“Princess…”
“Travis?”
“I’ve missed you.” He sounds weak, and his throat is raspy.
My heart thumps hard in my chest, and I choke back tears. “I’ve been calling every day to get updates. I’ve been so worried.”
“I know. I’m being released today, though, and then we can talk. The doctor’s walking in. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay,” I add just before the call ends.
My head is a bit clearer now, knowing he’s finally being released, but I won’t be at ease until Travis is home. Finding out he was with a girl—Mia, of all people—still makes my chest clench with a sharp ache. Will there always be a Mia in the picture? Or Sarah from the Bar or a Rachel? I can’t remember a time in Travis King’s life where he didn’t have a long line of conquests at his beck and call. That old nagging feeling returns in the pit of my stomach, but I force it away.
I drag myself out of bed and head to the kitchen for some coffee. While I wait for it to brew, I begin collecting my things from around the house because class starts back tomorrow and I need to get back to my dorm. It feels like a different lifetime from who I was when I left the dorm two weeks ago.
Once I’ve placed my crap by the door, I pour a cup of steaming hot coffee, then add a splash of milk and a spoonful of sugar. As I’m stirring my liquid magic, Drew speaks from behind me, scaring the living shit out of me. I jump, nearly spilling my perfect concoction of caffeine.
“What the hell?” I gasp, glaring at him. “Warn a girl before you creep up on her.”
“Someone’s jumpy this morning.” He moves around me and grabs a mug for himself.
I watch as he pours it and instantly takes a sip.
“Gross.” I make a gagging noise. “How can you drink that black?”
“I can’t drink basic bitch coffee, Vi.” He takes another sip just to taunt me.
“At least add some sugar.”
He wrinkles his nose and shakes his head. “What’s up with your crap by the door? Did you finally get your letter to Hogwarts?”
I glare at him. “He’s got jokes,” I say with mock amusement.
“So, which house will you be sorted in? Slytherin or Gryffindor? Actually, now I’m thinking you’re more of a Hufflepuff.” His lips curl into a cocky smirk.
“You’re such a jerk!” I playfully swing at him, but he’s all muscles and barely flinches. “You better take that back!” I try to hold back laughter, but the way he dodges my hits makes it hard.
“You hit like a girl,” he quips, smirking over his mug.
I roll my eyes. “I am a girl,” I say. “A girl who used to kick your ass, too.”
He snorts. “You mean, I let you kick my ass.”
“You’re such a liar!”
He tilts his head at me, daring me to challenge him.
“You know, for someone who mocks Harry Potter all the time, you sure do know a lot about it.” I cross my arms and give him an evil grin because I know he’s just as nerdy as I am. He just likes to hide it behind his big muscles, inked arms, and shiny badge.
“I’ve seen the movies a hundred times, thanks to you. Only nerds read the books.”
I snarl. “Are you trying to piss me off this early in the morning?”
He finishes his coffee with a smirk on his face even though I’ve only taken a single sip of mine. After pouring another cup of coffee and chugging it, he speaks up again. “I’m picking Travis up from the hospital in a few. I asked the chief if I could come in a little later today because he’s being discharged any minute. Wanna ride up there with me?”
“Nah, I’m good.” I try to put on my best poker face, but I’m not sure how convincing I look. I didn’t dare mention I already knew. I hide my excitement and put up my front. I pretend to feel indifferent about him coming home, though my heart instantly races at the sound of his name, and I still have a million questions.
“All right. Well, I should be back in a few hours then.”
“Okay.” I avoid eye contact, taking another drink of the best coffee in the world, hoping it will cover my emotions that are ready to boil over. I exhale and look at Drew. He’s staring at me intently, and for a moment, I wonder what the hell he’s going to ask me. Does he know? No. He’s not smiling or anything, and I begin to freak out.
“What?” I ask, reluctantly.
Drew sets his empty cup down.
“It’s about you and Travis.”
My heart races and I instantly shake my head at the way he’s looking at me. I fight the urge to say anything in case I’m being paranoid.
“Ask me anything,” I lie, channeling my inner Travis King is an asshole act that I’ve perfected over the years. I swallow hard, watching and waiting for him to speak. Damn Drew. The anticipation eats me alive.
“I need a favor.”
“Class starts tomorrow, and I won’t really be around to do any more favors.”
I nod my head toward my bags that are waiting for me at the front door.
“Well, see… that’s not really going to work for me. Or Travis.”
My mouth falls open. He’s way smarter than he looks, and I know whatever he’s about to say has already been worked out in his head. Even when we were kids, he was a negotiator, and not much has changed since then.
“This week between classes, do you think you could come over and check on him?” He flashes a genuine smile, one of those charming smirks that make girls like Courtney swoon. Being his sister, I have a genetic immunity to his charm.
“I won’t have time,” I say with certainty, hoping I sound convincing, but I know I can make it work.
All he does is laugh, not believing my words.
“I won’t be around to help him, but since you’re right down the road...”
“Don’t act like you don’t goof off when you’re on patrol. All those donuts...”
“Number one: I don’t eat that shit, and you know it. Number two: You already survived him during spring break, so what're a few hours between classes?”
Focusing on my coffee, I don’t have any words. At least not any I can say aloud. All sorts of thoughts are running through my mind, but Drew’s voice brings me back to reality.
“Look, I know you can’t stand to be in the same room as him, and you’ll probably poison him by the weekend, but he really needs you, and you’re a little genius, so you don’t need to study as much as you do.”
My heart feels like it may beat out of my chest. My palms are sweaty, and Drew is enjoying putting me on the spot a little too much.
“Please, Vi. I’ll even have Starbucks waiting for you after class.”
Fighting a smile, I say, “Wow, you really are desperate.” I almost feel bad for playing him like this.
“I’d do anything for Travis,” he states so genuinely. “But I can’t be late to work even if I begged. The chief will have my head, and my partner won’t take my shit.”
I let out a deep breath, acting defeated. “All right, fine. But you owe me huge. Any favor that I can use at any time I want.”
Drew holds out his hand, and we shake on it. “Deal. I’ll allow you to cash in on one reasonable favor. I’m a cop, not a millionaire.”