Page 53 of Travis

“Travis, why are you making this so difficult?” I ask, feeling my hands shake with anger.

With a short pause, he answers. “Because I love you, Becky. I can’t just turn my back on you. If y’all cheated on me or did something hurtful like that, it might be a different story, darlin’. But what we went through wasn’t anyone’s fault. And I understand why y’all thought it was best to end it. But that doesn’t mean that I have to stop loving you. I’ll never stop, Becky.”

Why does he always say things like this when I’m trying to be horrible? This is why I left him or made him leave me. Because I didn’t want to go down this road with him. I don’t want to be like this with him, and I don’t want to reject him, either, but he’s not giving me any choice here. I’ve asked myself a thousand times why he doesn’t hate me. He should. I failed him, I failed us, and then I threw him out of his own house. He should hate me like a bad rash, but instead, I get this. “I have to go.” Is all I can think of to say.

But just as I turn to leave him, I see Greg walk in with Hanna and Liam. “Shit. What’s he doing here.”

Travis sees him as soon as I do. “You want me to lose him, darlin’.” He asks in a whisper, with his cutting gaze fixed on Greg.

“No, it’s fine. It just doesn’t make sense.” I state. “He complained to Hanna and Liam that you threatened him, yet he’s at your party?”

“It makes perfect sense, Becky.” Travis counters. “He wants in on your territory. You’ll notice that he came with your clients.”

“I need to go and have a word with him.” I say.

“No, I think I do.” He says flatly. “Why the hell did Buck even let him in the door, I don’t know.”

“Because he doesn’t know who he is, and he came with Hanna and Liam, my clients.”

Travis looks at me, confused. “How does Buck even know them?”

“We got to talking about your other parties before, and Hanna was intrigued, so I took them over to his shop and introduced them. Hanna wanted to come to the party, and you know Buck.”

“Yeah,” he scoffs. “I know Buck.”

There are so many people in this room, Liam, Hanna and Greg don’t even see us yet. It’s hard to believe how many people Buck can fit in this place. Hell, Liam and Hanna could almost have their wedding right here in his goddamn living room. Sara walks over and mutters to me. “Isn’t that Greg?”

“Yes. It is.” I say acidly. “I’m going to go over there and make sure he’s not trying to steal my two best clients.”

Travis places his hand on my waist. “Baby, let me go deal with it.”

My lips purse. My voice goes cold. “Travis, no. These are my clients, this is your birthday, I’ve got this.”

“Well, I know you’ve got this, darlin’, but I know that that sumbitch is afraid of me, and I don’t want him stressing you out. You’re looking awfully pale, Beck.”

Sara studies my face. “Yeah, Becky, Travis is right. You look exhausted.”

Even though I’m terribly exhausted, and feeling anxiety build up the more I stand here, with my ex-husband’s arm on me, my caustic business associate moving in on my two largest clients, and now my sister taking sides, I feel like I need to get away, so I do. “I’m fine.” I spit, stomping over to Greg.

Buck catches my gaze as I walk over, eyes fixed, shoulders squared.

…but I don’t quite make it there. Instead, it’s like the world goes into slow motion, and it feels like I’m swimming to Greg. Then all I hear is voices as my cheek makes contact with Buck’s expensive hardwood floor, and everything goes black.

Travis

I feel my feet move so fast once her body almost makes contact with one of the drinks tables. The sumbitch, Greg, I swear to God I see a smirk on his face as my wife tumbles to the floor. But I’m too interested in reaching her as fast as I can to care. The table turns on its side as Becky collapses. “Becky!” I shout, running to her. Sara’s squeal is audible from the other side of the room. In seconds I’m on the floor, shouting to Buck to call nine-one-one.

“I’m already on it, brother.” Buck says, with his phone in his hand. “Everybody give her some air, please!” he demands, voice rising.

Clint and Grayson are not here, as one is covering at the clinic, and the other is at the hospital. A fine time for two doctors we share space with to not be here, I know, but it is what it is. But Laura is here in a heartbeat, more to comfort Sara than anything. “Oh my God, I knew there was something wrong.” Sara comments. “I think she’s taken on too much, frankly.”

I place a hand on Sara’s shoulder. “Sara, this isn’t the time.” I say directly, knowing full well that she’s going to talk about the wedding and the separation, when ears are here that shouldn’t be hearing that right now. Thank God Ron catches on and takes Sara over to check on Macey.

“Here, Travis.” Buck says, handing me a pillow. “Put her head up on this.”

“No, don’t move her, Buck.” Laura urges. “In case she’s hurt herself when she fell. Grayson’s always telling me that.”

“Fair enough.” Buck nods.

---