I want to see you againsoon.
It didn’t take her long toreply.
Sorry Travis, I can’t this week. I’m working every day and I have to help Tessa and Elle with last minute weddingthings.
I sat at the island in my kitchen, sulking at my phone. During my tenth read through, Mom walked into the kitchen and gave me a peculiarlook.
“What’s gotten into you lately?” she asked, walking around the length of the counter and pausing before me. She leaned against the counter, resting her arms on the marble surface. She was dressed in her uniform, ready to head out to her Thursday evening shift at the diner. “You’ve been sulking since you got back fromToronto.”
“I have not,” I retorted, even though I knew that’s exactly what I had been doing. I was desperate to talk to her, to make sure that she was okay—but it wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have over text message, and I knew she wouldn’t appreciate me showing up on her doorstep. I’d risk running intoBraden.
“Who’s thegirl?”
“What girl?” I asked, feigning surprise. Mom saw right through my bullshit and arched a brow. I deflated a little under her scrutiny. “BeckyMiller.”
“Becky Miller?” Mom repeated, recognition flickering in hereyes.
“The one and only,” I sighed, scratching at the back of my head as I scowled down at myphone.
“How long has this been going onfor?”
“On and off for the last four years or so,” I admitted. “It was supposed to be a one-night stand, but every time I come home we hook upagain.”
Mom didn’t look impressed with my answer. She thought I played the field, and I didn’t like to give her any additional reasons to believe it. She didn’t like players, and rightfully so. My sperm donor had been a player. I didn’t begrudge her jumping to that conclusion, not with the tabloids blasting my latest escapades, but most of that stuff wasfabricated.
They painted me as the country play boy, always with a new girl on my arm. Most of those girls the paparazzi caught me with were friends or fans, and I definitely hadn’t had sexual relations with any of the ones I’d been pictured with in the last two years. I was completely hung up onBecky.
She was my favourite song that I wanted to play over and over again and get lost in thechords.
“Before you give me shit, Mom, please know that it’s mostly Becky’sidea.”
Becky clung to her rules with all she had. In the past, we’d avoided being around each other and the group at the same time. When we couldn’t avoid it, we had to keep our distance. She didn’t want me talking to her, fearing that someone would pick up on what we were doing behind closeddoors.
She didn’t want me coming by her house in case one of her brother’s saw me, or in case she had to explain my presence to Aiden. She wasn’t comfortable with my place for the samereason.
“Like I believe that,” Mom scoffed, rolling hereyes.
“It’s true.” My mother’s lack of faith in me stung, but I only had myself to blame. “She wanted the one-night stand, and she was the one who wanted to keep whatever we have going for us a secret. She’s terrified of commitment and dodges any attempt I make at moving things forward with us,” I sighed heavily, my eyes darting to the sliding doors that led to the wrap-around porch overlooking thelake.
Mom was quiet for several long moments; I could feel her eyes on me. “Just be patient, Travis. You’ve never been good at waiting…but it sounds like Becky needs yourpatience.”
I didn’t have to ask my mom how she knew that. Mom raised me all alone, without any assistance from family. She didn’t have one, and my bio dad hadn’t stuck around long enough to even give her a last name. Mom’s childhood wasn’t the greatest, and I knew she struggled to trust men too. If she was taking the time to give me advice, I’d take the time to listen toit.
“I’m being as patient as I can.” Mom was right: patience was never my strong suit. I was the kind of guy who preferred to go out and get what I wanted. It wasn’t so simple when it came to Becky. It had to be on her terms—it was the only way she’d feelcomfortable.
My mask was securely in place when I rolled up the private road that led to Brock’s cabin and the beach. I eased the Mercedes to a full stop. Braden was the first person I encountered when I approached with myloot.
“Way to be inconspicuous.” He shook his head as he eyed my Mercedes, but I knew he was impressed. Braden was a mechanic and had always loved tinkering on vehicles, but I doubt he saw flashy six-figure sports cars often at the shop. Most people around here drove trucks or cars that could handle the massive dumpings of snow eachwinter.
“Thisisinconspicuous,” I shrugged, grinning. “I could have brought the Porsche.” Braden’s eyes brightened. He loved that thing, and so did every car nut within hearingdistance.
Gordon sauntered over and threw his arm around my shoulders in greeting. “Where are your bodyguards tonight?” He asked with a shit-eating grin on hisface.
Being famous enough to merit having bodyguards around could be frustrating—especially when your old best friends razzedyou.
Paul was already back in Nashville, and Rob was still holed up at the motel he’d rented. Neither one of them were really needed for regular crowd management anymore, now that the stampede was over and tourism had begun to slowdown.
“Not here. I figured we were far enough out in the middle of nowhere that nobody would come across us,” Ianswered.
