Page 140 of The Lair

But before he does, one of his big hands lands on my shoulder. A silent question. I glance up at him with nothing but adoration in my eyes. “Hurry up, you grump. We’re thirsty.”

He throws me a wink before disappearing behind the bar.

Johnny wastes no time asking, “You’re dating him?”

I get a little defensive. “Yes. What about it?”

“Nothing,” he hurries to say. “He’s just… scary. And huge. Like a bear.”

I can’t help my smile. That sounds about right.

I’m sitting by the edge of the lake, a blanket wrapped around my shoulders as the sun disappears behind the clouds, casting a lavender sky, when I hear his footsteps behind me. I know it’s him because Cooper and Buddy are whimpering instead of barking as if their lives depended on it.

Turning in my chair, I spot Travis only a few feet away. My chest constricts with how much I’ve missed him even though it’s only been a few hours.

“Hey, handsome,” I tell him when he reaches my side. “How are your uncle and Barbara? Still denying they’re a couple?”

Some things don’t change in a year.

He smirks. “Aside from that, they missed you today. I told them we’d visit together this weekend. I also brought back some of Barbara’s carrot cake.”

After the unexpected visit from my siblings, I went to yoga with Lola while Travis went up to Uncle Neil’s to fix a faulty cabinet.

Leaning down, he pecks my lips. “I’ve missed you today.”

“I’ve missed you too. Sit with me?”

He helps me up so he can take the chair, then gently lowers me to his lap and shields me from the cold with his arms. I bury my face in his neck, wrapping myself in his familiar scent.His presence calms me down so much, I would fall asleep in a heartbeat if it weren’t so freezing outside.

“How are you feeling?” he asks quietly, not needing to add anything else for me to know what he means.

A tired sigh escapes me. “I’m… not sure.” Travis plants a soft kiss on my forehead, encouraging me to keep going. “I wasn’t expecting them to contact me ever again. A part of me hoped they would so we could talk things out, but…”

“You’re unsure about reconnecting with them?”

I fidget with my fingers above the blanket. “We’ve never truly connected. It’s like starting from scratch, only the scratch is more of an open, bleeding wound.”

“Be patient with yourself, sweetheart.” His voice is low, soothing something inside of me. “Don’t put any pressure on yourself to make it work. There’s no use in worrying about the what-ifs. They’re infinite.”

I sigh again, melting against him. “You’re right. I’ll talk to my therapist tomorrow.”

His beard tickles my forehead as he kisses me again. “I’m so fucking proud of you, you know?”

“Stop saying things like that. It makes me want to climb you like a tree.”

My body shakes with his chuckle. “And that’s a bad thing?”

“For our immune systems, probably. This isn’t exactly outdoor-activities weather.”

“So what you’re saying is that you’ll let me do all sorts of things to you outside when spring comes?”

“Don’t sound so pleased with yourself. You know that’s exactly what I’m saying.”

Another chuckle, followed by him lacing his fingers through mine. “Only you, Allie. Only you.”

It was a pleasant surprise learning that Travis is in fact one big, cuddly bear. He can’t be in the same room as me without touching me now—not that I’d ever complain about it.

“Allie?”

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