“I’m proud of you. Now get out, Bill Gates. I have a city to save.”
“Is this where I cue in the Superman music?” I grab my bag from the back and hop down. “Thanks, Drew.”
“Bye, Vi. I’m happy for you. Congratulations.”
Sometimes Drew can be a douche, but to know that he’s supportive of this makes it a little easier to handle. I’ve been going back and forth with it for the past forty-eight hours, and I have to tell Travis. I look up at the dark clouds rolling over the horizon, and I pray that I’m not making one of the biggest mistakes of my life.
Chapter 10
Travis
Drew comes home, changes into his uniform, and is out the door in all of ten minutes. The dude is like fucking Batman. One minute, he’s in regular clothes, and the next, he has a gun strapped to his side, ready to fight crime.
Just like clockwork, Viola texts me.
Viola: You know what I could go for right about now?
Travis: A piece of King cake?
Viola: Ha! Some coffee. Want to join me?
Travis: Did you really have to ask?
I’m smiling, which seems to happen a lot when I’m thinking about, talking to, or around her.
Viola: I’ll be there in 5.
On time, Viola pulls into the driveway but doesn’t get out. Instead, she honks. I can’t help but laugh at the pathetic horn on the Prius. It’s like a cartoon car with a cute little meep-meep sound.
“You need a Mustang or something. One that roars when you honk.”
She gasps and rubs the steering wheel while I buckle. “Don’t listen to him, Tatum. He’s just jealous because you’ve got the Magic Mike moves and he doesn’t.”
“Magic Mike? Ha. I have the Travis King moves, which trumps any of that lame shit.”
She blushes as I run my hand up my shirt, revealing my stomach. Once she glances down, I lift an eyebrow and laugh. “You’re too easy, princess.”
“Ugh. Why do you keep doing that?”
While she drives, I place my hand on her thigh. “I had lunch with my mother yesterday.”
“Really? That’s great.” She grabs my hand.
“She told me my father has cancer.”
Once she pulls into the parking lot and puts it in park, she turns her whole body and searches my face, trying to read me. “Are you okay?”
Since I heard the news, I’ve been stuck in limbo about it. I’m not sure if I’m sad or not, and it’s a strange feeling. I can’t really explain it. “I’m okay.”
Viola leans over and gives me a hug. With her arms wrapped around my neck, I can feel the love pouring out of her. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.
“It’s going to be okay. So how ’bout that coffee? They have venti mocha grande chocolate shit here?”
“It’s a venti white chocolate mocha with an extra shot, occasionally made with soy. And if we go in there spouting off that lingo, they may kick us out and ban us for life. They are pretty much anti-establishment.” She lifts both eyebrows and puckers her lips with a hard head nod.
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Before I open my door, she glances over at me. “Do you want to just get it to go?”
“Embarrassed to be out with me, princess?” I’m fucking with her, and she notices.
“I want to be alone with you while I can.”
Dammit, she’s so beautiful. I don’t even argue with her about it.
“Only if I can drive.” I shoot her a wink, and she doesn’t protest.
We order our coffees, and I drive past the college, turning down a few side streets until we arrive at this little park I found my senior year. Never being one for the library, I used to come out here and study. When she sees people walking their dogs and children playing, her eyes widen. It’s a happening place.
“Talk about a diamond in the rough! This park is awesome.”
We get out of the car, and I take her hand and lead her across the grass to a picnic table under a tree. The sun is high in the sky, but dark clouds tumble in. It looks like it could start raining at any moment, but we continue toward the low-hanging branches.
I sit next to her, and with our backs pressed against the tabletop, we watch the people in the park.
“I have something to tell you,” I whisper into her neck. I love the way her skin smells like fresh spring flowers.
A soft moan escapes her. “Hmm?”
I open my contacts list and hand her my phone. “I deleted all the hos.”
Viola bursts out laughing and looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. Maybe I have.
“Why?” She gasps.
“Because you’re the only ho I want.” I reach over and tickle her.
“I’m not a ho.” She swats at me, fighting back her laughter. She tries to tickle me back but sucks at it.
“You’re my ho.” I interlock my fingers with hers as she leans over and kisses me.
“You’re so damn romantic.”
“I try.” I smile before I take a sip of my coffee.
“Oh, I owe you an ass kicking for that picture.” She narrows her eyes at me. “Drew almost saw it, idiot!”
“Shit. I’ll allow you to spank me if you want,” I quip.
She glares at me. “He’s onto us. Like for real onto us. He asked me if I had seen a girl around the house due to the way you’re acting. So get your shit together, King!”
“What, seriously?” Now I’m confused. Drew has never cared about my sexcapades.
“Yeah, he mentioned you were acting the same way you did when you were dating some chick, the one you joked about marrying.”
My body stiffens, and I swallow hard. She notices my reluctance and turns and looks at me, waiting for me to explain.
“Viola, that was a long time ago, when we first got the house. I was never going to marry anyone. I was nineteen and horny, and she was a cheater. That’s ridiculous.” And the truth.
“Good to know the only thing that’s changed is your age.” She smirks.
I offer a shrug.
“Anyway, he’s going all Sherlock Holmes on us. He said he would find out who it was, and you know how he gets. I’m hoping Mia derails him.”
Mia. Funny how she keeps popping up in conversations.
“Not good.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, a bolt of lightning strikes out. Viola jumps, nearly spilling her coffee on herself, which causes me to laugh. Without warning, rain pelts from the sky like speeding bullets, and it hurts like hell. We stand, leaving our coffees behind, and Viola runs across the grass with everyone else.
“I hate the fucking rain,” she yells, ignoring the children around, trying to cover her body with her jacket.
It hurts to move quickly, so instead of jogging with her, I walk, taking my time. I’m already wet, so I might as well be soaked. By the time I climb inside, she’s shivering even though the heater is blowing on high. Water is dripping from the tips of her hair, and when she looks over at me, it takes everything I have to hold back laughter. She really is a rain hater.