by Anna Brooks
“He thinks I’m too skinny.” Her laugh is irritated. “What kind of man tries to get a girl to eat more? It’s stupid. Every day he brings me lunch. Drives me nuts.”
As I’m pulling into the restaurant parking lot, I look out my window and do a double take. No. It can’t be. I squint and lean over the steering wheel. My heart drops and bile rises in my throat. Mary follows my stare and gasps. Travis is standing by his car and has his arms wrapped around another woman.
Chapter 24
Travis
“IT’S OKAY, TANYA.” I hug Tammy’s sister and try to console her. I’ve been avoiding this for a while now, but since I was in town, I decided seeing her was the right thing to do.
“I still expect her to walk through the door. It’s been like eight years, Travis.” She wipes her eyes and backs up. “I’m really sorry to have bugged you. I just needed to talk to somebody.”
“You can call me anytime. Don’t apologize.”
“It’s the wedding. We always talked about being each other’s maid of honor, and I hate that she’s not here for this. When I have kids, they’ll never know their aunt.”
Taking a deep breath, I try to make her feel better. Tanya was devastated when Tammy died. She blamed me for a long time, so it’s hard to forget all the shit she said to me.
“I know. She talked to me about it, too. She loved you.”
“Yeah,” she nods. “I’m really happy for you. Char sounds great.”
I told Tanya about Charlotte over breakfast. I felt guilty at first, telling the sister of your dead ex-fiancée that you’re in love with someone else. But Tanya’s happy, too, and we both agreed that Tammy would want us to move on with our lives.
“Can I see it?” she asks.
“See what?”
“The ring.”
“Oh. Yeah, sure.” I open my car and pull the black velvet box out of the glove compartment. She takes it and pops the top.
“Oh, Travis. It’s beautiful.” Turning the box to get a better angle, she admires it in every direction. The large square diamond shines in the sun. “This was your grandmother’s?”
“Yeah. I had the stone replaced and added a couple smaller ones, but the band itself is.”
I never even thought to give this ring to Tammy. It was a hard pill to swallow when I realized I was never really in love with her. Yeah, I loved her, but it’s not even in the same realm as what I feel for Char. I knew when I decided I was going to ask Char to marry me that I wanted to use this ring.
“Wow. She’ll love it.” Tanya hands it back and sticks her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. “Well, I should go. Thanks again for meeting me, I really do feel better.”
“Good. And good luck with your wedding and stuff.”
She smiles, and I wait to leave until she’s in her car. Honking her horn as she pulls out, I stand there for a few minutes. The ring weighs about a thousand pounds in my pocket, and I can’t wait to give it to Char.
The drive home is never ending. I feel like shit for telling Char I had to work today, but as soon as the jeweler called me and told me the ring was ready, I couldn’t wait. I pull into my parking spot and look around for her car, but don’t see it. Hopefully, she went shopping or something with Meara.
When I open my door, the place feels empty. Calling for her, I get nothing but silence. I get to the bedroom and the emptiness of my apartment transfers to my heart. Her clothes are all gone and the drawers left open.
I grab my phone and call her, but it goes right to voicemail. Something’s wrong. Rushing back to my car, I call Meara.
“Yeah?” She picks up on the first ring.
“Do you know where Char is?”
“No. I haven’t talked to her since yesterday. Why?”
“I came home and all her stuff is gone. She’s not answering her phone.” Dread begins to take form, and I press the gas pedal a little harder.
“I’m alone at The Pub, but I can get someone to come in.” She’s panicking, too.
“Let me check her place, and I’ll call you back.”
I hang up and barely have my car in park before running to her door. Using the new keys I had made, I open her door and search, only to come up empty.
“Fuck!” I shout.
I run back to my car and head to the only other place I can think of.
She has her arms around her knees and stares at the water. I breathe a sigh of relief and slowly walk toward her.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
Her spine straightens, but she doesn’t acknowledge me. I hop up and sit next to her.
“What are you doing here?”
Still ignoring me, I set my hand on her back, but she scoots forward.
“Char, what’s going on?”
Her head shakes back and forth.
“Did something happen?”
“Just stop, okay? You don’t have to pretend anymore. I get it, alright?” Her voice leaves no room for argument.
Fuck that. “Wanna clue me in here ‘cause I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She whips her head around and shoots daggers at me. “I saw you.”
“You saw me what?”
“Don’t play games, Travis.”
Irritation forms because I have no idea what the hell is going on.
“I’m not playing games. I’m clueless here,” I admit.
“I saw you. With that girl outside the restaurant.”
Taken aback, it hits me.
“In Chicago?”
“Yeah. Why, is there more than one? Got a different girl in another city?” she snaps.
“Why were you in Chicago?”
“That doesn’t matter. What matters is I saw you with another woman. It’s fine. I figured it would happen eventually, you were too good to be true. Just go. I get it.” She turns her head back, and I laugh.
“Oh, sweetheart, that wasn’t what it looked like.”
Apparently she’s back to ignoring, because she doesn’t answer.
“Char, look at me.” I lower my voice.
She slowly turns her head, and I reach to wipe the tears that are now falling.
