Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

SIMON

R ylee and I excused ourselves from the group. That kiss we shared at the bookstore was something out of a romantic novel. Now, I couldn't help but feel a stronger connection toward her. She was different, and that made her even more appealing. I wanted more kisses. I wanted a lot more of everything with her.

We walked back down the cobblestone streets side by side. The rain had finally stopped and the sun was beginning to pierce through the clouds. I reached out and took her hand.

"I can't believe you got me this book," she said again.

"You already thanked me. You're welcome."

She nudged me with her elbow. "I know, but it's just… I don't know, it's just too nice."

I shrugged, feeling a small smile playing on my lips. "You deserve nice things. I like buying you nice things. It's a perfect combination."

We walked into the hostel and I had a moment. I didn't want to stay here tonight. I grabbed both her hands and looked into her eyes.

"We only have one night left," I said. "Let's get a hotel room."

"What?"

"I know you want to do this hostel thing and you have. Let's get a nice room and really enjoy the last night here."

She looked around. "Okay."

"Okay?" I asked with surprise.

"Sure. Everyone is going to be leaving early in the morning anyway."

"Great. I'll make a reservation and after the tour we'll pick up our bags and go."

"Sounds good." She nodded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," I responded.

She tucked the valuable book into her suitcase. As we left the hostel, I found myself more eager than ever for the day to pass quickly. The idea of spending our last night here in a hotel, together, added an entirely new level of anticipation.

We joined our group again. They were just finishing up their drinks. The group buzzed with excitement as we set off toward the castle. Rylee's eyes sparkled with anticipation. She held my hand, infusing me with her energy. We walked up the cobbled streets, the historic buildings looming around us, until the grand silhouette of Edinburgh Castle came into view.

We entered the castle grounds, and the sheer magnificence of the place hit me. It was a living testament to centuries of history, every stone telling a story of battles, royalty, and legends. I had been to Scotland and toured a couple of castles when I was younger, but never the Edinburgh castle. It was astonishing. Maybe it was because I was older and understood how historically significant it was or I understood how much labor had gone into building such a huge structure without the benefit of modern-day equipment.

"This is incredible," Rylee whispered, more to herself than to me.

I nodded, equally captivated. We followed our guide through various rooms and exhibits, each one offering a new glimpse into the past. The Great Hall was particularly striking, with its high ceilings, grand tapestries, and an array of ancient weaponry displayed along the walls. We took our time reading the placards and understanding exactly what we were seeing.

As we continued our exploration, we passed a room being decorated for a wedding later that evening. Rylee stopped at the doorframe, gazing in with a dreamy expression. The room was adorned with flowers, elegant table settings, and soft candlelight that gave it an almost magical glow.

"This is a beautiful place for someone's love story to begin," she murmured, barely audible over the soft chatter of our group.

I stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It is," I agreed, my voice low. The sight of her, so lost in the moment, made me realize how deeply I cared for her.

We moved on, eventually ending our tour at the castle's gift shop. It was filled with all kinds of trinkets and souvenirs. I spotted a simple keychain shaped like the castle and picked it up.

"Here, for you," I said, handing it to Rylee.

She took it with a grin, her eyes lighting up. "I love it. Thank you, Simon."

"It's just a little thing," I replied, feeling oddly satisfied by her reaction.

After the guided tour, we had some time to wander the castle grounds on our own. We climbed up to one of the highest points, the ramparts, where we could see an incredible panoramic view of the city. Rylee was awestruck, her eyes wide as she gazed out onto the cityscape.

"I can't believe how beautiful this is," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the gentle wind that whipped around us.

I laughed and took hold of both her hands. "This view or you?" I asked, a playful smirk on my face.

She rolled her eyes but laughed along with me. "You're so corny," she said, but there was affection in her voice.

"No," I said seriously, looking into her eyes. "I mean it, Rylee."

We shared a tender moment up there on the castle ramparts, feeling like we were on top of the world. I gave her a gentle kiss, being careful not to cause a scandal with the many families running around. Our group joined us a short time later.

"Do you guys want to take advantage of the weather and do a little window shopping in town?" Claire asked.

"Absolutely." Rylee nodded. "I saw an antique shop I'd love to check out."

As a group, we wandered together, but eventually we broke off into smaller groups with everyone having different interests. Rylee and I decided to drift toward the area with secondhand shops. I insisted on buying her a few things, knowing she was running low on money.

She picked up an old wooden pint mug. "Do you think this is authentically old or a replica?"

