Chapter sixty-eight:

Jenna got out of a hot bath and put on a fresh pair of pajamas.

She had hoped that a hot bath would make her feel better, but it didn’t.

She dressed in a different pair of pajamas, feeling that the previous pair no longer felt clean, after all she had worn them through.

She found Taylor in the tiny living room putting a pillow at one end of the sofa, and folding a blanket over the opposite end.

“Tay? What are you doing?” Jenna asked.

“Well, I thought since we ended up with a room with just one bed, I’d sleep in the sofa…” He began.

“You don’t have to do that…”

In all honesty, she felt much better being in bed with a close friend than alone, especially after her life was threatened.
”I think it might be best if I took the sofa. How would you explain to Luke that you slept in the same bed as some other man?” Taylor laughed.

“We won’t tell him, just like we’re not going to tell him about what happened tonight…”

Taylor drew in a deep breath. “That’s a lot of secrets. Is everything alright with Luke?”

“Fine…” She paused. “Look, Tay. We’re just good friends. We’re both mature adults here. Nothing is going to happen…”

Taylor sighed and sat down on the arm of a chair. “Talk to me.”

“About what?” Jenna crossed her arms over her chest defensively, prepared for an argument.

“You’re scared about what happened tonight, but you won’t admit it. You can tell me you know?”
Jenna drew in a deep breath. “Alright, I’m scared shitless. I’ve been getting emails…”

Taylor raised his eyebrows. “Why didn’t you tell the police that?” He demanded.

“I don’t know… It didn’t seem important. I was distracted, I don’t know. I didn’t read them or anything. I just figured that it was some looser trying to scare us.”

“And them attacking Becky before, and what they did tonight, you never thought it was anything more serious than that?”

Jenna sighed. “Taylor, look. I’m really shaken up about this okay? They hurt Becky three years ago, and any one of us could be next…” She stopped suddenly.
”Jen, it’s okay.” He placed a hand over hers. “We’re going to fix this, okay?”

“Yeah…” she took a deep breath. “There’s no reason to get worked up over this… I’m going to go to bed.”

“You’re sure you want me in there too?” He asked again.

She nodded. “I think I’ll feel safer if I’m not alone.”

“Alright, I’ll be in there in a minute.”
Jenna turned off the overhead light in the bedroom and switched on a lamp. She stacked the pillows behind her and sat up in bed, and opened her book in her lap. However, she couldn’t concentrate on the words in front of her. She didn’t think she would be able to sleep either.

Taylor came into the room, wearing a pair of flannel pajama pants and had the same t-shirt on as he had all day long. Some band Jenna had never heard of.

“What are you reading?” He asked curiously, setting down the pillow he had brought in from the living room and unfolding the extra blanket over the bed.

“Oh, it’s a book of poetry by Emily Dickenson.”

He nodded. “You’re into feminist poetry?”

Jenna smiled. “I don’t know if I’d call her a feminist…”

“Alright. Are you going to bed now? I thought you were tired.”

“I am…” She put her book aside.

“You don’t have to go to bed just because I am. You can sit up and read, the light won’t bother me.” He said, slipping his shirt over his head to reveal a chiseled and well-defined upper body. A lean and muscular torso which was very much different than what she had seen before.
She looked back at her book awkwardly. “I think I’m going to try and sleep.”
"Alright.” He climbed into the other side of the bed, and pulled the blankets up to his waist.

Jenna turned off the light and settled down beside him, leaving a good two foot gap between their bodies.

After a moment’s silence in the darkness, Jenna spoke. “Tay?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you do me a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Will you sing to me?”

“Will it help you get to sleep?”

“I think so. I left all of my Hanson CDs at the house…”

Taylor didn’t really want to listen to himself, and was glad her albums were at the house. “Sure, what song?”

“I don’t care. Something new?”

“Alright.” He thought for a moment. He debated on ‘Never love again’, but thought it was slightly inappropriate. “How about ‘Never Let go’?”

“I don’t think I’ve heard that…”

“Okay, get comfortable, and I’ll sing.”

She rustled around for a moment, and turned over on her side.

Taylor cleared his throat and began to sing in a breathy and soft voice, he hoped would lull her into sleep. It appeared to work. Before the song was finished, her breathing had slowed considerably.

He smiled to himself and pulled the blankets up over her shoulders. The smile faded from his lips.

Just when he thought he was getting over her, was he falling for her all over again?

NEXT>>