by Codi Gary
“THIS IS SUCH a mess,” Gemma said, dashing the tears from her cheeks.
“Yeah, it is,” Travis said, wondering how he could feel sorry for her. From what he’d caught of the conversation, she’d kept Michael in the dark about their marriage, and had taken him for granted. Anyone else and he’d have judged her harshly. But he still had a hard time believing Gemma would be deliberately cruel.
Sniffling, she grabbed a box of tissue off the desk. “Apparently, I have issues being honest with people I care about. God, I am such an asshole,” she said.
Travis didn’t argue, since he’d pretty much been cursing her all night, but for some reason, even if it wasn’t directed at him, Gemma’s remorse made him a little less angry with her.
“Mike obviously cared a lot about you to keep Charlie a secret. Why didn’t you ever give him a chance?” Travis asked, curious.
Moving behind the desk to close her laptop, she said, “I knew it wouldn’t work.”
He wondered if there really was someone else she was holding a torch for; not Michael, of course, but had her hesitations in Vegas really all been about Charlie?
“What about someone else? You must have dated other men.”
“I’ve had a few dates, but no one ever fit in with our life,” she said.
There was no way she had lived like a nun, though. “So, no one serious?”
“I said no.” She sounded impatient, and he smiled. He had told himself he didn’t want to fight, but he kind of liked Gemma when she was bristly and irritable. Her cheeks got rosy and her mossy eyes darkened to the color of pond water when she snapped. It was hot.
I need to stop thinking with my cock or she’s never going to go for this.
“Good, I’m glad you aren’t seeing anyone,” he said, before adding, “That makes my proposition less awkward.”
“Proposition?” Her tone was suspicious, and he bit back a smile.
He’d had no idea he was going to bring up his harebrained scheme until a few seconds earlier, but he really did think it was their best option for keeping the peace. He just hoped she would be smart enough to realize it.
“I’ve been thinking about our situation and it seems to me the best option for everyone may be if I move in with you and Charlie. At least for the duration of my stay,” he said, and from the red hue of her face he could tell she was about to explode.
“You can’t be serious. You can’t live with us. It’s just going to make things worse with everyone in town and confuse Charlie,” Gemma said.
“We are married, and everyone in town will know it by tonight, so that’s a weak point. As for Charlie, I thought you were going to tell him about our marriage anyway?”
Or were you going to try to hide that, too?
“I did, and he was so excited, even though I told him it was only temporary. It’ll break his heart if you move in and we get his hopes up. Why don’t we—”
Travis cut her off. “This is how it’s going to be. You had your way for ten years, but for the next two weeks, we’re doing things my way. Or I can call my lawyer and start custody proceedings today.”
Her flushed face paled. “You don’t have to do that. I’ll give you as much time as you want with Charlie, but that doesn’t mean you have to move in.”
Knowing he was being cruel, he said, “Forgive me if your word isn’t enough.”
The quiet in the shop was deafening. Travis thought she was gearing up for a new argument, but she surprised him when she said, “You’ll sleep in the guest bedroom downstairs.”
“That’s perfect. Trust me, sex with you is the last thing I want.” He saw her wince and almost apologized, but part of him wanted her to feel bad, even though he was lying through his teeth. She was beautiful, and he couldn’t stop his reaction to her every time she was near, but if making her think he wasn’t interested would get him what he wanted, then so be it.
“Where is Charlie, by the way?” Travis asked, looking toward the back of the store.
“He’s at his friend Evan’s. I’m picking him up after work.”
“I could do it,” Travis said, pulling his keys out of his pocket. “I told him I would spend the day with him anyway, and the day is half gone.”
“Oh, that’s okay, I—”
“Gemma,” he said, trying to sound patient, “I don’t want to disappoint him.”
Her face fell, and before he could stop himself, he reached out to squeeze her hand. “It will be okay.”
She sighed and pulled her hand from his. “I’ll call them, and give you the address.”
