Page 32 of Taylor
Chapter Six
Taylor
“Alright,alright, break it up you two. Grandma’s eyes are about to pop out of her head and I need my photographer back,” Beth says, making me pull away from Caleb’slips.
I look over her shoulder to see her grandma grinning at us. It seems she was enjoying the show. “I don’t think she has an issue; look at that gleam in hereye.”
“Ugh, Taylor,” Beth complains but smiles and grabs my hand at the same time. “It’s time for our first dance. Come on.” I put down the drink I’ve had about two sips of before following behind her like I have all day. And, just like I have all day, I feel Caleb’s eyes burn into the back of me. I swear he didn’t watch a second of his sister getting married earlier. Every time I looked back, his eyes were glued to my arse—not that I’m complaining. It’s nice to know he’s so into me that even his sister tying the knot can’t distracthim.
When I turned up earlier and found him in his slim fit suit I was taken right back to the first time I laid my eyes on him at Molly’s party. He looked just as breath-taking today as he did that night. I’d been on edge since hanging up the phone earlier. What I nearly said out loud to him shook me. The words almost flowed from my lips so easily. I’ve never said them out loud to anyone other than my mum and Lilly, and the meaning was very different. Does the fact that the words practically fell out of my mouth mean they’re true? Am I in love with CalebWest?
* * *
The restof the weekend in Paris is incredible. I’ve never had the opportunity to travel much outside the UK. I’ve only actually flown once before and that was with Lilly a couple of years ago for a week in the sun. It if wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t have had a passport and I wouldn’t have been able to come here. I can’t lie; attempting to find my way around Heathrow airport alone was a bit of a challenge, but knowing who was waiting for me at the other end of the short flight was enough to keep megoing.
Caleb and I spend the weekend seeing the sights Paris has to offer. I’m thrilled that it’s also his first time here. It meant we could discover everything together. The city is exactly as I expected it to be, and I’m gutted when the time comes for us to leave our hotel for the airport. I could easily spend the whole weekhere.
“Have you got everything?” Caleb asks as he wheels his case to thedoor.
I look around our room to check I’ve not left anything behind before taking one last look at the amazing view. I let out a huge breath as I turn to head for the door. I’m really not ready to leave our little paradiseyet.
“Yeah, I’m good. When we get back, can we book a holiday? Just us two; I don’t care where. I want to discover new places like we have here, make some memories together.” I don’t add that I have so many bad memories from my childhood that I’m hoping the new ones with him will push themout.
“Sounds like a plan. Come on, let’sgo.”
Hand in hand, we head down to the hotel reception to say goodbye to Beth and Daniel, who are staying here a few more days before heading off on their six-week honeymoon tour around Europe. I’ve never really spent much time thinking about travelling before, but having had a taste of Paris, I’m seriously jealous of what they’re about to embarkon.
I give Beth a kiss on the cheek and shake Daniel’s hand before standing back to allow Caleb to have some time with his sister. As we stand there, his parents come to join us along with Molly, Ryan, and Lois. Last to appear are Steven and his family, and once we’ve all said goodbye to the happy couple, we jump in taxis and head for theairport.
“Would you like a drink, Sir?” the flight attendant asks once the seatbelt sign isoff.
“I’m fine, thank you,” I answer sadly. I look to my right to see a random stranger sat there. My last-minute booking on this flight meant I had to sit away from the others. After being with Caleb almost 24/7 over the past couple of days, the separation has hit me kinda hard—harder than I was expecting,anyway.
I find the others in baggage reclaim. I came with hand luggage—it wasn’t like I had time to pack anything. It’s Penny who sees me first, and I’m amazed by the smile she gives me when our eyes meet. It seems that saving the day by appearing with my camera has softened hersomewhat.
“How was your flight?” she asks when I get close enough to hear her. Anyone eavesdropping would think we were on differentflights.
“Long,” I reply, even thought the flight wasn’t much more than an hour, “and lonely,” Iadd.
“Well you’re back with usnow.”
Caleb turns towards us after grabbing a bag off the conveyor belt and his face lightsup.
“Hey, we tried waiting for you when we got inside but the attendant moved us on,” he says as he runs his hand down my arm. Just that small gesture has goosebumps pricking myskin.
“No worries. Are you all set?” I ask, looking at the pile of cases around hisfeet.
After stopping for lunch, Caleb’s parents, Molly, Ryan and Lois all headoff.
“I told you she’d warm to you eventually,” Caleb comments as we watch them all walk away. He’s right, because I just got a pretty big hug off his mum, something I never thought would happen after that first time I mether.
“Come on, let’s gohome.”
“Aboutthat…”
“You kicking meout?”
“No…I was…uh…wondering…wanna move into my room?” Caleb asks in arush.
