“Gavin talks about theboys, Evelyn,” Rachel supplied emphatically, putting her hand out for the trash can. “And as I’ve said many, many times, Gavin and I are great friends, and that’s all.” The point would have been well made, except Rachel yawned again.
Travis gave her extra points for the certainty with which she spoke, but the yawn totally mucked up the delivery.
Hell, if she weren’t careful, she’d fall asleep and tip right over on the porch.
Mom released her grip on the bin, letting Rachel take it.
“Talking about the boys is talking about you.” Mom ignored the rest of what Rachel had said, like the pretend cat she liked to go on and on about.
“It’s really not,” Rachel said.
Travis shuddered at the look on Mom’s face. Rachel clearly needed to make this point, because usually she just stepped aside when Mom was on a tear.
Mom wasn’t used to being challenged. Hell, she’d been talking about the pretend cat since before Travis could remember.
“Gavin and I were never meant to be,” Rachel continued as though she hadn’t seen Mom’s expression or what that meant for everyone’s evening. “We were an accident, and we became friends. I’m grateful for his friendship. Grateful we share kids. You have to know that we’re not going to get back together, though. He has Dakota.”
“Pssh.” Mom steeled her expression. “You both need to give the other another chance. It hasn’t been easy for Bob and me, either. We make it work.”
“You and Bob love each other,” Rachel said, doubling down on her willingness to stand strong against his mother.
He had to give Rachel mad props. Engaging with his mother like this never went well.But Rachel was going all in.
“And you don’t love my Gavin?” Mom arched an eyebrow.
See, nowthatfelt like a trap if a trap ever was. Mom was the queen of spinning webs,and anyone who spent time in her life had to learn to avoid them.
Travis hoped Rachel had learned how to do just that.
Rachel paused, thoughtful, clearly selecting her words carefully. She opened her mouth, shut it, opened it again, shut it, and finally said, “No, I don’t love him.”
Travis winced on behalf of his brother. Ouch.
Mom’s expression fell,and her lips slipped into a deep frown.
That frown hit Travis right in his gut.
“Well,” Mom said. “I guess that’s that.”
There was no way that was that. His mother’s traps were always incredibly inventive. The web on this one was barely a thin string,and yet Mom let Rachel bat it aside with hardly a fight. Impossible. Impossible that this was done.
Plus, he’d be sorely disappointed if they ended on that note. So dissatisfying for the bystanders.
“I really do care about you,” Rachel continued. “If you’d consider dropping this preoccupation with Gavin and me, I’d reconsider hopping on a plane to the lake house.”
Look at Rachel, manipulating her agreement in her favor.
Mom clearly thought so,too, because she stilled.
And, maybe, just maybe Travis was the only witness to the most impressive battle of wills in the history of the planet.
Although, that might be a bit of an exaggeration. Probably.
Mom swallowed visibly. “That’s what keeps you away from our family functions?”
“Honestly?” Rachel asked, rocking from foot to foot ever so slightly. “Yes. It makes me uncomfortable,and Gavin and Dakota can’t possibly be comfortable with it, either. No matter what you think, they’re getting married. It’s happening. I’ve been helping her pick out mini tuxedos for the twins. So if you want me to attend these things, that type of passive-aggressive has to stop.”
Travis’s jaw slipped open. Rachel had just said…to his mother…
