“Okay.”
“I’ll text you a warning before I tell Syd.”
“Cool. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
We hang up and I’m left alone with my feelings and a lot of cookies. Double fucking chocolate cookies. Grady mentioned coming to terms with my love for Nancy, but the truth is that I’ve always loved her. It turned from friendly to romantic sometime in high school and it hasn’t changed. It’s not like I haven’t had relationships with other women. There was no way that Nancy was going to pay attention to Syd’s goofy younger brother. Not then. I think about the way I used to get tongue-tied around her and how almost every wet dream I had in those days featured her. I don’t even want to think about the amount of times she came to mind while I masturbated all those years ago. Now…fuck, the same. But it’s different.
It is. Damn, when did it turn from admiring love to a love that seems to have sunk into my bones and my soul? I can’t think of another woman right now. Yes, I know I was fooling around with that woman in Amarillo while we were shooting, and that makes me an asshole because I knew it wasn’t going to go anywhere. Is that what I’ve become? A creature who uses other women as substitutes for the one woman I love.
Shame and disgust fill me. Yeah, I knew I was doing it, but when I think about it—really think about it—my stomach clenches. Shit, I’m an asshole. I played with their emotions and hid behind the idea that I never promised them anything more than a fling.
Evil Sis: What the hell is going on?
Damn, the woman has a weird sixth sense when it comes to me. No matter what, she picks up on things. I’ve learned in the past that I need to be sure not to lie to her. Shade the truth? Yeah, but making sure not to outright lie to her.
Me: Why?
Evil Sis: Grady is acting weird.
Me: How is that different? That whole family is strange.
Evil Sis: Travis Beauregard Fillmore!
Shit. Okay.
Me: I was just worried about Nancy’s flat tire.
Two seconds after she reads the text, my phone rings. Great going, Travis.
I answer it because she will come after me otherwise. She’ll alert Josh and the LOLs and make my life a living nightmare.
“What?”
“Oh, so sweet, Travis. What the hell is going on there?”
“Tell him I’m coming on Saturday. I can’t wait to see him and Nancy.” Shit. That sounded like Carter.
“Carter, go find someone else to bother today.”
“But Thursdays are my day with you.”
I roll my eyes. Carter Hawthorne is a pain in the ass. Granted, everyone babies him and part of everyone is Nancy. Their friendship went from zero to sixty in the last couple of months. They are constantly texting, and it irritates me. Most guys don’t last that long with Nancy.
“Listen, I have a little work I have to do,” my sister is explaining to Carter. She puts up with his shit, so I’m assuming there is a reason. I do know that he has some kind of genius ability to know just where to open clubs and how to make them successful. Still, he’s like a puppy with ADD.
“I heard you say Travis. That’s not work. He’s your brother.”
A sigh from my sister and I have to fight a smile. She loves that whole family, and I know that Carter has always been like a second little brother to her.
“Well, sit there and be quiet. Now, Travis, tell me what you’re talking about?”
“Her flat tire was deliberate. Josh is worried it wasn’t just random vandalism.”
“What? Why didn’t she call me? That woman!”
And now I’ll have to call her or go over there.
Fuck.
“She might not know.”
There is a beat of silence. “You didn’t tell her? And why do you know?”
“I went over to talk with Josh about it and Wyatt had the security recording.”
“And.”
“What?”
“And why didn’t you say something to her? Why didn’t Josh tell her?”
“We thought—”
“Wait. Are you the call Grady took not too long ago?”
She might not be his executive assistant anymore, but she still knows everything that goes on there.
“Yes.”
“So, let me get this right. You talked to Josh, you decided not to tell her, then you called Grady and not me?”
The way her voice has lowered means she’s pissed.
“Yeah.”
“Because, little women can’t handle things? Right? We’re just fragile little creatures?”
“Uh, Travis, I’m with you. Protect the womenfolk!” Carter is apparently with me. Great.
“It’s not that,” I defend.
“Oh? It sounds like it. Why wouldn’t you tell her?”
“I didn’t want her to worry.”
The instant the words come out of my mouth; I regret them.
“I think it would also be smarter for her to know about this. She should be on her guard.”
Dammit, she’s right. And now I feel even worse. Something cold settles in my gut, and I don’t know if it is because I’m worried about her reaction or just worried about her.
“Oh, okay, I’m with your sister, although I’m not hearing your arguments, dude.”
I want to kill Carter. “I’m going over there right now.”
“Good. And please, remember that this might just be some creeper going through Juniper. You definitely get them from time to time.”
I know what she’s doing. Her words aren’t for me. They’re for her. She’s trying to convince herself that nothing is wrong, and that Nancy will be fine. I don’t blame Syd. When she loves, she loves fiercely.
“I’ll text you after I’m done so you can get on the phone and trash me.”
She chuckles. “Okay. Be careful. Love you.”
“Love you, Travis,” Carter yells out.
I roll my eyes.
“Love you, Syd.”
We hang up and I’m on my way out to the truck when my phone buzzes. I look down.
Nancy: Get your ass over here right now. I have to yell at you, and I want to do it in person.
Well, shit.
Chapter Thirteen
Nancy
As I stand in front of my refrigerator and stare at the contents, I try to decide if I should have a late lunch. Unfortunately, I have a craving for those double chocolate cookies that Travis ran away with. I’m about to grab my phone to send another yelly text to Travis when my doorbell sounds.
Frowning, I walk over to the door and look through the peephole. When I see Josh, my stomach clenches. I open the door.
“Hey, you,” I say stepping back and motioning him to come in. “What’s up?”
I close the door and my worry increases when I realize he really isn’t his usual self. Josh is always smiling, always one of those perpetually happy people that usually make me sick. Josh is different. He makes me feel good.
“I take it you haven’t talked to Travis about your tire.”
I shake my head. “Come on in the kitchen. You look like you have something to tell me, and I have a feeling I need to sit down.”