The silence in the apartment seemed to grow as his footsteps echoed, bouncing off every wall.
‘Hey,’ he said softly.
Katy grinned, relieved he wasn’t coming in all Stormin’ Norman at the drama unfolding in the media. ‘Do you want a drink or something?’ She glanced at the kitchen, eye contact feeling too much. He looked good, his eye darkened as a result of Jimmy’s punch, but somehow he almost suited it, she thought.
‘No,’ Travis said. ‘I just wanted to see you, I’m not sure why,’ he admitted.
Katy’s heart thundered. This was the sentimental shite that always seemed to get her into trouble. ‘Well, come and sit down,’ she said, walking around the sofa and taking a few short, sharp breaths to regain composure. ‘How are things with Fee after .?.?.’ She didn’t want to repeat what had happened; it was still far too raw.
Travis lowered his head into his hands, then sat up, the bruising on his face more apparent the closer he was to her. ‘You can imagine,’ he breathed. ‘I stayed at the house last night, while she stayed out. She says she can’t be near me, and I don’t blame her.’
Katy was fidgeting with her hands, realising the intensity of what she’d done. Even if she was initially duped into believing he was single, she knowingly pumped him in the snack cupboard afterwards, fully aware of Fee. Fully aware that Fee was in the same fucking building at the time. She cringed. Guilt pressed down on her heart and shoulders.
‘I’m sorry about the app,’ Travis continued. ‘It was a great idea, and now it’s such a waste,’ he said, tutting and sitting back.
‘Yeah, shame,’ Katy said, too tense to risk saying more.
‘So, I take it you girls will be heading home soon?’ Travis asked, his eyes flickering upwards. Katy noticed he seemed more curious than casual, almost as if he needed to know their plans for personal reasons.
‘Erm .?.?. Yeah, right. I suppose that’s the plan. Woo-hoo!’ She fist pumped the air. ‘Better look out my fur-lined leggings for the trip back to Scotland.’ She laughed, cringing at herself.
Travis let out a slight chuckle. ‘So, eh .?.?. when? When are you thinking about going?’
Katy felt her face twist. He was seriously acting very oddly. She knew heading home was on the agenda, but the girls wanted to tie up the mystery of the stalker before they left, so they hadn’t actually booked flights. ‘Erm .?.?. Was it tomorrow?’ Katy bluffed, feeling like Travis was pressing her for info. ‘I’m sure it is. Yeah, like tomorrow, in the morning. Or the afternoon. Ella has organised it all, of course, I just .?.?.’ her voice suddenly became high-pitched, ‘go with da flooow!’ She felt like whatever he was planning involved them leaving the States, so she rolled with it, lying without compunction.
Travis breathed out slowly. Katy wondered if it was relief that left his lungs.
‘I’ll really miss you.’ She smiled. ‘I know it didn’t go to plan, and I know it got really messy, but that first date of ours was probably the best anyone has ever treated me, like ever. I’ll always remember it.’
Travis looked like he was in a daze. ‘Me too. In another life, maybe,’ he eventually replied.
Katy agreed, fidgeting with the cuffs of her sleeves. ‘So, are you going to try to fix things with Fee and Jimmy?’
He stood up and started pacing the floor, suddenly looking uncomfortable. ‘Fee –yes.She is my wife after all, but after tomorrow’s board meeting, I’m not sure Jimmy will ever want to reconcile.’ He walked to the back of the sofa, deep in thought, as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders.
‘Will the board really take over his company?’ Katy asked, knowing the answer already, but noticing how it was affecting Travis.
He shrugged. ‘It seems that way,’ he replied simply. ‘But with any luck, Fee will take over and keep Jimmy’s name on it.’
Katy got to her feet and walked towards him. ‘That’s so sad, though. He’s built the company up from nothing, you all have, and for it to be just taken away from him. Who would do something like that?’
‘It’s not that simple, Katy.’ Travis’s tone grew sharp, making her step back. ‘There have been discrepancies happening for years that the board are aware of.’
Katy was desperate to reply that it was his division’s job to keep the money in check, but he seemed pissed and she didn’t want to make him angrier.
‘Right. I just mean, it’s a shame. Jimmy’s a great guy,’ she replied innocently.
Travis glanced over to her with glazed eyes. She wondered when the last time he slept was; his eyes were puffy and exhausted, not only from the punch. ‘He can be, but business is business,’ he grunted. ‘You don’t get it.’
Suddenly, there was a screech of cheering and hollering from the bedroom.
‘YES!’ Zola’s voice called out, followed by cackles of laughter.
Travis stood completely rigid. ‘Who is that?’ he demanded, pointing towards the hall.
Katy panicked; her arms hugged herself tight. Her mind raced –should she accuse him of hearing things?But she pictured him walking in, uncovering Ethan at a laptop in their apartment, and dread twisted in her chest.
‘It’s just the girls,’ she said, shrugging it off, unfazed.
