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I’ve got to do better today. I’m not going to be clingy or needy. Travis isn’t mine, so I have to make sure not to act like he is.
Mack frowns at me. “What’s the deal with giving a man the cold shoulder?” I’m so surprised by the question that I gape for a moment. “Have I been giving you the cold shoulder?” “Not me.” Mack nods over his shoulder, where I know Travis is fiddling with the engine of the Jeep. “Him.”
PFFTT
Mack leans over with a glint in his eyes. This time I know he’s teasing. He murmurs into my ear, “Just how much space are you thinking he wants?” I huff with amusement—just slightly wobbly because I’m still emotional about Travis—and I give him a friendly little punch on the arm.
Ayoo mackk
“Shit, woman,” Mack says. “That’s cold.” He draws out the last word way too long.
If anyone in this world belongs to me, it’s Travis and that dog. And both of them are in danger right now.
Travis’s eyes are open when I reach out for him. He’s got a faint smile on his pale lips. “Oh darlin’. You did real good.”
I jerk in surprise when I hear Travis’s hoarse voice saying, “I get a bullet in the chest, and she decides to take a li’l nap.”
“You’ve saved my life every single day since I found you trying to steal my motorcycle.” “Wasn’t stealin’ it.” I giggle. “If you say so.”
Do you want me to… to leave?” He makes a sound of gruff indignation. “No! I mean, not unless you wanna. Maybe you need to rest or somethin’.”
His frown has deepened dramatically. “Is that what you’ve been thinkin’? That me and Cheryl— No! I still care ’bout her, and I always will. But she’s not who I want anymore.”
HAHAHAAHAHAAH
“Yeah. I know. Well, if you want a man, you got choices in that too.” His accent is getting thicker. “I seen you talkin’ to Mack. He’s a real good guy. Smart, like you.”
JEALOUSY JEALOUSYYYYYYYYYY
You’re not gonna lose me. Not unless you want me gone. I’m gonna do whatever you do. If you wanna join Maria, then I’ll trail around behind you like a lost puppy. Me and the dog. Or if you wanna hook up with Mack or some other man, I’ll make myself a third wheel and I’ll practice deep breathin’ so I don’t beat the man’s face in for gettin’ to touch you like I… Or if you wanna stick with the caravan after all, I’ll learn to be patient and put up with not bein’ in control. You’re not gonna lose me, Layne.
TRAVIS FARRELL YOU ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
I’m tryin’ to tell you that you don’t have to fuck me to keep me. You have me, even if you never want me to touch you again.”
I’m sayin’ you got real choices now. I know things happened between us because… because you were desperate. Feelin’ low. You needed somethin’ and I was there. I know I’m not a man you ever woulda wanted otherwise. I get it. I promise I do. I told myself from the beginnin’ I could never… never ask you for more, ’cause I never wanted you to feel obliged to give me anythin’ you didn’t want to. I made myself hold to that from the first day we got together, and I’m gonna keep holdin’ to it now, even though I’m in a panic ’bout losin’ you. You got choices, Layne. You’re not stuck with some old
...more
“Please, Layne. Please don’t say that. Please don’t ask it. Unless you really mean it. I mean really mean it. ’Cause I’m gonna take you serious. I’m gonna want more than just a good time with you. I’m gonna… never let go.”
Aw travis my heart
“Travis, I’m asking for real. What if I want that old hillbilly?” His face changes. His eyes blaze. “If you want him… if you really want him… this old hillbilly is already yours.”
“You already knew how I feel ’bout you, didn’t you?” “No! Of course I didn’t know. Why would I have known?” “Thought it was obvious. Been crazy ’bout you for ages.” “Ages? We’ve only been together for a couple of weeks.” “Well, I spent most of it bein’ crazy ’bout you. You must’ve been able to see it. Never met anyone as brave and sweet and smart and full of heart as you. How could I help but fall for you?
Travis is breathing heavily. His face is still damp, but there’s a little more color in it now. “Do you think…?” “Do I think what?” “You think I can kiss you? For real?”
YUH
Travis is grumbling wordlessly as I lean over him. My lips hover over his. “Are you really whining about this?” He huffs. “If you kiss me, darlin’, I’ll never whine again in my life.”
“’Cause I was tryin’ to keep a proper distance.” “Proper distance! You were fucking me.”
But I knew if I kissed you, I’d never be able to keep perspective. You have no idea how close I came—over and over again. I never knew I could want anythin’ as much as I wanted to kiss you. But I knew better than to let myself. I never woulda been able to let you go.”
He gives me the sweetest little kiss. “I love you, Layne. You got that, right?” “Yeah. I got it. I love you too.”
My heart :')
In this world? I was scared for you.” He drops his eyes and then raises them to meet mine again. “So I followed you.”
:O
So I tracked you. Followed your trail. Why else do you think I happened to show up right where you were?” “You said it was because we were taking the same route!” His lips are twitching slightly, although his eyes are still sober. “And you believed me?”
“But I love you. And some kind of miracle happened, and you love me back. And because of this damn gunshot, you won’t let me make love to you. It’s enough to make a man crazy.”
This is the same man who got embarrassed from getting a look under my shirt and holding a box of tampons and talking about his underwear. He hasn’t changed that much. He’s still adorably shy. But he tells me the truth right now. “You smell like mine.”
A ring. A gold ring with a pretty little diamond solitaire. An engagement ring. I gape down at it, utterly stunned. He clears his throat again. “It’s okay if you don’t… I know it’s not the most important thing. But I wanted… I wanted to make it official. That I love you. That you’re everythin’ to me. That I’ll be yours forever. If… if… that’s what you want.”
