Chapter 3.25 – Dog With a Bone – Part 1

Paris…. End of Taylor’s Junior year.  

“Taylor?” said both of her parents at the same time when they answered her call.

“Hi Mom, Dad!” she said cheerfully to both of them because they had her on the speaker.

“It’s good to hear from you,” said her mother, “is everything okay?”

Taylor laughed and rolled her eyes. Of course they would think something was wrong if she called.  “Yes! Everything is fine,” she said, “but…I do have news to share – good news and some not-so-bad bad news. Not-so-bad news first….I’m not coming home at all this summer. I’m staying in Paris and taking summer courses.”

“What?” they both said in unison, then her father added, “I thought your classes were going well.”

“Let me tell you the good news before you both have a stroke. I met with the counselor and I only needed to take two classes the last semester.  Two of the classes I need are offered this summer, so I can finish a semester sooner.”

“But we won’t see you until after Christmas,” said Cole. The disappointment in his voice made her sad.

“I know Dad. But there is a bright side – I won’t have to leave again when I do come home.”

“But, when will graduation be?” asked her mother, “I was thinking we would all come to Paris next May to attend since the twins haven’t been.”

Taylor sighed. She had hoped for cheering instead of complaining. And the twins, they should have come the first time. They had practically cut off their noses to spite their faces. “Maybe you all can come to just enjoy the sights. There’s no need to spend that much money just to watch a boring graduation ceremony. I’ll simply have them mail my diploma.”

“Okay… if that’s what you really want,” said Dannie, resigned, but still unable to hide her disappointment.

Taylor laughed. “Moooom, you just wanted an excuse to come back to Paris!”

“We really did want to see you walk across that stage,” added her father, “You earned it sweetheart. You’ll be the first of my children to get a college education. Ryan dropped out and Reagan is just taking online classes for her job. I doubt she’ll go for a degree. At least they are both employed.” He went straight from proud to sounding disappointed again.

“He dropped out?” asked Taylor. She was shocked.

“Yes. He decided he didn’t want to go back after his knee surgery. He has this grandiose plan to open a chain of gyms, starting in Newcrest,” said Cole.

“Ooooh, that’s a great idea!” said Taylor excited now because it gave her an idea, “if I can get some experience, maybe I could open a restaurant there in a few years too!” Then she laughed. “Everyone can eat at my restaurant, then go work it off at Ryan’s gym!”

Both of her parents laughed and thankfully the mood changed. Taylor realized how much she really did miss them. “We’ll have a whole family of entrepreneurs!” commented Dannie after their laughter died down. “When you get home maybe you should talk to Ami.”

“Mom, that’s just a bit premature. But certainly a goal,” said Taylor as the buzzer sounded in her tiny studio apartment. “Someone’s at the door, I need to go. I’ll call you later. Love you both.” She made a mwaaa sound and hung up.

Taylor ran to answer the door because she knew it must be Elliott.  Sure enough he was  standing there with a bag of groceries and a bottle of wine. When he flashed her his trademark bashful smile, her heart did a little flip flop. Elliott had made her decision to take those last two classes this summer very difficult. Instead of another year together, now they had about 7 months.

“So love, how did they take the news?” asked Elliott, his sexy British accent sending warm chills down her spine.

“They were okay, but disappointed that they won’t see me this summer. Mom was planning a trip with the whole family in May. I think Mom and Dad really just wanted a reason to come back to Paris,” she added and huffed out a laugh.

Elliott laughed too as he pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “Well, bloody hell Taylor, it’s not like you won’t still graduate magna cum laude. Didn’t you tell them that?”

Taylor sighed and pressed her forehead to Elliott’s. “No, I didn’t, just in case I don’t make it. I don’t want to disappoint them more.”

Elliott tweaked her nose. “That’s rubbish! You know that won’t happen and you could never disappoint them.”

“Well, even so, it won’t really matter. When I go home in 7 months, I’ll be jobless and homeless, while my brother and sister already have jobs and their futures mapped out.”