“Don’t touch me.” She stands and backs away.
“That was Tanya, Tammy’s sister.”
Her lips part, but she doesn’t speak. I stand as well.
“She’s been calling me to talk. She took Tammy’s death really hard and is getting married soon. She just needed to vent, and I listened. We gave each other a hug before we parted ways. That was it, I swear.”
“It looked like more than that to me.”
“Well, it wasn’t. I promise. Do you really think I’d cheat on you?”
“No. I never thought you would. I trusted you. But what was I supposed to think? You had your arms wrapped around someone else.” She avoids my eyes and begins wringing her fingers in front of her. “I thought you were working anyways. You already lied about that. Why should I believe you?”
“I’m sorry I lied about that, but I had something to do down there.”
“Yeah, a slut,” she huffs.
A smile plays at my lips at her misplaced anger.
“Don’t laugh at me, Travis.”
“I’m not. I had to go get something, that’s all. Since I was down there, I decided it would be a good time to meet up with her.”
“What the hell was so important that you had to lie to me about working?” Her hands are now folded on her hips, and her head is cocked to the side. Even angry, she’s fucking beautiful.
“I can’t tell you, yet.”
“Then you can go to hell, Travis.” She hops off the rock, and I catch up with her in a couple strides. When I grab her arm, she jerks it free and starts to walk away again.
“I said, don’t touch me.”
“I was getting your ring,” I shout to her back.
She freezes. The only movement is her long blond hair blowing in the wind. I walk up behind her and pull the ring out of my pocket. Reaching around, I ho
ld it up for her to see.
“It was my grandmother’s. I had it cleaned up and replaced the stone. The jeweler called yesterday and told me it was done.” I slide it on her finger. “I was going to do this big romantic proposal, rose petals, candles, and all that other shit. But this seems as good of a place as any, don’t you think?”
Charlotte
I’m frozen. I take in the ring on my finger and have to blink away the tears to get a good look at it. It’s gorgeous. A shiny gold band and a princess cut diamond in the center with two smaller diamonds on either side. The heat from his body surrounds me, and once again, I kick myself for being such an idiot.
“Yeah. This is a good place.” Slowly, I turn around and look at him. His dimple is showing, and the sun makes his blue eyes shine. “I’m sorry, I’m an idiot and—” He shuts me up with a kiss, and I melt into him.
I was hollow when I saw him with her, and the only thing I thought was to get out. If I just cut him out of my life, it would be easier than going through an actual break up. So, I ran. I dropped Mary off and sped all the way back to his place. I threw my clothes in my trunk and came to the only place that has always brought me peace.
Now, I’m standing here, wearing a ring, and I don’t even know what to say. I did it again. I doubted him. Yet here he is. Holding me, kissing me, being there for me.
I pull away and hold my hand out. My lips hurt I stretch them so wide smiling.
“I fucking love you, Charlotte. I want to buy a house, get married, have babies, and hold you every night when I go to sleep. Well, when I’m at home, at least. I don’t think the guys would appreciate being kicked out of their bed so I could be alone with you at work.”
I laugh and make a very unladylike snort. I cover my mouth and laugh more. He chuckles, too, and drops down on one knee. “Will you marry me?”
I can’t talk because I’m crying tears of joy. I nod my head and he stands up and lifts me. He kisses me hard and quick, before twirling me around. I giggle and wrap my legs around him.
“I love you, Travis,” I say when he sets me down again. “I’m sorry I doubted you again.”
“Let’s not talk about it right now, okay?”
“’Kay.”
“You’re gonna marry me.”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Holy shit. What did you just say?” We turn and see Meara and Pierce a few feet from us.
“We’re getting married!” I run to her, and we jump up and down and squeal like little girls.
“Let me see the ring.”
I hold out my hand, and we both admire the bright stone.
“Dang, Travis, you did good!” She walks up to him and gives him a hug while Pierce does the same to me.
“Congratulations,” he whispers. “You deserve this so much, and I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks. What are you doing here anyway?” I ask both of them, returning to Travis.
“He called looking for you, so I grabbed Pierce, and we came to look for you, too. We were worried,” Meara answers.
“I see. Well, you found me. Us. And we’re getting married!”
Travis wraps his arm around my shoulder, and I smile even bigger when I see him trying not to laugh at my excitement. I haven’t had many things to be excited about in my life, but this is definitely one of them. I’m milking this for all it’s worth!
“Welcome to the family, man.” Pierce shakes Travis’ hand. “It’s about damn time.” He laughs.
“It is,” Travis agrees.
“Let’s go celebrate!” I shout. “I’ve gotta go change, but we’ll come by The Pub in a little bit.”
“Yeah, that sounds great. I’ll make a few calls. Give me a couple hours,” Meara says.
“I think we might need more than two,” Travis responds, squeezing my butt.
“Dude, I might be cool with you guys getting married, but I don’t need to hear that shit.” Pierce backs away. “I’m bouncing all night, so whenever you guys show up, I’ll be there.”
“Fine. Is four hours enough, eight o’clock?” Meara asks.
I look up at Travis, and he eyes me from head to toe, then licks his lips before nodding.