I took the mug from her hands, studying it. I ran my thumb over the intricate carvings on its surface, the stark lines etched deep into the dark wood. "I think it's genuine," I said, handing it back to her. "But don't quote me on that."

She laughed, holding the pint up to the light and examining it closer. "Either way, it's beautiful."

"There's a lot of that here," I said, waving my hand around the shop filled with vintage books, trinkets, jewelry, and other odds and ends that told a story of their own.

I took the pint mug from her along with a couple of the other things she picked up and carried it to the counter to buy. "Simon, no," she hissed.

"I can't let you spend all your savings," I said when she protested. "Let me do this."

"You are so stubborn," she muttered.

"You have no idea." I grinned.

I gave her the bag with her treasures. We made our way back to the meeting point for our final group dinner. The mood was festive, but there was an underlying sadness knowing this was our last night together. The dinner was filled with laughter, stories, and a few tears. We played silly games like truth or dare and never have I ever, everyone letting loose and enjoying the moment. It was crazy to think I knew this motley crew better than I knew people back home. I loved that they opened their arms to me and didn't judge. It felt so good to be one of the guys.

"Are you guys going back to Texas?" Claire asked. "Or are you going to keep kicking around Europe?"

"I have to get back," I said. "Rylee?"

She seemed thoughtful. "I think I'm good. I came, I saw, I did. It was amazing, but I think I got it out of my system."

"What about you two?" I asked the brothers.

"We're moving on to Scandinavia," they answered.

"That sounds like an adventure," Rylee said.

"We'll surely miss you both," one of the brothers, William, said. "You've been a part of this crazy family."

"I do feel like we've created a little family," Claire said with a soft smile. "I never imagined I would meet up with so many cool people."

I felt the same way, but I didn't share my thoughts. I simply nodded, choosing to keep my own feelings to myself. I listened as they all talked about future travels and what they would do back home. Listening to them talk about how they were going to work for a year and save up enough to take another trip made me feel a little guilty. I quite literally had the world at my fingertips. I could travel the world in a private jet, stay in the best hotels, and buy tickets to see anything I wanted.

And I didn't. I was all about work and doing things that gave me two-minute thrills. These people, Rylee included, busted their asses just for the chance to step foot on foreign soil. It changed me. The trip and the people I met changed my entire view on life in general. I could look back and see I might have taken some things for granted.

After dinner, Rylee made her announcement. "We're going to stay in a hotel tonight."

Everyone burst out laughing. Rylee and I watched with confusion as they started handing each other money.

"What's going on?" Rylee asked.

"We bet each other you guys would be heading for the lap of luxury," Claire said. "Good for you. Live it up."

We all walked back to the hostel together. Rylee and I made sure we had packed all of our things before she took one last look around the place. When the time came to say our goodbyes, emails were exchanged, and promises were made to stay in touch. There was talk of possibly traveling together again one day. Rylee was tearful as she hugged her new friends. The bonds formed over the past days were evident. I shook their hands and wished them all well. Each of them thanked me for the rounds of beers and for not being the guy they thought I was going to be.

We made our way to the hotel I had booked, a stunning five-star establishment that quite literally took her breath away. The grandeur of the lobby, the attentive staff, and the sheer opulence of the place were a stark contrast to the hostels we had been staying in. I was so looking forward to a bed that my entire body fit on without trying to fold myself in half.

When we entered our room, Rylee's eyes widened in amazement. It was spacious and beautifully decorated, with a view of the city that was nothing short of spectacular. Room service had already run a bath, the tub filled with steaming hot water and fragrant bubbles. A bottle of champagne sat chilling in a bucket with fresh strawberries and a meat and cheese tray.

"Did you do all of this?" she asked in awe.

"Like I said, I wanted our last night to be luxurious. It's not wrong to want luxury. You did the hard living thing, but can we just enjoy this?"

"Absolutely." She grinned. "Trust me, I'm not going to turn down a luxurious bath in a tub the size of a swimming pool."

"All I can think about is getting you into that hot water," I said softly. "You deserve a night to unwind. I know you well enough to know you're going to hit the ground running when you get home."

"Speaking of, I need to book a flight. I thought I was going to stay longer."

"Rylee, you're not buying a flight home. You're flying with me. It's stupid for us to both fly in the same direction on separate planes."

"You could fly with me."

"Fuck that," I growled. "I slept in hostels the last few nights. No thank you. I'm not exactly a people person. I need some space. I don't want to smell or see another person besides you for the next twenty-four hours."

She laughed. "Alright, you've made your point."

"Now, about that bath."