Page 5 of Taylor
Chapter Two
Caleb
Lilly reappearsa few minutes later with a bag of cotton wool, some warm water, and some butterfly sutures. Together, we clean him up properly and close the cuts on his eyebrows and lip. I did a pretty rushed job at ourplace.
“You seriously have no idea who did this?” Lilly asks, but I think there’s more behind herquestion.
“Why?” I ask sceptically. “Doyou?”
“I have a goodidea.”
“And?” Iprompt.
“Not my story to tell. I might be wrong, and I hope I am, but if he wants you to know then he’ll have to tell you himself. I’m sorry, Caleb. Thank you for looking after him,” she adds when she sees the look on myface.
“What else was I meant todo?”
“You mean a lot to him, youknow.”
“You didn’t even know Iexisted.”
“I didn’t know who you were, but I’ve known there’s been someone for a long time. Taylor’s been…different. I pinpointed it to Christmas two years ago, but it’s all starting to make sense now. You were at Molly and Ryan’s New Year’s party, weren’tyou?”
“Yes.”
“You met Taylor that night. He’s been weird since then. I think you left amark.”
I shrug my shoulders at her. “I don’t know about that,” Iadmit.
“I’ve never known anyone to make an impact on him, but youhave.”
Silence descends around us as I think about what she’s just said. Taylor’s been chasing me for two years, but it’s just for that quick fuck I turned him down on,right?
“I’ll leave you to it. Call us if you need anything. Our bedroom is down the hall. The other guest room is across the corridor, if you want it. Goodnight, Caleb,” she says before giving Taylor a kiss on the forehead and gently running her hand over hishair.
We’d already removed Taylor’s shirt, so I set about taking his jeans off so he can sleep comfortably. I undo his belt but stop when my fingers are hovering above his fly. I told myself I would never get inside Taylor’s pants. I look up to his swollen face. He’s fast asleep with his long dark eyelashes resting against his bruised cheeks. I feel some of the strength behind that promise I made to myself waning. Even swollen and bruised, he’s gorgeous. There are times I’ve nearly caved to him, especially in the early days, but I’ve stayed true to myself. It’s become easier, I guess. The longer I’ve gone without, the less I seem to think about it, though he affects me no less when he insists on walking around the flat in only his boxers, or leaves the bathroom door open when he’s showering. I’m sure my refusal is now just a game tohim.
* * *
Two years ago…
“Hey, stranger,”I say when I answer thephone.
“Hey. I got bored of waiting for yourcall.”
“You’d have been waiting a longtime.”
“You’ve no idea what you’re missing out on.” Just the sound of his deep voice over the phone makes me think that could very well be true. “Anyway,” he says, changing the subject. “A little birdy told me you’ve landed yourself a job in London. Congrats,man.”
“Uh…thanks,” I say with some hesitation. This phone call is weird. I’ve met this guy once and he’s called me to say well done on my new job. There’s got to be more tothis.
“I was wondering if you wanted to go out and celebrate. There’re some insane gay bars in London. I wasn’t sure if you’d had time to try any out yet so I thought I’d offer myservices.”
“You mean you want to get medrunk.”
“Well, yeah, thattoo.”
“I’m good thanks,Taylor.”
