Page 42 of Always Heated

The kids did a great job getting her books onto the shelves, and I’m sure Darcy was responsible for organizing them by color. Seb marches over to one side of the bookcase and turns on the fairy lights, announcing, “This is my favorite part.”

“It’s beautiful,” Cass agrees. “You two worked so hard. Thank you so much!”

“Dad helped too! So did Pop,” Darcy chimes in. “But it was mostly Uncle Travis.”

“Well, I love it.” The first real smile I’ve seen in weeks tugs at her lips. “Thank you, all of you.”

Darcy sits on the ground explaining the book system she put in place. “The top two shelves are empty for books in the boxes Uncle Travis told me not to open. The next shelf is red and orange books. Green goes here, but you had too many, so the rest are on the next shelf with blue and purple. Seb’s books are on the bottom shelf, and mine are here.” She’s so proud of herself as she pulls one off the shelf. “I like this one, but I can’t read it yet.”

I sit next to her and she climbs into my lap, handing it to me. Cass sits in her lounge chair with Seb curled up on her lapwith a fluffy blanket. I read the story to them, and when I’m done, I glance up to Cass.

She adds, “And they lived happily ever after.”

cassidy

. . .

Dinner with my family is always lively. I try my best to stay present, but the urge to run back to the bedroom to hide for another week is sounding more appealing by the minute. While I appreciate them being here, my social battery is drained.

Once dinner is done, Ingrid and Ashlyn insist on doing the dishes while all of the dads play a board game with the kids. Travis waffles our fingers together and leads me onto the porch. I take a seat on the swing as he fires up the space heater. As he sits, he drapes a blanket over both of our legs, and it feels like yesterday that he brought me here, eating premade salads.

I tuck into his side and rest my head on his shoulder. He lets out a content sigh, almost as if I give him the same peace he brings me. I still can’t believe he made me my own she-shed, but I shouldn’t be surprised; Travis is by far one of the most thoughtful people in the whole fucking world.

“Ingrid told me about the appointment,” he says quietly as he rocks the swing. “Would you like me to drive you?”

“Oh, that’s okay, I wouldn’t want to waste your time.”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I thought it was a waste of my time,” he counters. “I have an appointment around the same time so I could drop you off and pick you up.”

“You don’t have an appointment.”

“I do. A very important one.”

I turn to face him, cocking an eyebrow. “What kind of appointment?”

Travis takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger, bringing my lips to his to avoid the question. Since the fire, his kisses have been sweet and gentle. I miss being consumed by him, if nothing else than to feel something other than emptiness.

I push for more, nipping at his bottom lip. It earns me a growl and I love the zing of satisfaction it gives me when he gets like this. Under the blanket, I slide my hand over his thigh and palm his cock through his clothes. “Cass,” he warns, but I do it again. He grips my wrist to pull me away. “I love you, but we shouldn’t do this.”

“My doctor cleared me for light physical activity.”

Travis slides his hand into my hair as he roughly kisses me. I whimper against his lips, desperate for more. He doesn’t give in like he did the night after the fire. As he pulls back, he rests his forehead on mine. “It’s not about that. Your lungs may be doing better, but I want to be sure your heart and your mind are also healed. Since you won’t talk to me, I’m glad you’ll be talking to someone about it. I’ll be starting therapy too. It’s important after what happened.”

“Is that what your appointment is?”

As he sits back, my eyes search his, and a small smile tilts his lips. “No, but it’s equally important.”

He pulls me closer, and silence marinates between us for several minutes before the sliding door opens. “Hey, you two,” Ingrid sings. “Cay and I are going to head home.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Travis offers and I join him.

As everyone files out, the house is quiet. While Travis locks up, I make my way to the bedroom. After brushing my teeth, I slide under the covers, and a few minutes later Travis joins me, wrapping me in his arms from behind. He presses soft kisses on my shoulder and neck, murmuring sweet praises.

Drifting off to sleep, I whisper into the darkness, “I love you.”

“I love you so much, baby.”

Travis drives me to my appointment and still hasn’t divulged where he’s going. It could be anything from a dental exam to renewing his driver’s license. After I check in, I take a seat in the waiting room and scroll my social media app to pass the time. Idle hands are a devil’s plaything.

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