Once I pull up next to Courtney’s Jeep, my nerves take over. I rub my hand over my face and take in a deep breath before I grab the gift and get out. It will be the first time I’ve seen her since her graduation. As soon as I head down the sidewalk, I see Courtney getting ready to lock the door. Walking a little faster, she sees me and waits.
“She’s asleep,” she whispers.
“Should I come back later?” I ask.
“No, the time change has messed with her. I’m sure she’ll be up soon.” She opens the door, and when I step in, she waves goodbye and closes it behind her.
I stand there for a moment, watching Viola sleep on the couch, snuggled with a blanket around her body. She looks so peaceful and beautiful, and it’s hard for me not to immediately go to her, pull her in my arms, and tell her I’m never letting her go again.
I sit in the chair next to the couch and wait for her. She looks way too comfortable for me to interrupt her sleep. Ten minutes later, she stirs, and her eyes flutter open.
“Travis?” She looks confused.
“Yeah, princess.”
“Why didn’t you wake me up? How long have you been here?”
“Long enough to know you’re exhausted. I can come back later, if you want.”
“No, that’s okay.” She sits up and pulls the blanket over her arms and crosses her legs. After putting on her glasses, she tucks hair behind her ears and nervously smiles. Her cheeks are rosy, and she looks as if she’s glowing. Fuck, I’ve missed her so damn much, and I hope what she has to say to me isn’t bad news.
“So…” she says. And it’s immediately awkward, but I don’t want it to be.
“So,” I echo her words. I hate that there’s a big elephant in the room, and I just want to get it all out so we can get over it and move on.
She tucks her bottom lip into her mouth and takes in a deep breath. “I’m really sorry for leaving without saying goodbye. I’m so sorry. You have no idea how much it hurt me to know that I hurt you. Even though I was pissed at you, I don’t think I would’ve ever left if I didn’t leave right then. I know I wouldn’t have been able to go.”
Fuck, her words are like music to my ears, and I feel all the tension from my body begin to melt away. “You were hurt, too, princess. I understand why you did it. You’re here now, so who cares? Okay? We’ve both made mistakes, and I’m sorry for ever hurting you.”
After finding out she left, I was upset with her for days, and the emptiness never subsided. Heartbreak feels like grieving, and knowing I put her through that countless times over the years made me feel like I deserved it. But I forgave her months ago.
Viola gives me a small smile, and I can’t bare the gap between us any longer. I stand and move to the couch, closer to her.
“I’ve missed you so damn much,” I whisper. The closeness of her body causes my heart rate to increase. We’re not even close enough to touch, but it’s the closest we’ve been in half a year.
“I’ve missed you, too. And Gryff. He’s still so cute. He’s growing up too fast.”
“He’s our baby,” I say with a laugh, but she doesn’t smile like I hoped she would.
I can tell she’s upset about something, and all I want to do is pull her into my arms, but I won’t cross that line until she’s ready. I won’t rush this. “Is everything okay?”
She shakes her head, and the smile fades from my face. This meeting is beginning to feel all wrong. “You can tell me anything, Viola. You know that, right? I’m not upset with you, princess.”
She nods.
My heart races, and I feel like I’m losing her all over again. Instead of waiting for her to tell me what’s going on, I just start rambling, hoping she will open up to me.
“Are you seeing someone else?” I ask. That’d be the worst possible thing that could happen, but I’d still sit on the sidelines and wait for her. No, fuck that, I’d fight for her.
She shakes her head, and I can see she’s becoming more emotional with each passing second. I move closer to her, wrap my arms around her, hoping to God she doesn’t push me away. Sinking into me, she leans her head against my chest, and I hold her.
“I’m so scared, Travis.”
I pull away and stare into her eyes. Now she’s really beginning to worry me.
I don’t know what to say. As he holds me in his arms, I feel like nothing else in this world matters, but I’m scared shitless. As I let out a ragged breath, Travis grabs my chin between his fingers and stares into my eyes. Before I get lost with him, I move the blanket from my stomach and stand. At first, he doesn’t notice, but when he does, his eyes widen, and he sits there, completely silent. Silence like this is what nightmares are made of, and it scares me.
“Please say something.” I’m trying to stay strong, but know I’m losing it when I begin to choke up.
“Viola,” he finally says, swallowing hard. “Is it…”
“Yours?” I arch a brow.
He searches my face and nods.
“Yes.” I flash a confident smile, wanting him to know that I’d never do that to him. I hate that he even had to question it, but I can’t blame him either. Travis King isn’t the kind of guy you just move on from. I should know. I hadn’t been able to in over ten years.
Immediately, Travis stands up and cups my face and covers my mouth with his. It sends shivers down my spine to feel his lips against mine again. It’s been months since I’ve tasted him, and it feels so good and so right to be in his arms again. He slows the kiss, and after he breaks apart, he presses his lips against my forehead before falling to his knees.
I watch as he places his palms against my swollen belly. I lift my shirt for him so he can feel my skin against his. He places a kiss right above my belly button before pressing his ear against my stomach.
His reaction makes me light up inside, and as I run my fingers through his hair, I think about how this will forever change us. I know deep in my heart that everything will be okay now that he finally knows, and better yet that he’s not upset about it.
He tilts his head up, and we lock eyes. “I want you and me and our baby to be a family, princess. I will go to every single baby appointment. You don’t have to do this alone. I don’t want you to do this alone.”
I swallow, nerves brewing through me. “I know you’re busy with the firm, so you really don’t have to go to any trouble. I don’t want to be a burden to you with all of this.”
He stands and wraps his arms around me and holds me. “Are you kidding me? Burden? Fuck that. I’ll be there for everything. I want to be there for everything. Appointments, shopping, baby classes—all of it. Even changing the shitty diapers.”
I let out a laugh, and it’s the first time I’ve really smiled since telling Drew. “The baby has to be our priority. No sex, no...”
“More rules?” He gives me a sly grin.
I flash a guilty smile. “I just think we should stay focused on the baby, is all. It’s been a long time since we’ve been together, and I don’t want you to think I expect anything from you.”
Travis tilts my chin until our eyes are locked. “I would never want you to go through this alone—no matter what. I want to be with you, and I want to raise this baby together. I’ve been waiting for you. I’ve never stopped loving you, and I never will. I don’t know how to make it any clearer, princess. You’re it for me.”