I’m still shaking my head. “Why would I be jealous if my fake husband wanted to hook up with some random girl?”
Even as I ask the question, my stomach churns with unease.
“And if I had the tiniest reaction to the thought of you with someone else, it’s only because of our situation.” My voice is too high and I’m talking too fast.
Meanwhile, Travis is the picture of calm as he pushes off and walks toward me.
“First of all, I’m not your fake husband.”
“You know what I mean. You and I aren’t?—”
He reaches out and places a hand loosely over my mouth. “Stop talking.”
I obey but lift my brows at his bossiness.
“I want to say something, but I need you to be quiet for long enough for me to get it all out because I’m not great at expressing things.”
This time I move my head up and down in a nod. He doesn’t move his hand.
“I like you. More than that, I respect you. This situation might be unconventional, but I would never put you in that kind of position. I may not be a lot of things,wife, but I am loyal. I’m in this. I won’t let you down.”
He stops talking and drops his hand from my mouth.
“Wow. So much for not being great at expressing things.”
His lips pull higher on one side. “Are we good?”
“Yes. We’re good. I’m sorry for assuming the worst.” I feel like a jerk. He’s been more than accommodating during all of this. He could have signed the annulment papers and been done, but he didn’t. Everything he’s done has been for me. My throat is too thick to say anything else, so I step forward and wrap my arms around his waist. My head fits nicely in the center of his chest and a brief memory flashes of us standing like this on the streets of Vegas.
“Thank you.” I breathe him in and feel a month’s worth of stress leave my body. It feels good to have a partner in something.
“I don’t know why you’re thanking me, but whatever it is, you’re welcome.” His hands circle loosely around my back, and his chin rests on the top of my head.
It takes more effort than I’d like to admit to extricate myself from him and step back. In an instant, he’s back to the cocky, playful guy I’m much more comfortable with. “Besides, hooking up with other women gets in the way of my plan to make you fall in love with me.”
I open my mouth to fire back some snappy retort, but what in the hell do I say to that?
19
TRAVIS
Nick is waiting at the door when Aidan and I get to their house Saturday evening. Aidan launches himself at his dad for a hug.
“I missed you.” Nick ruffles his hair.
Aidan doesn’t say it back, but I could tell on the ride here that he was eager to get home. We had fun. I took him to the arcade where we spent the day eating junk food and playing every game imaginable, but I’m no substitute for his dad. He has the best dad. I think it’s one of the reasons I gravitated to Nick right away when he was traded to the team. Nick and Aidan’s bond is everything I wanted with my own parents.
As soon as they part, Aidan takes off toward his room and Nick looks to me.
“Thanks for letting him sleep over last night,” he says. “How was he?”
“He’s a great kid. We had a blast.” I follow Nick into the kitchen where he opens the fridge. He offers me a beer, but I shake my head.
“Got any Gatorade?”
He grabs that for me instead and we go downstairs. The poker table is already set. I take my usual spot and Nick takes his.
“So, how are things with the wife?” he asks, so smug and happy with himself.
