“I know. But just know that I don’t blame you for what happened to my leg.”
His words strike a chord and I feel a tear seep from my eye and onto my chest. I don’t know what to say, so I don’t say anything, instead I tilt my head back and press my lips to his once more. He reaches for his phone and types out a message. I read it before he presses send.
Travis: Change of plans. Raven’s staying.
My dad replies seconds later.
Maxen: I’m already halfway there…
Travis: Then turn around and go home to your wife. I’ll bring Raven to see you in the morning.
Maxen: My wife is in the car with me.
Travis looks at me and we share a smile.
Travis: Go home. We’ll see you in the morning.
Maxen: There better be a good explanation for this.
Travis: There is.
My phone lights up to a text and I giggle into his chest.
Shonda: My son isn’t holding you hostage is he?
Raven: No, I promise. We just got our wires crossed. I’ll see you in the morning.
Shonda: Well, if you’re sure.
We take that as confirmation and Travis rolls me onto my back again.
“Forgive me for walking out on you and leaving a fucking note?” he asks around a mouthful of my breast.
“Sure,” I groan as his hand massages my body. “Forgiveness is your… ooooh… do that again. Fuck.”
“I missed your potty mouth, you hardly swear anymore.”
I blink down at him. “You want to talk about this now?”
Grinning, he flips me over and traces my tattoo with his fingers. I fold my arms under my face as he stares at it. It starts from my right shoulder and ends at the blade. I’d like to say it’s something sentimental and meaningful, but really, I just thought it looked sexy. It’s a dreamcatcher, an intricate one, so well done.
“I like this, it suits you.”
“Thanks.”
He presses his chest to my back and grinds his hardening penis against my rear. “I missed this feeling.”
“Me too.”
He slides inside and rolls us over. “I’m not fucking you, I don’t want to make you sore when you’ve got to sit for five hours on your flight tomorrow, but I am gonna keep my dick warm in you for a while. That okay?”
“Keep tickling my back and you can do whatever the hell you want.”
He chuckles against my neck and thrusts into me a few times until he’s snug all the way to the hilt. “We’re going to tell the parentals before you go back.”
“You sure?”
“Better now than later.”
“Whatever you want,” I reply, closing my eyes as he kisses the back of my neck. “I’m cool with that.” I look at him over my shoulder. “Are you sure this is what you want? An hour ago you were running out on me…”
He cringes. “I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself for that. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“I scare you.”
“You terrify me.”
“Is that why you want to tell Shonda and Dad? Because you’re worried I won’t come back?”
“That’s part of it.”
I lift my lips to his as best as I can reach. He sucks on my lower lip and flexes inside of me. Groan.
“I still love you, Trav. I always have. Give me the chance to prove it.”
Smiling, he collapses beside me. “Let’s nap, wake up, eat more food, and then plan how we’re going to break this to the parents.”
“Deal.”
The drive home isn’t long enough and I’m dreading the conversation that’s to come. Travis decided this morning that he’d take care of the announcement. I asked him what he had planned and he just tapped his nose.
I don’t like not being in the loop but I’m also hoping he tells them after I’m gone so I don’t have to deal with that fallout. As selfish as that makes me.
Dad and Shonda greet us both with tight hugs and I know they’re pleased to see us.
“I made coffee,” Shonda announces as Dad starts asking me about my interview yesterday.
“Can I get cinnamon in mine, please?” I ask Shonda and pull myself up onto a stool at the breakfast bar.
The last time we were all in the kitchen together like this was when I was eighteen years old. It’s nostalgic.
“And yes, Dad, the interview went great.”
“When will you know if you got the job?” he pushes, far too eager.
I look at Travis who winks at me.
“I already know that I got it if I want it. I just have to let them know by Sunday.”
Dad grins, ecstatic at the news and Shonda claps her hands. “That is excellent. Are you taking it?”
I stand and walk to the coffee machine to get them to all stop staring at me. Travis winks at me again, trying not to laugh. We’ve got a secret conversation going on. Or at least he has, I have no idea what he’s saying.
“She’s taking it,” he replies for me and Shonda and Dad both hug me again. Dad’s arms come around us both.
I mime the word “Help” over their heads and Travis just laughs into his mug of coffee.
When they pull free they spend about ten minutes planning my future, offering me my old room back, offering to loan me the money to put a down payment on a house.
It’s at that point that Travis decides to state, “That’s not necessary. She’s moving in with me.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea,” Shonda announces, looking at my dad who nods his agreement.
“Plenty of space, close to your new job,” Dad lists, appreciating the practicality of it all. “Less travelling for me and your mother. Makes perfect sense.”
They totally missed the cue.
“In that case we’ll pay for your bedroom furniture,” Shonda says, wanting to be helpful in some way. Both of them are so desperate to have me home.
“That’s not necessary,” Travis states, chuckling when our eyes meet.
He’s hoping they’ll guess on their own. He’s finding this way too amusing.
