Page 28 of Outplayed

My brows dipped, puzzled about why she would attach herself to me like that to begin with. “Does she often invite strange women to dinner?” The question popped out before I could swallow it down.

Travis’s eyes narrowed. “No, she doesn’t. Trisha is the only woman figure in her life. I didn’t put her up to asking you, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m also not having you here to replace anything you think may be missing from my daughter’s life. As I said, Trisha helps take care of her when she can. If not Link.”

“I didn’t mean anything by the question, Travis. I was just surprised a little girl, who doesn’t know me, would want to ask me to have dinner.”

Someone cleared their throat. We turned to Link in the doorway. “Izzy will be down in a second.” He moved into the room and grabbed a phone off the counter. He faced me. “She talks about you.” My body jolted back a step.

“What?” I whispered.

His head tilted towards Travis. “He won’t tell you, but I will.”

“Link,” Travis growled out.

Link shook his head. “He keeps a photo of you in a frame in his office. Izzy told me about how she found it and asked her daddy who the lady was. He told her how he used to love you so much, but work got in the way, and he missed his chance at his happy ever after.”

Stupid tears threatened, and my chest ached in a way I wasn’t sure was healthy. I gripped the counter tightly.

“I think this is Izzy trying to give her dad his happy ever after.”

“Goodbye, Link,” Travis clipped.

Link scoffed. “Yeah, later you two. Be good for Izzy.”

All I could do was nod stiffly as Link walked out quietly.

He’d missed his chance at a happy ever after.

With me.

He’d said that to his daughter.

That was how Izzy knew me, was comfortable inviting me over.

Damn him for the tears that dropped. I quickly stood and turned away, fisting my hands over and over. How dare Link tell me those things. How dare my heart react to those words. How dare my eyes leak as they were.

Damn it all.

I wouldn’t cry. I didn’t know why I felt like crying.

“Lettie,” Travis whispered into the quiet room.

“Don’t,” I begged. I wasn’t ready for any of this. I was still pissed about him tapping my phones, and his business. I wasn’t ready to have my body fill with need.

A need for Travis.

No, I still refused to melt completely.

I swiped at my eyes, turned, grabbed my water and gulped it down. Clearing my throat, I asked, “What’s for dinner?”

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “It’s a roast.”

He always liked cooking, even back when he lived in his shitty apartment with his crappy mates. He’d been the main cook for the household, and I did love going there for whatever he’d created. Thinking of it reminded me of the times we’d had alone in his apartment. Since I lived in an even bigger shithole, I loved going to his place when his roommates weren’t there and pretending we lived in the apartment alone.

“Sounds and smells good.”

He smiled softly. “It should be ready soon.”

Travis saw me as his happy ever after.

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