Page 11 of Taylor
I let go of Caleb once we’re in the bathroom before stepping away from him and dropping my boxers. I can’t help but laugh to myself when I hear him clear his throat behindme.
I muster up as much energy as I can and turn around. I can see him fighting to keep his eyes on my face. It’s amusing as hell but after a few seconds he loses the fight and his eyesdrop.
“I—” he starts but continuesstaring.
I take a few steps backwards until I’m in the shower and reach behind me to turn it on. By this time, Caleb has regained his composure and is backing up towards thedoor.
“You’re welcome to join me,” I offer just as he’s about torun.
“Don’t,” he warns. “Don’t tempt me,” he says quieter, and I can only assume it was a volume he wasn’t expecting me to hear over the water. I heard it, though—loud andclear.
I make quick work of the shower and in no time at all I’m hobbling my way out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist. Much to my disappointment, the room isempty.
I find the bag Caleb packed in the middle of the bed. I sit down next to it and pull out some fresh clothes, but the second the smell of bacon hits my nose, I throw them on as fast as my body will allow I head out of the room in search of fried food. After sleeping for days, I’m fuckingstarving.
I come to a stop just out of sight by the kitchen doorway. Lilly and Caleb are both sat at the table in the centre of the room with steaming mugs in theirhands.
“Look,” Lilly starts, “tell me to mind my own business, but you like him, don’t you? What’s stopping you? Taylor’s besotted with you; he has been for a long timenow.”
“He’s a whore who’s only interested in one thing,” Caleb says. Hearing him say it out loud hurts. I think I’d rather take a beating from that arsehole again than hear Caleb give his excuses for why he keeps himself at a distance. I’m not stupid, I knew the reason for his constant knock backs, but he’s never been quite so blunt to myface.
“Yes, he was when we lived together, but that was then. I can only go on what he tells me but I get the impression that’s changed since moving toLondon.”
“He has his moments,” Caleb says more light-heartedly.
“I’m sure he does, but doesn’t everyone? Surely you haven’t been celibate?” Caleb doesn’t respond but his gaze suddenly becomes very fixated on the table. My heart thuds in my chest as the thought of him being with someone else settles into me. I really fucking hate how it feels. I’d never really thought about what he’s been up to. He’s never brought anyone back to the flat, but he’s away a lot and I have no idea what he’s doing then. I guess I just presumed that because he keeps spouting the meaningful, long-term relationship card, he wasn’t seeing anyone. Maybe he’s been doing the same as me and not doing it right under my nose. “So what exactly are you saying here?” Lilly asks, pulling me from my thoughts and bringing my focus back to them. “That Taylor has to keep it in his pants to prove to you he can change his slutty ways while you’re out there getting your rocksoff?”
“I hadn’t thought of it like that,” Caleb admitsquietly.
“It’s a bit hypocritical, Caleb. Taylor is who he is, and his past is his past. None of that is anything you can change. But like I said, he’s different with you. You might just need to stop making excuses and take a leap offaith.”
I watch as Caleb lifts his mug to his mouth slowly, clearly lost in his thought. I wish I could read hismind.
“That smells amazing,” I announce as I round the corner, making my presenceknown.
Lilly smiles brightly but Caleb flinches and looks up like he’s seen aghost.
“Hey,” I say, smiling at him as I walk in and take a seat at the table next tohim.
His lip twitches up in response but he doesn’t say anything. His eyes bore into mine like they’re trying to figure something out. It makes me wonder if the conversation he just had with Lilly might make a difference, or if he’s just curious as to whether I heard any of it ornot.
“Lilly, that was incredible,” I announce with a hand on my belly after polishing off not only a full fry up, but also her famous homemade pancakes topped with fresh fruit, syrup, andcream.
Caleb adds his praise for her cooking before falling quiet once again. He’s barely said anything since I walked in the room. I wish I knew where his head’sat.
* * *
“We should probably head back soon,”I say to Caleb a while later. We’d been sat in Lilly and Lucas’ conservatory, overlooking their very well kept garden as we chatted about life. No more was said about what happened Friday. Lilly knows better than to keep on about it. This isn’t the first time she’s dealt with the aftermath of something like this. And Caleb? Well, he’s too lost in his own head rightnow.
“I need to get back for that shoot tomorrow, but I think maybe you should stay for a few days. Chill out, recover, spend some more time with Lilly,” he sayssadly.
“I’ve got work,” I add, reminding him that life doesn’t stop just because I’ve got a few bruises. Plus,thatshoot he’s talking about is an underwear shoot for a pretty well known designer Caleb and a leggy blonde he often works with have landed. It’s a pretty big deal for him. Him telling me all about it excitedly the day he got the call isn’t the only reason I know all about it. I may just have managed to convince everyone at work that it would be a great high profile job for me to assist with, so that means I get to spend tomorrow afternoon, and probably the day after, basically staring at Caleb in just his teeny tiny undies. Is there a better way to spend a day? Probablynot!
Not only do I have no intention of missing that opportunity, but I also don’t want to allow him to go home without me. I feel like something changed between us this morning, and I can only hope and pray that Caleb’s conversation with Lilly also helped. I’m not risking him going home alone, overthinking it and possibly changing whatever decision it is he might be comingto.
It doesn’t ever escape my attention that I call his flat home. I’m more comfortable there than anywhere I’ve lived before. I thought the flat with Lilly in Cheltenham felt like it but Caleb’s is different…better. I guess that’s another reason I’ve never left or made any attemptto.
* * *
