Page 59 of Caleb

Every smile, every shared laugh, every moment he spent with Liam had chipped away at the walls she’d built around her heart. And now, those walls were in ruins, leaving her vulnerable and exposed in a way that scared her more than she wanted to admit.

How could he not see it?she wondered, running a hand through her hair as she paced the living room.How could he not feel it too?

But the doubt crept in like a shadow, whispering fears she didn’t want to face. What if he had disappeared again? What if he couldn’t handle the weight of their history, their present, their future?

A knock at the door shattered the silence, and she frowned, setting her mug down as she stood. Who would show up this late?

When she opened the door, her breath caught.

Caleb stood there, his hair slightly tousled from the wind, his expression a mix of determination and vulnerability. He looked at her like she was the only thing keeping him grounded, and for a moment, she couldn’t find the words.

“Caleb,” she said softly. “It’s late.”

“I need to talk to you,” he said, his voice low but steady. “Alone.”

Taylor hesitated, glancing over her shoulder toward the bedroom upstairs where Liam slept. Before she could say anything, her mother appeared in the kitchen doorway, her brow raised.

“I’ll watch Liam,” Grace said, her gaze flicking between them knowingly. “You two go ahead.”

“Thanks,” Caleb said, his shoulders relaxing slightly. Taylor’s mother gave her a small smile before retreating, leaving them alone.

Though it was late, Caleb grabbed Taylor’s hand, his touch warm and insistent. “Come with me,” he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Where are we going?” Taylor asked, her brows furrowing as he led her outside.

“Someplace special,” he replied cryptically, helping her into the truck before jogging to the driver’s side.

As they drove through the quiet streets of Austin, Taylor studied him in the glow of the dashboard lights. His jaw was set, and his eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead, but a nervous energy about him made her pulse quicken.

“Caleb,” she said softly, “what’s going on?”

“Patience,” he replied, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Caleb was acting different tonight. Something about him—a calmness, a focus—reminded Taylor of the man she’d reconnected with before she told him about the job offer.

It was subtle, but it was there in the way he carried himself; his eyes seemed less guarded, and the faint curve of a smile hinted he wasn’t weighed down by whatever had been holding him back.

Had he needed time to think? Time to process what her news meant before he could finally talk about it?

She studied him quietly, her thoughts racing. Caleb wasn’t a man who rushed into things. He was deliberate, careful, and maybe he’d taken the time to figure out where he stood and what he wanted.

And, selfishly, she hoped that what he wanted was her.

When they finally reached the state capitol building, Taylor blinked in surprise. The grand structure loomed against the night sky, its dome illuminated by soft golden lights.

“What are we doing here?” she asked, glancing at him as he turned off the engine.

“You’ll see,” he said, stepping out and hurrying around to open her door.

He retook her hand as they climbed the broad stone steps, his grip firm but slightly sweaty. At this hour, the city was quiet, the usual hustle and bustle replaced by the faint hum of distant traffic.

“Caleb,” Taylor said, her tone teasing but tinged with curiosity, “you know we can’t get inside, right?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “We’re not going inside.”

When they reached the top of the steps, Caleb stopped and turned to face the city. The view was breathtaking. The lights of Austin stretched before them, sparkling like a sea of stars, while the cool night air carried the faint scent of jasmine from the nearby gardens.

“It’s beautiful,” Taylor whispered, her gaze sweeping over the cityscape.

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