“It’ll be a gift from us to her for returning. It’s about time those spare rooms got some furniture,” Shonda carries on, looking at Dad who agrees, “We can get it all done for you by the time you return. May right?”
I grab my coffee and bring it to my lips so I don’t have to answer.
“That’s not what I meant,” Travis says and the parentals fall silent. “What I meant was, you won’t need to buy bedroom furniture. She has it already.”
“She couldn’t possibly ship her things all the way from the city…” Shonda trails off.
My dad however seems to be twigging on because his smile has become a look of careful scrutiny as his eyes flicker between the two of us.
“I’m afraid you’ve lost us,” Dad murmurs, still glancing between us. “Are you saying you finally filled your spare rooms? Or are you saying something else entirely?”
Travis’ eyes find me, so full of love and warmth. “Something else entirely.” His smile broadens, he’s really enjoying this. His eyes don’t leave mine. “I’m saying I’m in love with your daughter.”
Shonda’s hand flies to her mouth.
“I have been since I was eight years old.”
I look down, feeling my cheeks heat and my smile pull so tight it hurts my face.
When I look up, Dad and Shonda are looking at each other, awkward smiles on their faces. They don’t know how to react.
I think they’re waiting for us to say, “PUNKED!”
Of course we don’t. Instead I look to Shonda and ask, “Cinnamon?”
She blinks out of her stupor and nods. “Right, of course, the cinnamon?”
“Please.”
Travis pulls on my hair as he comes to stand beside me.
“Dad?” I call, he’s staring after Travis with a murderous look in his eyes. One that wasn’t there a moment ago. “Are you okay?”
“Fine,” he croaks, his voi
ce catching on a high-pitched squeak. I almost laugh. “This is gonna take some getting used to.”
“If it makes you feel any better we were totally boning when I lived at home.”
Travis whips his head round to look at me, his eyes wide. My dad goes deathly pale. Shonda drops the coffee jug onto the side.
I just shrug. “Figured we better get it out in the open now.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better,” Dad barks and then takes a calming breath. “And this isn’t a fling? You’re serious?”
“Deadly,” I respond, placing my hand on Travis’ chest. “I love him too. Have since I was eighteen years old.”
He nudges my nose with his.
“I knew,” Shonda says, raising her hand. “Well, I suspected. I mean, I wasn’t totally sure but I saw the way you looked at each other and Travis was… well he was a mess when you left, even before what happened to his leg.”
I frown at that unpleasant reminder.
“You didn’t say anything?” Dad barks, looking angrily at his wife.
“I wasn’t sure and I didn’t want to make things weird between them.”
Dad shakes his head and blows out a frustrated breath. “It’s decided now anyway, I guess. You’re both adults. Just… look after each other.”
“Always,” I promise.
“You have my word.” Travis kisses my temple and I help Shonda clean up the mess she made with the coffee.
“The next two months are going to draaaaag,” I mumble sadly. “I wish I could just stay but I really need to finish up the year.”
“It will fly by, you’ll see.” Travis takes the dirtied rag from my hands. “Especially now that you can’t back out.”
I roll my eyes. “I wasn’t going to back out.”
“Well, I just solidified that fact.”
Laughing, I kiss his jaw, happy that everything has gone exactly how I wanted it to. Things couldn’t be more perfect right now.
Cella, Molly, and Bris whip around to create a wall with their bodies. They think they’re acting natural but they look so fucking suspicious it’s almost hilarious.
“Ladies,” Travis says, his eyes narrowing as he takes them in.
He walks to where I’m sitting at the table across from them and dips his head to kiss my lips.
“Hey, baby,” I breathe, deepening the kiss when he pulls me to my feet.
He never forgets to kiss me goodbye and always kisses me hello. I love it. I love him.
“Why are they standing there like that?”
I bite my lip, terrified to say anything. If I’m right, it’s too soon. Far too soon. I’ve only been home for three weeks, only got my girls back together after tears and shouting at each other. Only just got settled into my new job and finally stopped crying over my old one.
“Mind your business,” Bris declares. She hasn’t changed at all.
Travis raises a brow and steps away from me and moves to them, his limp slight but evident.
“Back up, Stepdork, this doesn’t concern you,” Cella tries, raising her hand but he grabs it and pulls her away from the counter. She shrieks and stumbles.
“Dude, I know karat-ach!” Bris goes next and I press my fingers to my lips.
Molly shrugs, steps to the side and grins at me. “He was gonna find out eventually.”
“Why?” I ask, my heart hammering against my rib cage. “What does it say?”
Travis turns to look at me, eyes wide, stick in hand. He opens his mouth, closes it, opens it, closes it, then puts the stick back on the side and grips the edge of the counter for support.
“What does it say?” I ask Cella.
Travis came in at the exact wrong moment. They were supposed to tell me first and I was supposed to be the one to tell him later. Only reason I needed to find out is because I don’t know whether or not I can drink.
It’s our housewarming party later, he’s still supposed to be grocery shopping.
