Tara noticed the flash of hope in Selena's eyes, a glimmer so brief it could have gone unnoticed, but it didn't escape her. Tara smiled, tilting her head slightly, and repeated, "I truly am not married."
Selena pointed at the ring. "Then… what's this?"
"Oh, this?" Tara said, glancing down at her left hand. She rotated the ring thoughtfully, a faint glint of amusement in her eyes. "That's my proposal ring. To the woman I want to marry someday. I haven't asked her yet, though."
Selena's heart plummeted, a familiar ache creeping in. Tara might not be married yet, but the intention, the commitment was already there. She knew now she would never have a place beside her.
The sensation of something crucial seemed to drain from her, like a lifeline slipping away. She took a shaky breath, forcing herself to keep a semblance of composure, and mustered a polite smile. "Well, then I'll congratulate you in advance. I'm sure it'll go well."
Without waiting for a response, Selena murmured, "I need some rest. It's been a long day." She turned to walk away, but as she passed Tara, her wrist was suddenly caught in a firm grip. Tara's voice, soft but intense, fell over her shoulder:
"Though… she isn't even my girlfriend yet. Don't you think proposing now would be a little too abrupt?"
Selena stopped and glanced back at her, the slight crease in her brow hinting at mixed emotions. "Does she even know how you feel?"
Tara arched a brow, considering. "Maybe she does. Maybe she doesn't."
Selena's heart had ricocheted from hope to despair so many times that night, and now, as she allowed herself a deep breath, her voice came out steady but tired. She looked at those dark, thoughtful eyes and muttered, "Most people establish a relationship before they jump straight to proposing."
At this, Tara's expression took on a contemplative look.
Selena raised her wrist, glancing at the time as she freed herself from Tara's grasp. She felt the lingering warmth from Tara's touch, her pulse racing with the turmoil of unspoken words and emotions. "It's getting late. You paid for the room, so you should take the bed. I'll sleep on the couch."
"Selena, don't go."
This time, her wrist was held firmly, and the pull was enough that she stumbled slightly, catching herself against Tara's shoulder.
That scent—Tara's scent—was unfamiliar yet enticing, a faint, woodsy fragrance that tugged at something deep in her. Selena realized how close she was, the cold drops of water from Tara's still-damp hair trickling along her neck. It was Tara's voice, husky with something unspoken, that made Selena's heart stutter. "Selena… could you help me dry my hair?"
The soft, heated murmur near her ear made her hands tremble slightly. Tara's voice dropped to a tender plea. "Please?"
In the washroom, the space felt smaller than before. Selena's fingers combed through Tara's dark hair, warmed by the blow dryer's gentle heat, though it did nothing to cool the flush that crept up her neck. Each slow pass revealed glimpses of Tara's slender neck, the delicate slope, the contrast between fair skin and raven hair, a harmony that stirred her in unexpected ways.
Tara's head was slightly bowed, leaning forward. Her graceful neck exposed a line that, for a brief second, Selena imagined pressing her lips against. The thought jolted her, and she shook herself out of it, but not before Tara glanced up in the mirror, her gaze catching the lingering desire in Selena's eyes. Tara didn't comment, simply smiled and lowered her head again, a small, pleased smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
The dryer's hum filled the room, the silence stretching as Selena shifted to cold air for the finishing touches on Tara's hair, now already dry. She told herself it was for Tara's comfort, even if her heart still pounded.
After a while, Tara stretched her neck, her voice soft. "Are we done, Selena? My neck's getting a little stiff."
Selena quickly turned off the dryer, brushing her nose to hide her blush. "Yes… yes, we're done," she murmured, her voice shaky.
Tara smiled, the flash of her teeth highlighting the remnants of her old, playful self. "Thanks." She took Selena's warm hand in hers for just a moment, pressing gently before letting go and moving toward the bedroom.
It was only a fleeting gesture, but Selena could still feel Tara's touch lingering in her hand, and for a moment, she just watched her go, captivated by the slender, retreating silhouette.
After a few seconds, Selena followed.
The lights in the room were off, leaving only the faint glow of the bedside lamp casting warm shadows across Tara's face. She was seated on the edge of the bed, face softened by the light, her gaze fixed on the laptop in her lap.
Selena walked closer, fingers lightly resting on the laptop's top. "It's late, Tara. Maybe you should just rest?"
Tara looked up, her dark gaze shimmering in the low light. Selena could see a kind of intensity in her eyes that hadn't been there before, an intensity that seemed to pull her in.
This was the difference, Selena realized. The old Tara had hidden her fierceness, pretending to be the docile sheep, but the Tara in front of her was open and bold, fully aware of her power. And Selena found herself unexpectedly drawn to this change.
Tara snapped the laptop closed, setting it aside. Selena's hand fell gently onto Tara's, the coldness of Tara's skin feeling like porcelain beneath her touch. She didn't pull away.
For a moment, they sat there in silence, before Tara murmured, "Your hand is warm."
There was an undercurrent to her voice, her words landing with weight. "Maybe you had other things on your mind before going to bed?"
Selena stiffened. She couldn't deny what she felt, but she couldn't risk it either. She pulled her hand back slowly. "No, that's just because your hand is cold," she said, averting her gaze.
Tara chuckled, a low, knowing sound. It was the type of laugh that suggested she could see right through her.
"Fine," Selena said finally. "I just want to sleep and enjoy my New Year's break."
"Of course." Tara leaned back on her bed, lifting the covers and patting the empty side. "Well, what are you waiting for?"
Selena clenched her hands to steady her thoughts. "I'll be fine sleeping outside," she said, pointing to the couch.
Tara nodded, pulling the blanket back up and letting it settle around her shoulders. "Suit yourself."
As she left, she felt both relief and a strange disappointment. But just as she turned, she hesitated. Something about Tara's calm response made her uneasy, almost as if Tara had expected her to leave. Selena walked back to the bed, ignoring Tara's curious look, and gently pulled back the blanket.
Tara didn't stop her, letting her hand drift across Selena's arm instead, the touch lingering. Just beneath the robe's folds, Selena glimpsed the smooth line of Tara's collarbone.
Selena held her breath, one hand lightly tracing the thin fabric, fingertips brushing against Tara's collar. But she froze, her breath catching as their eyes met, heat building between them, unspoken but understood.
Tara's hand finally fell away, and Selena adjusted the blanket, pulling it back up to Tara's shoulders. "You're still coughing, so you should stay warm."
The response was soft, but certain: "Good night, then."
Selena escaped to the couch, wrapping herself tightly in the spare blanket. She was exhausted, but rest refused to come easily. Her mind kept replaying the way Tara's skin felt beneath her fingers, the glimpse of her tattoo, the touch of Tara's cold, porcelain-like hands. Her own hand lingered on the memory, the feeling haunting her with each heartbeat.
In the silence, she finally drifted into a fitful sleep, the image of Tara's silhouette etched in her mind.
The next morning, Tara's first thought was whether Selena had stayed. For a brief moment, she feared waking to an empty room, her time with Selena nothing but a vivid dream.
But there, by the window, Selena sat at the small table, a magazine in her hands, bathed in the morning light filtering through the window. Hearing Tara stir, she glanced over, her lips curving into a gentle smile. "Good morning."
The tension from the night before vanished, replaced by something softer, more fragile. Tara's lips lifted in a matching smile, something warm and tender in her gaze. "Good morning."
Selena tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, glancing at the clock. "So… what's the plan for today?"