Page 15 of Caleb

“Yeah, it was,” Taylor admitted, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the comforter. “And that’s what makes it so frustrating. I want to hate him. I should hate him after everything, but I just... I can’t.”

Grace hummed thoughtfully on the other end of the line. “Why do you think that is?”

Taylor stared at the hotel carpet, the pattern swirling like the thoughts in her mind. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because he’s different now. Or maybe it’s because I’ve spent so much time trying to move on that I forgot how he could make me feel—how charming and infuriating he can be all at once.”

Grace’s voice was gentle when she spoke. “It’s okay to feel conflicted, Taylor. You went through a lot with him. Those feelings don’t just disappear, no matter how much time has passed.”

Taylor shook her head as if her mother could see her. “I can’t let myself go there, Mom. He walked away once, and I won’t give him the chance to do it again. It’s better for everyone if I avoid him.”

Her mother chuckled softly. “How’s that working out for you so far?”

Taylor groaned, flopping back onto the bed. “Not great. We keep running into each other. And every time I tell myself I’m going to ignore him, he says or does something that catches me off guard. Like introducing me to that client tonight. I didn’t know what to say except thank you.”

“Well, maybe that’s all you needed to say,” Grace said. “You don’t have to figure out the whole picture tonight, Taylor. Just take things one moment at a time.”

Taylor closed her eyes, the weight of her mother’s words settling over her. “I’ll try. But it’s not easy, Mom. Seeing him stirs up everything I’ve worked so hard to put behind me. And it’s not just about me anymore. I have Liam to think about.”

The thought of her son growing close to his father was bittersweet. She feared that if she told Caleb about Liam, he’d abandon her son, just like he had her. And then her son would be hurting, and she would move mountains to keep that from happening.

“I know,” Grace said gently. “But don’t let fear decide for you. You’re strong, Taylor. Stronger than you give yourself credit for. Whatever happens, you’ll handle it.”

Taylor swallowed hard, her throat tight with emotion. “Thanks, Mom.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Now, get some rest. And don’t worry—I’ll call you if Liam’s cough gets any worse. But I have a feeling he’ll be just fine.”

“Okay,” Taylor said softly. “Goodnight, Mom. Love you.”

“Love you too,” Grace said before the call ended.

Taylor set the phone on the nightstand and stared at the ceiling, her mind still tangled with conflicting emotions.

Seeing Caleb again had been like opening a door she thought she’d locked for good. And now that it was open, she wasn’t sure how to close it again—or if she even wanted to.

All the memories of their time together came rushing back, hitting her like a tidal wave. The laughter, the stolen kisses, the dreams they had whispered to each other late at night—it was all there, tangled up with the hurt.

The sharp pain of discovering she was pregnant without him by her side surged to the surface, mingling with the bitter memory of how he’d ended things. No explanations, no effort to make it work—just a cold, final phone call that left her standing alone in the wreckage of what they’d shared.

She remembered the endless nights spent crying, the tears flowing like a river as she tried to understand how someone who had seemed to care so deeply could suddenly not want her anymore. How he could walk away as though she hadn’t meant anything at all.

Getting ready for bed, the memories of that fateful night when Liam was created flashed in her mind. A tear slipped down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away. She’d promised herself she would not cry over Caleb Burnett again. It was over, and they were done.

And yet, they had a son he knew nothing about.

She rolled onto her side, pulling the comforter around her like a shield. For Liam’s sake—and her own—she needed to keep Caleb at a distance. No matter how much her heart betrayed her, stirring at the memory of his grin and the sound of his laugh.

But as she drifted off to sleep, Taylor couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that avoiding Caleb would be harder than she’d thought.

CHAPTER7

Taylor stepped into the Italian restaurant in the hotel’s lobby, sighing at the delicious aroma of garlic, tomatoes, and freshly baked bread that greeted her. After a full day of meetings and presentations, all she wanted was a quiet meal, a glass of wine, and a few moments to herself.

A few moments. That was all she wanted. A few moments where her face didn’t feel like it was frozen in a polite, welcoming smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. A few moments where she didn’t feel like she was on a stage, auditioning for a part she wasn’t even sure she wanted.

And most of all, a few moments where she wasn’t constantly looking over her shoulder, wondering where Caleb was, wondering if he was watching her, wondering if she’d catch him looking.

Pretending she was fine—calm, unaffected—was exhausting. All she wanted was a sliver of peace long enough to catch her breath and silence the chaotic swirl of emotions he always seemed to stir up.

Approaching the maître d's desk, she politely smiled at the sharply dressed man behind it.

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