TRAVIS WENT AND checked out of the motel, tossed his duffel bag in the back, and drove to Charlie’s friend Evan’s house. He shook hands with his parents as Charlie bounced around like a rubber ball, clearly excited to see him. They climbed up into the truck, and Charlie hadn’t stopped talking the whole way to Gemma’s house.
“Did you get into a fight?” Charlie asked, studying the left side of his face, where Wayne had gotten in a lucky shot. The kid didn’t even give him a chance to answer before he added, “I got into a fight yesterday. Teddy Hook kept picking on a couple of kids at camp, and when I told him to leave them alone, he punched me. So I hit him back, and that’s why Mom had to come get me.”
Travis had noticed his son’s shiner but had been too wrapped up in other things to mention it. Not a sign of excellent parenting skills. Shit, how was he going to be a dad to a nine-year-old kid when he’d never even known his own father?
“How come you got in trouble for fighting back?” Travis asked.
“’Cause the counselor said I should have just gotten an adult. No tolerance for violence, she said.”
Travis thought that was a stupid reason for sending a kid home from summer camp, especially when he was just trying to do the right thing, but kept his mouth shut. He’d had experienced very few truly good role models and had no right to criticize the camp director.
Still, a little glimmer of pride spread through his chest as he considered Charlie. Eric was right that Gemma had raised him well. It took a special person of any age to stand up for others.
They pulled up outside Gemma’s house, and Charlie hopped out of the truck. When Travis went to grab his duffel bag out of the back, he turned to find his son staring at him with wide eyes.
“Are you staying here?”
Travis wanted to kick his own ass. He had assumed Gemma had told him. “Yeah. Is that okay with you? I’m just going to bunk in the guest room while I’m here, so you and I can get to know each other.”
“Awesome!” Charlie whooped and raced inside. When Travis finally caught up to him, Charlie asked, “Wanna see my room?”
“Sure, buddy, lead the way,” Travis said, dropping his bag in the doorway and following Charlie up the stairs and past the first door.
“That’s Mom’s room. She has her own bathroom with this huge claw-foot tub she spends hours in. I don’t know how anyone could take a bath for that long; it weirds me out when my fingers get pruney,” Charlie said, opening up the next door and pointing inside. “And this is my bathroom. Mom let me decorate it with Avengers stuff.”
Travis looked around at the shower curtain and toothbrush holder with a smile. “Awesome. I love Iron Man myself.”
Charlie made a face. “Really? I like Thor. He’s a god.”
“But Iron Man is rich,” Travis said, smiling.
Charlie shook his head as he walked away and opened the door to his room. “But he doesn’t have any real powers.”
Travis’s heart stopped as he took in Charlie’s room. For the most part, posters of comics and superheroes covered the walls, but on the same wall his bed was pushed against were posters of Travis. His first album cover. Performing live at one of his concerts. Facing Charlie, he asked, “So, you’ve known about me for a long time, huh?”
“Yeah, Mom told me about you when I was five. Even made me a scrapbook.” Charlie ran to his nightstand and opened a drawer, pulling out a leather-bound book.
Travis sat down on the bed, and Charlie hopped up next to him, handing him the book.
Travis opened it to find his Rock Canyon High School ID card and his football picture on the first page. I wonder how she got that.
“The next couple of pages are of you performing, and then there are some photos of you and Uncle Mike at the river. My favorite pages are toward the end, though.” Charlie reached over him and flipped the pages until he reached the one he wanted. “There. These are of you and Mom.”
Sure enough, there were pictures of Gemma and him hugging in the quad at school, making weird faces for the camera. The next page held their prom pictures and a couple of snapshots from that night. There were pictures from Stephanie and Jared Brown’s wedding that summer, and their photo-booth pictures from the fair. After that, though, it was just clippings from magazines following his career. Travis was touched, tears pricking his eyes as he turned the last few pages.
How could she take so much time making sure his son knew everything about him without giving Charlie the chance to really know him?
Closing the scrapbook with a slap, he tried to smile through the pain. “So, why don’t you show me where I’m sleeping?”
