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CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
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
Do you even 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 littlemeep-meepsound.
“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.”
