Page 58 of Sunrise

Kade

The video interview yesterday went great. My gut was right that the reporter would be respectful and a good one for Lin to get her feet wet with because even after the breakup, she will have quite a few chances for interviews, and I hope she takes them all and gets her name and the inns' names out there. Knowing I can give her and Brynn that makes it all worth it.

Today, I'm helping Lin around the inn again. I know these are mundane everyday things for her, but they are actually interesting to me. Like pulling reports and the data, setting website prices. Answering questions on social media.

I'd answer the phone, but people would recognize my voice, and that could cause more problems than it's worth. As it is, Lin is using an answering service to filter fan calls out. That was Wren's idea, and it's worked like a charm. It's one less thing we have to worry about.

I come out of the office in search of Lin but find her ex Travis in the lobby. His eyes go wide when he sees me. I remember what Lin said about him being a fan, but I still turn to Dale.

"What's he doing here?" I ask Dale instead of Travis.

"He said he needs to talk to Lin, and it's important. I know Travis. They dated, and he was here all the time. I told him he wasn't to leave the lobby so I could keep an eye on him," Dale says, and his eyes narrow at Travis.

My guess is he also knows how they broke up. So, I nod just as Lin walks in. She offers me a huge smile but stops in her track when she sees Travis.

"What are you doing here?" she asks.

His eyes shoot over to me. "Can we talk?" he asks.

Lin looks at me, and I nod. "I'll go check on the work being done in the banquet room," I say and head down the hall but stop out of sight.

I want to be close if Lin needs me, but out of sight in case she doesn't. I know I shouldn't eavesdrop, but I have to know what is so important.

"What do you want, Travis?" Lin asks.

"I know by now you have heard the rumors in town," he starts.

"That you got fired, the SEC, and all that? Yeah, you should know stories don't stay hidden here long," Lin says.

"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you. It's true I am being investigated by the SEC," he says, and I wish I could see his face at this moment.

"Did you do what they are accusing you of?" she asks.

There is a moment of silence before Travis answers, "Yeah, I did."

"Well, then I'm disappointed. You were raised better than that," Lin says, making me smile.

"The thing is, I did it for you," he says, and my entire body goes stiff.

We aren't really together, and what if she wants to give him another chance? Nothing is stopping her from ending things with us to try again with him. Well, nothing other than the fact that I won't allow it.

"That such bullshit," Lin says, and I'm pretty sure she's shaking her head if I know her like I think I do. She takes the words right out of my mouth.

"I realized what an idiot I'd been the last time I was visiting my parents, and I saw how happy you were and how the inns have flourished. So, I thought if I could prove myself and build a nice nest egg for us to start a life together, I could start to win you back," he says.

"There is no scenario when you would have been given another chance, Travis. You dumped me at my parents' funeral when I needed you most. I'd never be able to trust you again," she grits out.

This should calm me and put me at ease, but it doesn't.

"Come on, Lin. We have a history together, and we grew up together. What can he offer you? Are you going to move to Hollywood and be some actor's trophy wife?" he says.

My jealousy and anger overtake me, and I step out of the hallway.

"You think I'd let her stoop so low as to be a trophy wife, then you don't know me very well. In fact, you don't know me at all. I think it's time you leave." I spit out.

Lin places her hand on my arm but doesn't say a word. I cover her hand with mine and glare at Travis. Travis's eyes bounce from mine to hers before his body sags, and he turns toward the door. Thankfully, he leaves without another word.

That does nothing to tamper my jealousy, though; as I pull Lin down the hall and into the first empty event room we come to. I close the door behind us and lock us in.

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