Charlie jumped up readily. “Sure, follow me. It used to be Mom’s room when she was a kid.”
Travis let Charlie lead him back downstairs, even though he knew the way well. He’d spent the better part of two years in that room. Around the base of the stairs and through the kitchen, Gemma’s old room was at the end of a narrow hallway. Opening the door, Charlie stepped back and spread his arms with the flourish of an entertainer.
“Here it is,” Charlie said.
The furniture was made of cherry and tasteful. When Gemma had slept here, there had been an iron bed frame and a white vanity dresser with stars painted along the side. Gone were the posters of *NSYNC, wall-to-wall bookshelves filled with books, and the bright purple butterfly bedspread. A simple navy comforter with several blue-and-white-striped pillows adorned the bed, and there was a nightstand and dresser, but nothing else.
“Wanna set your stuff down and grab an ice cream bar?”
Turning to his son, who was practically hopping from foot to foot, he said, “Sure. Ice cream sounds awesome.”
Chapter Fifteen
* * *
GEMMA HAD CALLED Rico’s Pizza before leaving work for a to-go order, but she wasn’t really hungry. Her nerves were too frazzled to think about dinner. She had tried calling Mike several times, but he kept sending her straight to voice mail. Callie and Gracie had come by for lunch, and Callie had told her to give him time. Gracie hadn’t said much, which was unusual for her. Then again, she had already voiced her opinion and Gemma had ignored her, so maybe she figured there was nothing more to add.
All day she’d been stressing and worrying about how she was going to handle this whole crazy situation. In one weekend she had turned her entire life upside down, and all because she couldn’t say no to her ex-boyfriend.
He’s not my ex-boyfriend anymore, he’s my husband. My super-hot husband, with whom I’ve broken my long-standing celibacy and who is now living under my roof.
Not that he was interested in her anymore; he’d made that perfectly clear. But when he’d grabbed her hand, she’d still felt that tug in her lower abdomen. How could something so strong be one-sided?
Don’t go there again. This situation is about Travis and Charlie, not your reawakened hormones.
Walking into Rico’s, she wished she could quiet that little voice in her head. It had absolutely no problem saying exactly what it meant, and it was annoying.
Rico stood behind the counter, a scruffy Italian man with silver at his temples and a thick New York accent, even though he’d been living in Rock Canyon for nearly twenty years.
“Hey, Rico. I called in an order,” Gemma said.
“I saw it, and don’t you worry, I fixed it for you,” Rico said, putting two large pizza boxes and a plastic salad container on the counter.
Gemma stared at the enormous amount of food. “But I only ordered a medium pizza and a salad.”
“Yes, but your new husband used to finish a whole one by himself, so I made him a special pie. You tell him to come see me soon, okay? Oh, and don’t you worry about the salad for the party; Vicky is making a spinach salad with fresh strawberries, feta, and candied walnuts, with a red wine vinaigrette.” Kissing the tips of his fingers, he added, “Fantastico.”
“Party? Rico, what party?” Gemma asked, handing him her debit card and dreading his answer.
“Your reception. Hope Weathers told Vicky, and Vicky told me that we were in charge of the salad, although just so you know, I make excellent gnocchi with a spicy cheese sauce, if you want an Italian menu instead.” He swiped her card and handed it back to her, smiling at whoever had just walked in behind her.
“Rico, there’s been a misunderstanding; there is no . . .”
The phone rang and he picked it up, gesturing for her to hold on. Gemma picked up her pizzas and salad and turned, almost running smack into Mrs. Andrews.
“Well, Gemma, I heard that boy finally made an honest woman of you. I’m glad to hear it.”
Gemma’s face burned, and she wanted to run for the door. “Thank you, Mrs. Andrews, but I have to hurry. The guys are waiting on dinner,” she said, inching toward the exit.
“Well, pencil me in for Saturday at nine. I’m your party planner, and we have a lot to do so your reception goes off without a hitch,” Mrs. Andrews said, walking up to the counter as Rico put down the phone.
Oh, what fresh hell is this?
