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I swallow, feeling my entire body tense at the harshness of her words.
“You can be first place in Travis Carter’s sheets, I guess.” She snorts. “That’s the best you’ll get, because we both know you’ll never be first place in his life at all.”
I don’t say a word.
“When are you coming home to me so we can get to work?”
She doesn’t wait for an answer. “I bought you a one-way plane ticket with a departure from McCarran Airport. The flight leaves at midnight. Let me know what you want to do an hour before then.”
She ends the call, and I stare at Penelope’s onscreen smile through teary eyelashes.
I want Travis so badly that it hurts, but I know that now is not our time, and we can’t be. I have to cut things off now or never and the former isn’t an option.
I slip from under the covers and pull on my jeans. I make sure everything is packed into my bag and run my hands along the five-star hotel's bedsheets one last time.
As I’m setting my room key on the nightstand, Travis returns to the room.
“Hey…” He runs a hand along my bag’s strap. “Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“Check-out isn’t until this weekend.”
“I know, but…” I hold back a sigh. “Something with my coach came up, so I need to go. She literally just called and has a plane ticket waiting for me at the airport.”
“Is something else wrong?”
“I don’t think so.”
He looks deep into my eyes as if he’s trying to discern if I’m lying. Our ongoing game of pretend has helped me master the art of acting.
“Were you planning to tell me goodbye?” he asks.
“No.”
“Hmmm.” He runs his fingers through my hair. “Why does it sound like you won’t be coming back?”
“I don’t know.” I force a smile, and against my better judgment, I hold onto him for a few more moments. “Would you mind driving me to the airport?”
“I insist.” He presses a hand against my back, leading me past the lobby and outside to the valet.
When the car arrives, Travis presses his lips against mine and kisses me.
It’s a perfect, soul-searing kiss that I savor. One that I’ll think about for a long time.
We have a typical conversation on our way to the airport. I ask him about his next fight, apologize for leaving so soon, and he leans over and kisses me at every stoplight.
“See you later,” he says when we arrive to the departure zone.
“Goodbye, Travis.”
FORTY
PRESENT DAY
TRAVIS
Las Vegas, Nevada
