Travis ran his hand over the stubble on his scalp, shaking his head. “He didn’t get out,” he whispered. “He didn’t get out, Pidge.”
My breath caught as I watched the soot on his cheeks streak with his tears. He fell to his knees and I fell with him.
“Trent’s smart, Trav. He got out. He had to have found a different way,” I said, trying to convince myself as well.
Travis collapsed into my lap, gripping my shirt with both fists. I held him. I didn’t know what else to do.
I’m sorry, Abby. I panicked.”
I shook my head. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“Me? I would have been better off dead if Travis had seen me come out of that building without you. I tried to find you after you ran off, but then I got lost and had to find another way. I walked along the building looking for that window, but I ran into some cops and they made me leave. I’ve been flippin’ the fuck OUT over here!” he said, running his hand over his short hair.
I felt the tears fill my eyes, but before they touched my cheeks, Travis’ solid arms were surrounding me. Immediately I felt protected, flush against his skin. Feeling so at home in his arms had once terrified me, but in that moment, I was grateful that I could feel so safe after experiencing something so horrific. There was only one reason I could ever feel that way with anyone.
I belonged to him.
This ain’t fucking right. He shoulda never been there.”
“It was an accident, Travis. You couldn’t have known something like this was going to happen,” I said, touching his cheek.
Is that from the fight or the window?”
“The window,” he answered, frowning at my bloodied nails.
“You saved my life, you know.”
His eyebrows pulled together. “I wasn’t leaving without you.”
“I knew you’d come,” I smiled, squeezing his fingers between mine.
I lifted my head up once more, noticing the contentment in his eyes as he looked at me. It was similar to the peace I had seen on his face after I lost the bet to stay with him in the apartment, after I told him I loved him for the first time, and the morning after the Valentine’s dance. It was similar, but different. This was absolute—permanent. The cautious hope had vanished from his eyes, unqualified trust taking its place.
I recognized it only because his eyes mirrored what I was feeling.
It’s us, Trav. Nothing makes sense unless we’re together. Have you noticed that?”
“Noticed? I’ve been telling you that all year!” he teased. “It’s official. Bimbos, fights, leaving, Parker, Vegas…even fires…our relationship can withstand anything.
This is it,” he said with a sigh.
“What?”
“The moment. When I watch you sleeping…that peace on your face? This is it. I haven’t had it since before my mom died, but I can feel it again.” He took another deep breath and pulled me closer. “I knew the second I met you that there was something about you I needed. Turns out it wasn’t something about you at all. It was just you.
You just asked me to marry you,” he said, still waiting for me to admit some kind of trickery.
“I know.”
“That was the real deal, you know. I just booked two tickets to Vegas for noon tomorrow. So that means we’re getting married tomorrow night.”
“Thank you.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re going to be Mrs. Maddox when you start classes on Monday.”
“Oh,” I said, looking around.
Travis raised an eyebrow. “Second thoughts?”
“I’m going to have some serious paperwork to change next week.”
He nodded slowly, cautiously hopeful. “You’re going to marry me tomorrow?”
I smiled. “Uh huh.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yep.”
“I fucking love you!” He grabbed each side of my face, slamming his lips against mine. “I love you so much, Pigeon,” he said, kissing me over and over.
“Just remember that in fifty years when I’m still kicking your ass in poker,” I giggled.
He smiled, triumphant. “If it means sixty or seventy years with you, Baby…you have my full permission to do your worst.”
I raised one eyebrow, “You’re gonna regret that.”
“You wanna bet?”
I smiled with as much deviance as I could muster. “Are you confident enough to bet that shiny bike outside?”
He shook his head, a serious expression replacing the teasing smile he had just seconds before. “I’ll put in everything I have. I don’t regret a single second with you, Pidge, and I never will.
Abby Maddox…,” he said, his smile beaming in the moonlight.
I pressed my cheek against his bare chest. “Travis and Abby Maddox. Has a nice ring to it.
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