Gemma stared in horror at the back of her head, trying to process the high-handed announcement. Mrs. Andrews was her party planner?
What else did fate have in store for her?
ARMS FULL, GEMMA came through the door to find her son and Travis sitting on the floor, playing Monopoly. Travis jumped up and came over to help her, taking the pizzas.
“Thanks,” she said, dropping her purse and laptop bag on the couch.
“Who else is coming over, the Rock Canyon football team?” Travis asked.
Her gaze met his, and his smile was real. Relaxing slightly, she said, “No. Rico decided that my order wasn’t adequate for such a big, strapping man. And he suggested that you come see him while you’re in town, but I’m pretty sure it was a command.”
“Ah, Rico,” Travis said. “He was always a riot.”
“Hey, Mom, I showed dad his room and my room, and now I’m kicking his butt at Monopoly,” Charlie said.
Gemma melted a bit as she saw her son’s happiness and went over to ruffle his hair. “That’s great, honey. Are you hungry?”
“Starvin’ Marvin,” Charlie said, running into the kitchen to wash his hands.
Travis raised his eyebrow. “Is he always like that?”
“Like what?” Gemma said.
“Hyper,” Travis said, carrying the pizzas to the table.
Gemma laughed. “Yeah, pretty much. I was the same way as a kid. He may look like you, but he’s got a lot of me in his personality.” Travis stiffened, and whatever she’d said wrong, she wished she could take it back.
Charlie joined them at the table and started to reach into the top box. Suddenly, he yanked his hand back and made a face.
“Yuck, this isn’t right.”
Gemma lifted the lid all the way, taking in the funky concoction of meat and veggies, and remembered it was Travis’s favorite, down to the white sauce. Normally, she just bought Charlie a small pepperoni pizza and a salad for herself.
Travis reached in and grabbed a couple slices. “This is the best pizza in the world.”
Charlie still hadn’t lost his complete look of disgust. “If you say so.”
Gemma snorted as she grabbed her salad and drizzled fat-free dressing on it, trying hard not to think about the tempting aroma of the pizza. After the junk she’d had today, she couldn’t afford to have any. Maybe tomorrow she could grab a small leftover
slice, she thought, eyeing the pizza longingly as she shoved a forkful of salad into her mouth.
“That’s what you’re eating?” Travis asked.
Gemma looked from his pizza, dripping with cheese and yummy goodness, to her healthy salad. “Yes. Yes, this is what I’m eating.”
“Mom always gets a salad for dinner at Rico’s,” Charlie said.
“Why?” Travis asked between bites.
“’Cause she doesn’t want to get a Buddha belly again.”
“Charlie!” Gemma scolded, mortified.
“What? That’s what you told Aunt Gracie,” Charlie said, looking confused.
Gemma ducked her head and filled her mouth with more salad, trying to avoid looking at Travis. It was so embarrassing to be reminded of what a tank she used to be.
“I think your mom is beautiful, no matter what she weighs.”
Gemma jerked up her head and met his eyes with surprise.
“I do, too, but she’s always freaking out about her butt getting big or something,” Charlie said around a mouthful of pizza.
“Let’s change the subject,” Gemma said. For a man who hated her guts, Travis was being awfully kind to her. First the bookstore pep talk, and now telling their son he thought she was always beautiful.
Don’t read into it.
“Charlie and I were trying to decide what to do tomorrow,” Travis said. “Any suggestions?”
“Well, Charlie loves to fish. You could do that, or maybe just take a drive?”
“You aren’t coming with us?” Charlie said, pleading.
“Charlie, I would love to, but I’ve got the store to open. I was just closed for five days. I can’t afford to miss more; it’s our income,” Gemma said, but in her heart she knew that wasn’t the only reason.
Charlie looked disappointed, and Gemma didn’t know why. He would be spending the whole day with his dad, getting to know him, without her tagging along.
“We could go geocaching,” Charlie said quietly.
“What’s that?” Travis asked.
“It’s like a scavenger hunt with GPS units. Uncle Mike takes me. Can we ask him to go?”