One by one each of my colleagues is given a minute at the microphone to speak about the type of impact tonight’s event will have on the people it will help.
When it comes to my turn, I take a moment to go over the speech I wrote and rehearsed over the past week. However, once I get to the microphone all I can think about is Alain. The little boy who was so hurt over the loss of his mother.
That’s who I speak about. I remind the audience that while our beautiful gowns and glasses of champagne make for great pictures, it’s the hearts we touch and impact that will make a lasting impact in this world.
By the time I’m finished, I don’t even know if what I’ve said makes any sense, but as we collectively exit all I see is Travis’ smiling face.
The sheen in his eyes matches the glossiness in mine.
“I love you so much,” he tells me before wrapping me up in a hug.
I know I’ll never get tired of hearing him tell me this. If only I could say it back.
CHAPTER 41
Alyssia
“Mmmm,” I moan when Travis finds a particularly stubborn knot in my calf. He kneads it until the pain dulls into smoothness.
I pull one eye open to look at him. “Have I told you lately how great you are at that?”
We’re seated in a private space of the Salle des Étoiles, underneath the stars while Travis massages my feet.
“I won’t complain about hearing it again.”
“We could’ve done this at home,” I remind him. There’s still at least another thirty minutes until the end of the evening.
“I gave you a choice,” he says.
“To either leave early or let you drag me away and let you have your way with me.” I push his knee with the foot he’s not currently massaging.
“Baby, if I was having my way with you, it would only be my name you’re saying right now.”
I try to respond to that, but another moan comes out from how good this damn massage feels.
“Just promise me these won’t stop after the baby’s born,” I say.
“Our son or daughter will be fifty years old, and we’ll be old and grey, and I’ll still put your feet on my lap.”
I raise my head to meet Travis’ sharp gaze.
This isn’t the first time that he’s hinted, or stated outright that we’ll be together forever, well into the future.
“Travis …” I don’t finish because I don’t know what to say.
“We’re in this for the long haul, Alyssia. I’m not letting you go. Not now, not after the baby’s born, not ever. I want you to be the mother of all of my children. More importantly, I want you to be my partner for life.”
I bury my hands in my face and laugh.
“Want to let me in on the joke?”
Raising my head, I wipe a couple of tears away.
“I just, it’s insane. We, I mean, after Vegas I didn’t expect any of this. You left me that morning. It was only supposed to be a one-night stand.”
Travis shakes his head.
“I didn’t leave,” he says in a tone so serious, I sit up a little straighter in my seat. “That morning in Vegas, I didn’t leave you.”
