Page 85 of Stay With Me

“You’re late,” I scold, taking the stem and spinning around in his arms so I can kiss him.

My eager smile immediately falls when my eyes land on Travis.

“Oh my God! What’re you doin’ here?” I shove away from him, creating much-needed space.

“You blocked me. What was I supposed to do?”

“Um…get the hint that I don’t wanna speak to you!”

“Maggie, c’mon…” He holds out his arms, steps closer, and I move back as far as I can.

“Don’t call me that. And. Get. Out!” I point toward the only exit.

Instead of listening, he invades my space, caging me against the wall with his broad arms. “We’re not done, Mags. I love you and you know we’re supposed to be together. So quit being a stubborn bitch and unblock me.”

He’s close enough that when I forcefully raise my knee, it drives right into his groin. As soon as he keels halfway over, I use the heel of my boot to shove him down the rest of the way. His arm flails as he tries to catch himself, but he ends up smacking his wrist against my counter instead.

“Fucking.Cunt,” he spits out between labored breaths.

I set the rose down and lean over him. “I warned you, Travis. Leave me alone or it’ll be more than your balls going up inside your body.”

“You’re a psycho.” He squeezes his eyes as if he’s trying not to cry out in pain.

Instead of leaving it alone and letting him suffer in silence, Itake my boot and step on the wrist he smacked with as much force as I can add.

He hisses when he tries to jerk out from underneath my heel.

“You’ve not seen anything, Travis. It’d take one phone call to get the Hollis boys to dig me a hole six feet deep and then push your body inside it.”

Okay, maybe that was a bit much threatening murder and all, but I’m not letting my asshole ex ruin my relationship with Tripp now that I finally have him. The moment he’d see Travis near me, Tripp would lose his shit before I even had time to explain I already took care of him.

“You bangin’ one of ’em now, ain’t ya? Fuckin’ whore.”

I finally ease off his wrist and allow him to get to his knees.

“Wouldn’t you like to know? Maybe I’m sleeping with all four of them. Wouldn’t be any of your business even if I were.”

“And you wonder why everyone calls you a slut,” he spits out when he stands to his full height.

“Is this where you expect me to sayit takes one to know one?” I mock with an eye roll. “Grow up.”

“Fuckin’ watch that mouth,Magnolia.” He walks toward the exit, and I exhale a full breath for the first time in five minutes.

“No, you watch yourself because I won’t hesitate to use my taser next time.” I quickly reach for it out of my bag and click the two side buttons that make it zap. “And trust me when I say, I’ll be aiming low.”

“Bitch,” is the last word I hear him mutter when he finally walks out and into the parking lot.

With the taser gripped in my hand, I rush to the door and lock it shut.

My chest rises and falls as I sink to the floor and attempt to steady my breathing. I shouldn’t let him get to me like this and even though I fought back, my anxiety is through the roof. Travis is a giant compared to me. He played football in high school and continued to bulk up after graduation. He could’ve hit me if he wanted, but that’s never been his MO. He’s all about mentalcontrol and emotional whiplash. A gaslighting pro. And a delusional idiot.

Several minutes pass before I manage to get to my feet and finish counting inventory. When my phone goes off with a text, I jump and lose my breath all over again.

Tripp

I’m so sorry. Cabin call took longer than expected. There was a guest mix-up and Rachelle got flustered trying to fix it. Are you still here?

Rachelle’s one of the receptionists at The Lodge and though I feel bad there was an issue, I wish she had been able to figure it out herself so Tripp could’ve been here. But maybe it’s a good thing he wasn’t. Having to explain why Travis is suddenly interested in getting back together would bring up what happened between us a couple weeks ago, and I’m not ready to have that embarrassing conversation.