“Yeah, that’s good. We’ll see you then,” I tell her.
“Here.” Travis reaches in my pocket and throws my keys at Pierce. “Can you take her car back to my place?”
“Sure, man. Bye, Char. Congrats you guys.”
“Yeah, congratulations. I’m happy for you both. See ya in a little while!” Meara shouts, trying to catch up with her brother.
I wrap my arms around his neck, assaulted with the memories of the first time I met him, right here. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“I’m going to be the perfect wife for you.”
“I don’t want perfect. I just want you.”
Chapter 25
Charlotte
“YOU’VE GOTTA GET UP or we’ll be late.” Travis nudges me, but my sated body flops like a rag doll.
He laughs and crawls over me, nuzzling my neck. “Come on, sweetheart, you said you wanted to shower.”
He blows on my neck and tickles my ribs. “Okay! Okay! I’m up.” I push his rock hard body and slide out from under him.
I run my hand through my messy hair, and sand sticks to my fingers from the beach. I smile, remembering how rough and urgent we’d been when we couldn’t make it to the bedroom, and he took me against the wall. He carried me to bed and we made love again, slow and sweet.
Standing under the steam, his woodsy body wash is still lingering in the stall. I hold up my left hand, and elation warms my bones. I’m getting married. To Travis. I smile, and carefully wash my hair, trying to avoid getting any strands stuck in the diamond.
With my hair in a towel, I apply lotion with my right hand only. I twist and turn trying to get all angles of my body, but curse when I can’t reach my back.
“Travis! Can you come here, please?”
The door opens a minute later, and with my back to him, I begin to ramble, “I need you to put some lotion on my back. I’m trying to reach, but I can’t get this one spot,” I wrap my arm around and pat my back with one hand, indicating the area.
“Can’t you use your other hand?” he asks, quizzical.
“No. I don’t want to get lotion on my ring.” I’m still reaching around my back, trying to get that one spot, when he comes up behind me.
He chuckles, and grabs my hand. “It’s okay to use your left hand, babe. The ring can be washed.”
“But I don’t want to get it dirty.”
“It’s fine,” he says, reaching for the lotion and squirting a dollop on his palm, “but, if you want me to touch, you all you have to do is ask.” The cool lotion and his warm hands make my knees weak as he rubs the vanilla scent all over my back, and of course, my butt as well.
“Shut up,” I laugh. “I don't want to ruin it. It’s so pretty.” Once again, I hold up my hand to admire the square stone.
“Not as pretty as you,” he whispers in my ear before biting it.
“You’re such a cornball.”
He shrugs and slaps my ass before walking out of the bathroom.
“We don't have a long drive, but there’re two things I need to talk to you about.”
My hand freezes on the volume dial then I twist in my seat to look at him. He’s so handsome tonight in a dark blue button up shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows.
“Okay?”
“First, why were you at Mary’s after I told you I didn’t want you there alone?” His tone is light. Thank God, he doesn’t seem mad, I think.
“I called you.”
“You did?”
“Yeah, you didn’t answer, and I figured you were busy, so I just hung up.” I swallow hard, still nervous. “I didn’t want to text you or leave a message ‘cause I figured you’d be pissed.”
“You’re right. I told you I don’t want you there alone. Not because I’m some prick that wants y
ou locked up, but because that place is bad, sweetheart. Drug dealers, prostitutes, you name it, it happens there.”
I gasp. “What? I knew it was dirty. I didn’t think it was dangerous.”
“Yeah, it’s bad.”
“But Mary’s there. She lives there,” I shriek. “I’ve gotta help her. She can stay at my place or something.”
“Brandon’s got it covered.”
“What does that mean?”
He looks at me briefly, shrugging, before concentrating on the road. “I trust him. If he says he’s got her, I believe him.”
“But, she—”
“Char, he’s got it. I still don’t know much, but I talked to him while you were napping today.”
“Wow. Well, okay. Can you get her number from him? We didn’t get a chance to talk this morning, since I left before we got to sit down and eat.”
“Yeah. I’ll get it. That brings me to number two.” He pulls into the parking lot and shuts the car off.
He turns in his seat and pulls my head forward so he’s inches from me. Our eyes connect, and he says, “I would never cheat on you.”
Embarrassed, I look down, but he lifts my head with a finger under my chin.
“I know. I’m sorry. I should have trusted you.”
“Yeah, you should have. But what you really should have done is confronted me. If I pulled up somewhere, and a guy had his hands on you, I would not drive away, that’s for damn sure.”
“I know.” I lean my head against the seat. “If it ever happens again, I’ll trust you.”
“I appreciate that.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “Ready to celebrate?”
“Hell yeah, I am!” I hop out of the car and meet him around front. We walk hand in hand to the front door. There’s a live band and bass pumps through the old wooden building.
When we get inside, Pierce meets us and shouts over the music, “We’re in the back.”
I nod and Travis tugs on my arm, putting himself ahead of me to clear the way. I shake my head at his caveman antics, but secretly love that he wants to protect me all the time. I grip the waistband of his jeans and watch his firm ass the whole way there. When we round the corner, I see a bunch of familiar faces and tears spring to my eyes.