Page 114 of Love Me Forever

I felt horrible. Suddenly I didn’t feel worthy of any of this. Like I was playing dress-up and didn’t belong. I wasn’t a gold digger, but I certainly shouldn’t be part of this family. Associating with me would only hurt them. I needed to let Travis know, though he'd probably figured that out now too.

"Sam, why do you have your fight face on?" Reese asked.

I looked closely at him. His features had subtly changed from before. His eyes were harder, there were frown lines on his forehead, and his jaw somehow seemed even more defined than usual, like he was jutting his chin out.

"I have a solution," he said. "I'll make a spectacle of myself and draw attention. I'm the big mystery, the Maxwell no one knows anything about. I'll give them fodder."

Oh my God, he'd actually do that?I was stunned. “No, Sam, I can’t let you do that.”

"Usually I'd be all for it," Reese said. "But how about keeping the focus on the hotel? We’re trying to make the Maxwell name proud."

I closed my eyes, truly feeling like I might be sick.

From the back, I heard more voices. I recognized Paisley and Lena and assumed the whole gang was here.

I needed to leave. My association had done enough to damage this family.

"I'm going to spend the evening upstairs," I declared.

"No," Travis replied.

"Listen, if I'm not here, you can easily avoid talking about me. Besides, I don't think I can do this."

"Bonnie, I want you here. I need you," he pleaded.

I wanted to stay here for him. But right now, all I wanted was to bolt. As Reese said, the focus should be on the hotel.

"Bonnie," Travis said, his voice even harder.

But I shook my head, turning my back and breaking into a run toward the elevator.

***

Travis

Iwanted to go afterher, but Mom came right up to me.

“What happened?” she asked. She and Dad were closest to us. Tate, Lexi, and Paisley were next to them. Gran had a hand on Paisley’s shoulder. Kimberly was a few feet away with Luke, Tyler, Declan, and the rest of the gang.

Reese filled them in. I was worried about Bonnie. I didn’t want her to think this was in any way her fault. And what if her blood pressure went up? It wasn’t a concern during the last visit to Dr. Taylor, but she warned us it could still spike.

"I've still got time until the guests arrive. I’m going up to see her,” I announced.

Mom rolled her shoulders. "I'm going up. Travis, stay here for now. I’ll let you know once Bonnie’s better. I know how she feels."

“Mom—”

“Don’t 'Mom' me.”

"Lena, you’re right. The girl is going to need you," Gran said, looking at her with a knowing expression.

Without another word, Mom headed to the back elevators.

Reese pursed her lips. “I think it’s good that Lena’s going to talk to her.”

Kimberly came closer.

Lexi cleared her throat. "I can go up and check on her too. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that maybe her brain is blowing some things out of proportion. I think the pregnancy isn't helping." She patted her belly. "I should know. Trust me, the mind can get to very weird places. Just last night I woke up wondering if I passed out on my belly, what would happen to the baby?"

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