“Well, being bored on a Friday night counts as a special occasion, doesn’t it?” I asked, looking over my shoulder as I pulled the game out from the front hall closet. Just as I was pivoting to head back into the living room, someone rapped on thedoor.
Elle had stopped by earlier, looking for Braden. Thinking that it was her again, I opened it quickly, worried that something hadhappened.
But it wasn’t Elle, it was Travis, and he was even more soaked than she’d been. “Hey, so…could I borrow your phone?” The rain was coming down in thickrivets.
“What’s wrong with yours?” I asked, stunned and almost a little irritated to see him standing there. Last night’s date had been incredible, and I was looking forward to many more of them…but I wasn’t ready forthisparticular step. I cast a worried glance into the living room atAiden.
“I took the Porsche out for a spin, and I forgot it on the counter when I made a sandwich,” he admitted sheepishly. The sound of his voice had me turning to look at him again. “It’s raining pretty badly, I need to see how the access roadis.”
“Of course, come in,” I stood aside to let him pass and closed the door, looking atAiden.
When Aiden realized who was in our house, he jumped up with excitement. “Travis! What are you doinghere?”
“Seeking shelter from the rain,” Travis laughed lightly. “Mind if I borrow your phone, littleman?”
“It’s in the kitchen, I’ll show you!” Aiden said with importance, leading the way. Ever since they had raced the day we’d gone ATVing together, Aiden had talked nonstop about how cool Traviswas.
“Remember to give Travis his privacy while he makes the call,” I reminded him. Aiden nodded, returning to the living room with an excited grin on hisface.
“Can we ask him to stay and play Pie Face with us?” he asked in a hushed voice, his eyes pleading withmine.
My breath caught in my lungs, and I hesitated, recognizing the urge to throw up my walls and protect our hearts. But, if I was going to start building trust, I needed to stoprunning.
“I’ll see if he wants to. Tidy up Jenga and set it up,” I instructed, passing the box to him. I walked into the kitchen, catching the tail end of Travis’sconversation.
“Alright Mom, you be safe too. I’ll figure something out. Don’t worry about it. Yeah, I’ll wait until it slows down a bit. Love you too, bye.” He flushed a little when he saw me standing there, almost like he was embarrassed to be caught telling his mom he loved her. I thought it wassweet.
“Everything okay?” I asked, arching a brow and leaning against the doorway, my arms folded across mychest.
“The access road is flooded,” he replied, pushing his wet curls out of his face. “Look…I can head to Gordon’s. I’m really sorry for showing up. It was getting worse out there,and—“
“It’s okay,” I sighed. I didn’t want him to leave, not when his access road was flooded. “You don’t have to leave if you don’t want to. Aiden wants you to stay and play some board games with us,” I shrugged, biting my lip. This situation was entirely new to me, and I had no idea how I was supposed to find myfooting.
“Really?” he grinned with elation. “Yeah, I’d love to. I’m a little soaked though,” he added, glancing down at his jeans withapology.
I arched a brow with amusement. A puddle had formed beneath his feet on thelinoleum.
“You can borrow some of Braden’s clothes and I’ll toss yours in the wash,” I suggested hesitantly. “But, you’re here as a friend today, okay?” I added, keeping my voice hushed as I glanced through the service hatch into the living room. Aiden was tidying up the Jenga game to make room for PieFace.
“Of course,” Travis agreedwillingly.
“All set up!” Aiden calledout.
“Okay, we’ll be right back bud. Travis needs to borrow some of Uncle Braden’s clothes. Why don’t you grab the whippedcream?”
“Whipped cream?” Travis repeated, sounding perplexed as he followed me down into thebasement.
“It’s for the game, Pie Face,” I explained, my lips twitching with asmile.
He waited by the stairs while I rooted through my brother’s dresser drawers, finding a pair of old sweat pants and a t-shirt I hadn’t seen him wear in months. I handed them to him, looking down when his hands coveredmine.
“I can put them in the wash, you know,” he told me, his lips kicking up in a humoured smile. “I do know how to do my ownlaundry.”
“Our machines are old school,” I replied. “And they need a special touch to work. You can change in Braden’s bathroom,” I pointed in the direction of the bathroom, wishing I could joinhim.
“You don’t thinkIhave a special touch?” he asked, his voice deep. He brushed some loose tresses of hair from myface.
“Go change,” I laughed, pulling away because I knew if I didn’t, we wouldn’t be able to stop. Last night, Travis had been the perfect gentlemen. To say that I’d expected sex was an understatement; that’s what the two of us did best, afterall.
