He grins at her, and I love the fact that they are so close.
“We need to go. You need to get ready for training,” she continues. “I’ll drop you at your place. Ben will meet you there.”
Ben is Caleb’s personal trainer, and he travels with Caleb wherever he goes so he can stay in peak physical condition.
Caleb nods. “Okay.” Then he turns to me. “I have a gym in my penthouse here. Ben trains me at home. But I’ll text you later about tonight.”
“Okay.”
He bends down and drops a quick kiss on my lips. “Later.”
“Later,” I say, smiling up at him.
Then I say goodbye to Catherine, and they are both out the door. The apartment feels so much bigger and quieter without Caleb’s presence in it.
I grab my phone off the kitchen table to see if I have any new messages. I know I won’t hear from Hadleigh or my parents for hours, as London is five hours ahead of Miami. I wander into the bathroom, setting my phone on the marble countertop, and turn on the shower. I really need to clear my head. I’m still off from the long flight and staying up late last night with Caleb.
Buzz!
My phone vibrates against the marble surface. I glance down and see I already have a text from Caleb:
I’ll have Ben work extra hard on the neck muscles today just for you.
Ooh! I quickly text him back:
I will reward you for that tonight.
Caleb Collings is typing …
I will hold you to that.
I smile and put the phone down. I take a long, hot shower, then slip out and grab one of the germ-filled towels Hadleigh is repelled by and wrap it around my body. I pick up a washcloth and wipe the fog from the mirror, catching a glimpse of my reflection.
I look different.
My eyes are sparkling, and my cheeks grow pink when I think of what happened with Caleb last night. Is my skin actually glowing? Or does the ever-present smile on my face give me a new glow?
Whatever it is, I feel—and look—more radiant because of Caleb.
I get ready, drying my hair and putting on my makeup. I begin to think about where to start with my day, and suddenly I’m intimidated. I’m in a new country. Nothing is familiar to me. I don’t even know where to begin. I don’t have a car. How will I even get groceries home? What stores are good?
These thoughts are rolling around in my head when my phone buzzes again. I glance down at the screen, and to my surprise, I see it’s Catherine:
Hey, I just dropped Caleb off. He said you have some shopping to do today, and I was wondering if I could help you at all. Shopping is my second favourite sport outside of Formula 1.
Relief spills through me. This is perfect. Catherine is sharp, organized, and knows London. She can direct me on places to go and help me get my bearings in this new city. I eagerly text her back:
OMG that would be AMAZING. Yes, please! And thank you so much for offering to help me!
Catherine Collings is typing …
Great! Are you ready? I can come back up to White City and pick you up.
I text her back that I will be ready. Then another text drops in from her:
Perfect. And this is a win-win for both of us. I can help you get settled in London, but the bigger win is for me, because I have a chance to get to know you betterand check out the woman who is trying to crack the code on my brother.
I put down the phone. I suddenly realize this is more than shopping. Catherine is the person Caleb is closest to in the whole world. They’ve gone through a lot together. Caleb respects her and values her opinion. They work together. Travel together.