Page 52 of Love and Memories

“Or answer my messages,” Travis added.

Gage hung his head for a few seconds before raising it again. “Maybe she needs some space.”

Travis groaned. “Spare me. I’m getting the message loud and clear.”

“Try not to sit around moping.”

“Like you didn’t walk around like a lost puppy when you and Hadley were trying to figure things out. You told her you didn’t date, then you told her she was your girlfriend.”

Gage sat up straight. “You make me sound terrible.”

Travis chuckled. “You’re not terrible. Just not a relationship expert either.”

“That’s fair. Still, you need to find something to do to get your mind off her.”

Travis rolled the remote in his hands. Nothing had worked so far, but he did need to find a way to get her out of his head. “Maybe I needed this reminder.”

Gage huffed. “Is this because of that witch?”

“Nope. We’re not talking about that. I’d rather eat rocks.”

“Why can’t you talk about her? She’s the reason you’re scared to get close to Bella. They’re two different people, and whatever Bella’s reason is for not answering your calls, it’s not the same as what Vanessa did.”

“Yeah, but Bella doesn’t even know who she is. How am I supposed to know if we’re right for each other?”

Gage shrugged. “Time will tell, I guess.”

Maybe Gage was right. Travis hadn’t been patient at all, and rushing things to fit his timing wasn’t working for anyone. “Okay, wise one. I’ll back off.”

“Good.” Gage slapped his hands on his knees and got to his feet. “Now, get up. We’re going to Barn Sour. I’m starving, and I want some totchos.”

Travis’s stomach growled at the mention of tater tots covered in half a dozen toppings. “I could eat.”

Gage pointed toward the bathroom. “Shower first. You smell like you’ve been wallowing in your sorrows all day.”

“Thanks, man. You’ve been at work all day, so you don’t smell like roses either.”

“I don’t need to be convinced to get clean. You go first. I’m going to find out if Beau wants to come with us.”

Travis stopped on his way to the bathroom. “Hadley isn’t coming?”

“Nah. I figured you need a guys night. We’ll pig out on greasy food and listen to Asher and Hunter play.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’m in.” He’d barely gotten the words out of his mouth when his phone dinged with a text.

Anna: Hey. Bella needs to work tomorrow. Could you drive her?

The message was clear and concise, but the context said a lot more. If Anna was reaching out to him instead of Bella, there was definitely something wrong.

Travis: Sure.

He’d barely taken another step when the reply came.

Anna: Can you get here a little early? I think she needs to talk to you.

Yeah, if she wanted to talk, she would have answered one of his calls or texts. If Anna was the middle-man, he had to trust that she had Bella’s best interest at heart.

Travis: Okay.

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