“Like that you were always with a different woman.” She studied the floor, then the wall.
“That’s not entirely untrue,” he admitted with a chuckle.
“And you didn’t treat them well,” she continued.
Now,that? That was entirely a lie.
“I never treated any of the women I was with poorly. We each got what we wanted from those…”
What was the best word for what those definitely-not relationships had been?
“Sexual liaisons?” she offered.
His cheeks burned. She was right; that’s what they’d been. All they’d been.
He nodded. A lump suddenly stuck in his throat.
“I’ve been a little worried that this thing between us might be you somehow sticking it to Gavin,” she said, as though the thought had weighed heavy.
“Gavin has nothing to do with what we’re doing.” He pulled her closer. “Gavin doesn’t get to be in this thing with us, no matter where it goes.”
She nodded.
“He also said you weren’t dedicated at work,” she continued.
That was also true. “I supposed I’ve spent a good deal of time figuring out my shit.”
“What kind of shit?” They weren’t so much dancing as they were clinging to each other in a sea of people.
“What I want to do. I want to fly. Wasn’t sure about the family business, but you can imagine how Mama reacts when I bring that up. Gavin takes her side. Things get complicated real fast.”
“The thing is…” She paused, nibbling her bottom lip. “I’m not sure Gavin’s opinion is the real reason why I didn’t care for you. I don’t think I ever really believed him about any of it, if I’m being honest.”
“Then what was the real reason?”
“I knew if I opened myself up to liking you, I’d go all in on it.” She didn’t seem to be able to meet his gaze. “That scared me. Gavin and I were trying at that point. Trying to make it work so Kellan and Brady would have stability. We were trying, and you were…distracting.”
“So it was easier to stay away.” The music changed to another slow ballad. “You were distracting, too,” he said against her hair. “And I guess I didn’t really do much to prove to you I wasn’t a total dick.”
“Just a tad bit of a dick?” she asked with a little nose scrunch.
“Iama Frank.” He pressed a brief kiss to her forehead. “Some of it is genetic.”
“I don’t believe that.” She shook her head vehemently.
“Why?”
“Because my boys are Franks,and I don’t believe they need to be jerks.”
“Ahh…”
They didn’t speak for the rest of the song, but their bodies moved like they were made for each other. Made to move together.
“What are we doing, Travis?” she asked quietly, almost like she didn’t mean for him to hear the question.
“Dancing,” he murmured against her hair.
“I mean…”
