Page 102 of Beauty & Chaos

“I will take it to my grave.” I give him half a smile. “Despite the legal documents I received last night.”

He doesn’t take them back, and it doesn’t matter. He will never hurt me, and I won’t give him cause to, but I am certain that a man like him, if you betrayed him, it would be the last time you did it.

Even me.

His hand snakes down my body, gripping my hip.

“I—”

“Don’t say anything. If you can forgive me, come back to me. Just make sure when you do, it’s forever.”

Travis pulls me against him, kissing me so hard, I’m sure my lips are bruised. Then he climbs out of bed and strolls through the house, and a few minutes later I hear the door close behind him.

Holy hell.

When you come back to me, make sure it’s forever.

I blow out a breath and stare at the ceiling.

Yes, I lied to you.

Yes, I planned to use you.

But instead, I fell in love with you.

Now he’s gone.

My god. You can’t just tell a woman you love her and then leave.

Travis might think he’ll wait for me forever, but he won’t.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

TRAVIS

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It has been five days since I last saw Brook. Well, that’s not true. I watched her Wednesday podcast.

She didn’t play my anonymous message. Which I’m trying not to read into. If she’s decided not to pursue Leo’s story, then I can’t force her.

If she’s decided she doesn’t want me... I’m not sure I’ll sit back quite as much.

I won’t.

I’d just returned from seeing Mama in the hospital when I tuned in. I’d had it all planned out; Wednesday Brook would share the recording and then come flying back into my life, and we’d live happily ever after.

That hasn’t happened.

And when I said I’d wait...I might have been lying. Or at best exaggerating. I’m like a fucking lion in a cage.

I told her Ilovedher!

Mama, at least, is doing better. And she has not lost her sharp mind. When I visited, she got right to the heart of the matter quickly.

“Hey Mama, how are you feeling?” I took her hand and sat down in the chair by the bed.

“Better. You all made a fuss over me.” She tsked.