CHAPTER Thirty
Travis stared at the running water in the sink for what felt like hours. Really, it was probably thirty minutes, but he needed to get his speech perfect. Words often failed him, but he was going to try to convey the raw emotional need he had to be with Kacey, and not just for one night.
But forever.
“Travis!” Grandma’s voice echoed into his room. What the heck was she doing back?
“Coming.” He ran into his room and put on a pair of jeans just in time for Grandma to come bursting through the door.
“You are officially my least favorite grandson.”
Travis smirked. “So I was your favorite before?”
“You are a jackass.”
“Grandma, I hardly think swearing is appropriate—”
“She’s gone.”
Travis felt his world tilting. He sat on the bed and put his hands over his face. “What do you mean she’s gone? She was just here.”
“She left.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re a jackass.”
His heart constricted. “What did I do? I mean, I didn’t say I love you back, but I was so ashamed of myself for not having said it first, for taking her to bed and not telling her how much…” His voice went hoarse and then silent.
“Well, she thinks you’re ashamed of her.”
“What?” Travis bolted from the bed. “That’s impossible! I didn’t say anything hurtful!”
“I know.” Grandma sighed. “That’s the problem. You didn’t say anything at all.”
“What?”
“Just like Jake.”
“Pardon?” He clenched his fist and began to sweat.
“He and Kacey… She never told you?”
Travis shook his head. “I know they slept together, but…”
“When all was said and done, Jake grabbed his stuff, said he was sorry and walked out of her life.”
“But…”
Grandma patted his hand. “You, my dear boy, had the exact reaction. Your motives were different. I know this and you know this. Kacey, however, feels like you think you made a mistake, and now she’s at the airport.”
“You let her go!” he roared, ashamed that he was yelling at his grandmother.
“No.” She turned and walked to the door. “You did.”
Travis didn’t know what to say. Instead he pushed passed his grandmother and ran down the stairs. It wasn’t until he was outside that he realized he didn’t have a shirt on. Cursing, he ran back into the house and grabbed a t-shirt from the laundry room.
His truck wouldn’t be fast enough. He would never catch her in that thing. It was huge and hard enough to weave in and out of traffic.
He ran into the garage, nearly out of breath. The black and white Ducati sat quite comfortably in the middle.
“That’ll do.” He grabbed the helmet and sped off in the direction of the airport.
The whole time he weaved in and out of traffic he prayed he wasn’t going to be too late. How could he be so stupid? He hadn’t been thinking.
He still smelled like Kacey.
Her perfume was intoxicating, and it seemed every time he angled his head, he could still smell her on his skin. Feel the touch of her lips against his.
“Damn.” He pulled into the Portland airport and rushed to short-term parking.
He almost forgot to take his helmet with him and tripped trying to get the bike to stand alone, but finally he was through the entrance and looking frantically for Kacey’s brown hair.
She had to be flying Alaskan Airlines, either that or Southwest. He ran to the ticket counter. “Have you seen a girl with brown hair, brown eyes, really cute…” Oh God, he was officially turning into the guy in the movies who breaks down at an international airport.
The lady shook her head. “I’m sorry, our last flight left an hour ago.”
“Right.”
He went to the Southwest counter. “Have you seen—”
“Sir, you need to get in line.”
“Listen, I’m not here to fly. I’m here to—”
“Sir! Get in line!”
Travis slammed his hand against the counter. Which, apparently, the lady didn’t like. Within minutes, security guards were escorting him back outside.
Fabulous.
“I’m looking for my—”
What was she? His friend? Never, she would never be just a friend. She was more than a girlfriend. She was his lover… his — well, he wanted her to be his wife.
He smiled, despite being escorted out of the airport. He grabbed the security guard closest to him and grinned. “I’m going to marry her!”
“Good for you, son.” The guy gave him a perplexed look. “Now, we need you to leave.”
Dejected, Travis went to the bike, then pulled out his cell and dialed Kacey’s number. It went straight to voicemail.
Which meant only one thing.
She was flying, in the air, back home, and he didn’t even get to say he loved her.