“Travis, do you make a habit of just leaving your cane in the middle of the hall like this?” Shonda suddenly calls. “Do you want Raven to trip and break her neck?”
She’s not supposed to be here either. What the fuck?
“What does it say?” I demand, striding to Travis who looks at me and smiles so brightly I can see all of his teeth.
“What does what say?” Shonda asks just as Travis scoops me into his arms and spins me around.
“Am I?” I whisper, my hands on his shoulders as I look down at him.
He nods, smiling and biting his bottom lip. “You are.”
“Are what, am what?” Dad asks, his hands full of bags.
Shonda, who makes it across the room in record time, suddenly starts jumping and screaming with the stick I peed on in her hand.
“I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!” she yells and yanks me from her son and into her arms.
“How did you know it? I didn’t even know it?”
“Know what?” Dad grumbles, feeling left out of the loop.
Shonda throws the stick at him, it bounces off his chest and clatters on the floor.
He looks adorably confused for a moment and then terrified. He gapes at his wife. “Are you pregnant?”
There’s a collective groan from my girls and Shonda but he realizes what’s going on before anybody has to correct him.
I’ve never seen groceries fly so quickly from one’s hands.
Travis and I are suddenly flanked from both sides and yanked apart. We’re congratulated and I think Shonda might be more excited than I am. Truth be told I’m terrified.
“Are you happy?” I ask Travis when Shonda and Dad start talking about it amongst themselves.
Travis nods and kisses my lips. “I’m ready for this. It’s the best news ever.”
“It’s not like you’ll be short for babysitters,” Cella puts in as she helps to put away the food Dad brought and dropped. “If it’s your career you’re worried about.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I mutter, sad that I might have to sacrifice time with my child for work but also sad that I might have to sacrifice my work for my child. Legitimate fears I’m sure.
“Are you not happy?” Travis asks, looking more composed now and vulnerable.
“I am!” I promise, placing my hand on his chest. “It’s just come a bit sooner than we planned.”
“That’s what happens when you don’t use protection,” Molly singsongs, grinning from ear to ear.
“I am happy,” I say to him again. “You make me happy. This baby will make me happy. This life makes me happy. Everything will fall into place and we’ll live happily ever after.”
“If it’s a girl I get to name her,” Travis declares.
“If what’s a girl?” Duncan, Travis’ old friend, asks as he too enters our kitchen. Why the hell is everyone so early?
“I knocked her up,” Travis boasts and Duncan high-fives him.
“That’s one way to keep her in town.”
I laugh, how can I not? “Good to see you, Duncan.”
“You too.” He hugs me and pats my belly. “Greetings from the human world, Sea Monkey.”
“Dude,” I mutter, rolling my eyes at his weirdness.
“Guys, do your thing,” Travis orders and drags me from the house. We stand to the side of the yard and I imagine us installing a swing set and a jungle gym, maybe a treehouse. He cups my face in my hands. “Are you happy? You look like you’re in shock.”
“I am in shock,” I say but I smile at him too. “And that’s only because I know how hard this is going to be, not because I don’t want it. I kind of thought we’d get the holidays and more time together first before we had to share each other.”
“Me too, but this doesn’t mean we won’t get that.” He places his hand over my stomach. “We’ve wasted so much time away from each other that now it’s just catching us up. This will be the best thing we ever do together, you’ll see.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
/> He kisses my lips and deepens it when I hum against him.
“Thank you for coming back to me, Raven.” His forehead touches mine and his hand grips mine between our chests.
“Thank you for loving me first.”
“Thank you for loving me last.”
I giggle and kiss him again, I guarantee I’ll never get tired of kissing him. I wish I’d never stopped to begin with.
To Kristine Holly, a stranger that took my book into her hands, on her own time, out of the goodness of her heart, and helped me tweak it to as close to perfect as we could get it. I’ll forever be grateful of your kindness.
AJ Love, for introducing me to Kristine Holly and just being an all-round badass.
Jami Kehr, you are a goddess and I will be forever in your debt for all the amazing things you do for me and so many other authors. I don’t profess to believe I did anything to deserve your support but I’m so grateful for it all the same.
Judy Zweifel of Judy’s Proofreading, I don’t thank you enough for your hard work and epic editing.
Danielle Dickson, a cover-creating legend, I couldn’t imagine working with anybody else. Your design skills just match my very vague visions so entirely.
Graphics by Tammy, the lady who formats my books to get them ready for eBook and print. You’re amazing at what you do and so helpful and patient with me despite some of my errors in the past.
Sam Louise Heaney, you’re always there for my random conversations, helping to inspire me to be a better writer.
To my kids for being little champions and helping me around the house while I desperately typed this book down.
Ali for being a great father to my kids.
Tania Emma Shrimpton, for messaging me every day while reading my books. It’s amazing to constantly hear your feedback, so humbling and exciting.
Mum and Rue, for having my babies whenever I go to a book signing.
Nadine Walkinshaw, my best friend, you have shown me so much love and kindness lately during your own struggles, you haven’t once let me down.
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