d notice the way I was off.
I inhaled deeply and pushed the door open, bracing myself for whatever expression he’d be wearing.
The moment I stepped inside, I barely had time to blink before Taylor crossed the room in three long strides and pulled me into a tight hug. His arms wrapped around me like he’d been holding his breath until I appeared, and the force of it nearly knocked the wind out o