Elliott brushed her hair over her shoulder. “Don’t be jealous love. You’ll be wildly successful one day. I know it.” He paused and looked towards the kitchen. “Speaking of…that smells delicious!”

“Ohhhh – dinner!” she exclaimed and reluctantly pulled herself from his embrace to rescue it from the oven. He followed her over, and poured the wine he brought while she plated their food.

Once seated, she continued their conversation from earlier. “Your future is already laid out for you after graduation. You have insider experience, plus you get to take over an established chain of restaurants.” She knew she was whining and shouldn’t have been.

“Three bloody restaurants, on the verge of failure, all in London,” corrected Elliott pointing his fork at her for for emphasis.

“Still a chain. When I get home, I’ll be a line chef, if I’m lucky,” groused Taylor and began to concentrate on her food, as did Elliott, both lost in their thoughts.

She stole a glance at him while they ate. She didn’t mean to fall in love with the quiet, seemingly self-absorbed older man. They both started the academy at the same time and she immediately gravitated to him. They shared a language, and he was very sweet and safe. He didn’t hit on her like most of the other guys she was constantly fighting off.

She took a drink and thought about their history.  Elliott hadn’t been an easy nut to crack. It took nearly a full year for him to finally open up to her. He answered her questions but folded back into himself with his own personal agenda, that he clearly did not want interfered with. However, once he finally gave up trying to ditch her, they became the best of friends.

Taylor remembered the day it happened like it was yesterday. She’d managed to get him to agree to go for coffee after class at the beginning of their second year of college. ‘I’m not going to rid myself of you am I?’ he’d asked and grinned, ‘You’re like a dog with a bloody bone and I suppose I’m that bone.’ She had almost spit out her coffee when he said that. He laughed at her, and it was the most glorious thing to see that sweet man let down a few of his walls and enjoy himself.

She loved his melodious accent and no longer found it hard to understand him. She could listen to him talk for hours. But talk was something he rarely did, until they were alone together. That’s when he told her about his reasons for being at the academy. About his parents, their declining health and their failing restaurants.

A year after becoming best friends, Taylor began to gradually fall in love with him. She craved his affection, and found she wanted intimacy. She noticed him stealing longing glances at her, or whenever he touched her, he lingered a little longer than necessary. But her sweet Elliott had an inherent sadness about him that seemed to keep him from taking that next step. His walls were high. When he did smile it melted her heart. He was beautiful both inside and out, and he had no idea.

Finally she couldn’t stand it any longer, and when they were together in her apartment, she finally took the initiative, determined to knock down the last of his walls. At first he held back, but she didn’t allow that to stop her. Once he gave in, their passion ignited like someone threw fuel into a smoldering fire – as a year’s worth of pent up desire was finally satisfied.

It wasn’t like it was in high school. It wasn’t simply sex. Elliott had made love to her that night. Maybe it was because he was 27 and experienced and she wasn’t.  Her only other partner was Darnell back in high school. He was sweet, but they both knew it was just experimenting.  With Elliott, it meant something much deeper. Laying in Elliott’s arms after they had made love made her incredibly happy.  She could feel the love he had for her just in the way he held her close.  She felt that together, they could do anything.  Taylor tried her best to make sure she gave as much as she took, so there would be no doubt in his mind how she felt about him, lest he start building his walls again.

Elliott stayed with her that night. He got up first and made the best omelettes she’d ever tasted. Maybe she was just starved from their extra curricular activities, but she was in heaven. He said it was a peace offering in case she changed her mind. Silly man. She was hopelessly in love but dared not say it out loud.  Instead she laughed and told him he better hope the omelettes were good or he was outta there.  He laughed and her heart sang. She loved seeing him laugh. Something he didn’t do nearly enough.  Since then, serving  omelettes to each other has become their code for an apology.

Even though they’d been intimate many times since, they still had yet to verbalize or name what they are to each other, and it made her sad. She couldn’t get past his last wall. He seemed to want their relationship to be a sort of friends with benefits, however, it felt like anything but that. She knew he was not the kind of man to give easily of himself.  And certainly not a one night stand kinda guy. She often wondered if he’d had a serious relationship before her and had been badly hurt.  Maybe that was why he kept that last piece of his heart closed off from her.

