Page 67 of Love and Memories

Travis’s grip on the phone tightened. “It’s not their normal life, and they’re frustrated.”

“This isn’t my life either, and they’re acting like they’ll cut me out of an inheritance if I leave.”

Pressure built in Travis’s chest. His dad had made a good living managing a chain of gas stations, and there was plenty of money and assets to dole out when they passed.

Travis didn’t want any of it. Money didn’t have the same hold on him that it did for his parents and brother. He’d rather be on his own and free of their manipulations. “Do you really need an inheritance? Why do you care?”

“Free money when those two kick the bucket? Yeah, I want it. It might scratch the surface of what I deserve.”

It was time to get out of this conversation. The urge to say everything he really thought about his parents, his brother, and an inheritance threatened to spill out. He didn’t want a penny from his parents, dead or alive.

“I’m kind of busy. Did you need something?” Travis asked.

“When can you come back?” Greg asked.

“I’m not coming back. You’re on your own.”

Greg huffed. “Thanks for nothing. I had to cut my family vacation short for this. Vanessa is furious.”

There it was—another log thrown on the already blazing dumpster fire. “Sorry, but you can work from anywhere. I have two jobs, and I can’t exactly respond to medical emergencies from the west coast.”

“I forgot. You’re too good for us now that you have a certificate degree,” Greg mocked.

“Don’t get upset. Your law degree is still king. I’m sure you can hire someone to take care of Mom and Dad.”

Greg sighed. “Fine. I’ll find someone. Thanks for nothing.”

The call ended quickly, and Travis put the phone away.

Bella stood at the sink washing the dishes they’d just used. “Is everything okay?”

Rubbing his hands over his face, Travis searched for the right words. “My brother is complaining about our parents.”

Bella dried her hands on a towel and turned to prop her back against the counter. “I… Tell me if I’m overstepping my bounds, but you mentioned why you have a strained relationship with your parents, but why don’t you like your brother?”

There it was–the question he’d been dreading. She had no idea she was asking him to tell her about the most embarrassing moment of his life. After all she’d shared about herself, it felt wrong to hide the truth from her.

“Can we sit?” he asked.

“Sure.” Bella led the way to the living room and fell onto the couch. She quickly tucked her knees onto the seat and covered her legs with her long dress. “We don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to talk about.”

Travis sat beside her and rested his head back on the couch. Staring up at the ceiling instead of looking at her might make it easier to talk about.

“My fiancée left me for my brother.”

Bella gasped. It was the exact same reaction everyone had when they found out.

“It’s fine. It obviously wasn’t meant to be, and I’m glad we never got married. It was just the wake-up call I needed to stop putting my family first when they never cared about stepping on me to get what they wanted.”

“Travis, that’s awful. Why would anyone do something like that?” Bella asked.

“I brought her home to meet my family, and apparently it was love at first sight when she saw my brother. Well, when she heard he was a successful attorney. She said she wanted the smarter brother.”

Bella scoffed, but the sound didn’t hold the irritation she intended. She was so undeniably sweet that even her frustrations didn’t sound menacing.

He let his head roll on the back of the couch until he faced her. The scowl she wore wasn’t the least bit intimidating, but it was clear she was fired up about his brother and ex.

“I can’t believe they did that to you,” Bella said.

---