Page 23 of Country Music Cowboy
It wasn’t easy to put space between them. He’d made his intentions known, but she hadn’t done the same. She led the way back to the auditorium and, once inside, it was like nothing had happened between them. She cheered when Hank King won Best Country Album of the Year. Smiled and posed for pics with his father after the awards show. But right before she left—her bodyguard blocking any interference—she did pause to say goodnight.
“It’s the right time and the right place,” she said, standing on tiptoe to kiss him on the cheek. “Take care of yourself, Travis. Keep up the good work.”
And, just like that, Loretta Gram walked away. But he couldn’t shake the feeling she wasn’t just saying goodnight—she was saying goodbye. And, dammit all to hell, here he’d thought they were just getting started.
Chapter 5
Travis had stuck to the same routine since he’d left the Oasis. Run five miles. Weight train for forty-five minutes. Shower. Breakfast. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday were rehearsing and endurance training and whatever else he could find to keep himself occupied. Tuesday was his weekly SMART recovery meeting and Thursday he’d check in with his sobriety coach, Archie. His recovery program did more than help him stay sober; it helped him stay accountable in all aspects of his life.
He had a card with the four points printed out and in his wallet, in case he ever needed reminding. Staying motivated to change, learning to cope with urges to use, managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors effectively and without addictive behaviors, and living a healthy, positive, and balanced life. If he was doing those four things, he was staying on track.
Overall, he’d developed a solid routine since he’d moved back home. And since he and his father had the place to themselves and, for the most part, respected each other’s privacy, life was orderly.
But in the week since the International Music Awards, privacy and order were in short supply. Every time he turned around, Krystal, Emmy Lou, and their significant others were dropping by for some reason or other. “I made too much food and didn’t want it to go to waste,” was one of Emmy Lou’s excuses. “I think I left some music in my closet,” Krystal had offered up another time. While he’d found his sisters’ increasingly creative reasons for their presence amusing, he knew they meant well. And since having them all together made Daddy happy, he figured he didn’t need his privacy all that much at the moment anyway.
This morning, he’d headed in for his regularly scheduled breakfast to a full table. His father and Sawyer sat, drinking coffee and reading the paper—like normal. But Emmy Lou and Brock and Krystal and Jace were all crowded around the large wooden farm table, talking over one another and being too loud for his liking. But since Emmy Lou had thought to bring two large boxes full of donuts, he wasn’t complaining.
As soon as he sat, he stacked donuts on his plate, and settled into his chair with a sigh.
“I picked this up last night at the check-out register.” Krystal waved an entertainment newspaper in the air.
“I don’t know which is more shocking.” Travis spoke around a mouthful of donut. “That you did your own grocery shopping or you actually bought a copy of theStar Gazette.”
Krystal pretended to scratch her nose with her middle finger.
“Krystal,” Emmy Lou chided. She’d always been the peacekeeper of the family.
“I love you too, little sister.” Travis winked, then glanced at the paper in disgust. “Pretty sure they’ve made enough money off this family without you actually buying a copy.”
“Which is what I said.” After a slight headshake, Jace sipped his coffee.
“I’m sure there was a good reason,” Emmy Lou said, defending her sister.
“I know, I know. But you said she didn’t like you,” Krystal said, tossing the gossip magazine on the table for everyone to see. “Turns out Loretta is sleeping with you and Daddy.” Then she burst out laughing.
“Oh, Krystal.” Emmy Lou shook her head. “Really?”
The donut Travis was eating stuck in his throat, forcing him to swig down his scalding hot coffee and burn his throat. He jumped up, filled a glass of water, and chugged down the contents. It had been over a week since the awards show, and he was still trying to figure out what the hell had happened. There was no denyingsomethinghadhappened between him and Loretta. But hisfatherand Loretta? That was the sort of thing he didn’t need in his head.
“You okay?” Brock asked.
Travis turned to find all eyes on him. His sisters. Brock and Jace. His father. Hell, even his bodyguard, Sawyer. “I’m good.” He emptied the glass. “Donut. Coffee.”
“Slow down, son. Chew a little.” His father cleared his throat and peered over his newspaper, reading glasses perched on the tip of his nose. “As far as that…that horse crap? I’m not laughing, Krystal. She’s your age.” He coughed, shook out his paper, and went back to reading. “That sort of thing turns my stomach.”
A crazy awkward silence followed. First, their father had all but cursed—a rarity. Second, because they all knew Kegan Scott was way younger than their mother. Unlike their father, she seemed delighted by her young boy toy.
“I think dating someone ten to twenty years younger than you is the norm for a midlife crisis, Daddy.” Krystal patted her father’s hand. “I’d say you’re due a midlife crisis. Go for it.”
Their father’s heavy sigh came from behind his newspaper.
Travis didn’t disagree with what his sister was saying, but he didn’t want Loretta Gram involved in any way, shape, or form. He refilled his coffee, returned to his seat, and shoved another donut into his mouth.
Emmy Lou sat, sipping her tea, with her cat sprawled across her lap—stomach up. “Travis, you just choked. Are you sure eating a whole donut, all at once, is a good idea?” She leaned forward to peer into the pastry box on the table.
Travis shrugged. Maybe. Maybe not. But if he even mentioned Loretta by name, he’d regret it. He didn’t want his family interfering with things he was still working through. It was safer to keep his mouth too full to talk.
“Might as well finish off the box. At the rate you and Sawyer are training out, you’ll be able to compete for Mr. Universe.” Krystal glanced at Jace. “Is there a Mr. Universe competition?”