“Taylor,” he said, pulling her out of her reverie, “I was thinking, since you aren’t going to holiday in the States this summer, maybe we could have a short holiday together, before you have to begin your studies again.”

Taylor’s heart melted and a smile formed. “Of course Elliott. What did you have in mind,” she asked, holding her breath in anticipation.

“How about we holiday in Venice? We can take the train and spend a couple of nights. If I can find a deal, we can take a gondola through the city.”

“Really? That’s awesome!” Taylor was surprised she wasn’t a puddle of goo. That was the most romantic thing he’d ever proposed. Her mind was working overtime hoping this meant he was going to tell her he loved her and ask her to stay in England after she graduated. It was all she could do not to jump across the table and straddle him, placing kisses all over his sweet face.

Taylor knew Elliott’s primary focus was his family and their restaurant business.  He’d made that very clear, so he had never discussed a future beyond school. But, she had to believe, since he’d allowed her to accompany him to London and introduced her to his parents a few months ago, that meant something.

Elliott’s shoulders slumped slightly at Taylor’s exuberance. “Calm down love,” he said, “I have to secure reservations first.”

“Baby,” said Taylor, “You know, we don’t have to get a gondola. They’re expensive. Maybe we can just sample the cuisine at a sidewalk café and watch everyone else go by. Live vicariously through them.”  She gave him a little laugh so he’d know she wasn’t upset. She knew he couldn’t afford it. His money was going to his education, and the rest, back into the family business. She had no money either. Not really, just what her parents provided.

“You’re sure?” he asked looking relieved, yet pensive.  He obviously didn’t want to disappoint her. 

Taylor was glad she’d declined a gondola. He was definitely worried about the cost. Elliott didn’t have to spend money to win her heart, he already had it. She got up and walked over to him and put her arms around him. “Why don’t we just stay here and hang out in Paris? There are Paris things I haven’t done yet. Let’s just do that instead.”

“If that’s what you really want…” he said.

Taylor kissed him. “Mmmhuh. One hundred percent. As long as I’m with you, I don’t care where I am.”

“You’re amazing,” he replied, but still looked sad.

“Elliott? What’s going on up there?” she asked tapping his forehead.

“I can’t bear the thought of losing you,” he whispered and kissed her again.

“That will never happen,” she assured him, even as her dream of professed feelings and living with him in England dissolved into thin air. She should’ve known better than to dream.

“You’re going back to America after next semester,” he explained, “I have to stay for my final term and then head back to London to help Mum and Dad. We’ll have a bloody ocean between us darling.”

“So, what do we do about it?” Please say you love me….please – just say you love me…. she chanted to herself over and over, waiting for him to respond.

“I….we shouldn’t have gotten involved …” he muttered and hung his head in shame.

What?! thought Taylor, now enraged. Of all the things he could’ve said, he said that.

She pulled away from him and pointed her finger in his face. “How dare you Elliot Gray! First you offer me a romantic weekend in Venice, then say you shouldn’t be with me!  God Elliott, I don’t know what you want from me. I love you……”  Taylor gasped as the words escaped and clapped her hands over her mouth wishing she could stuff them back in.

Elliott got a weird, sad look on his face like he might get sick. She could see his walls clicking back into place as he pushed her away from him. “I need to leave. I’m very sorry Taylor. Please forgive me.”

Taylor stood there in shock as Elliott calmly turned around and left. Just like that, he was gone. He didn’t get angry or fight back.  He just left. No amount of omelettes could ever make up for him walking out on her like that.

When the door softly clicked shut, it pissed her off even more.  He could’ve at least slammed it!  She threw herself on the bed and cried herself to sleep.

Go to Chapter 3.26>>>>>>>>

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Introducing another hot guy courtesy of Maladi777

Meet our resident Londoner, Elliott Gray. ♥