Travis

Luke drummed his fingers on his lap restlessly, squinting at a sports magazine. "Man," he said with envy after five minutes, "these players get paid a lot for basically doing nothing."

No one bothered replying.

Those players risked their health by simply being on the field. They could easily be injured and lose their job, and he knew, so it was a waste of breath to argue.

Besides, no one was in the mood to exchange opinions right now. Luke was simply irritable at the moment, I was busy with my schoolwork, and Heath was just... suffering.

Slouched in his chair, Heath was staring absentmindedly out the library window. From what I'd been hearing, he wasn't getting enough sleep these days. He sucked and missed his shots at games, and he was constantly zoning out.

I flipped the huge textbook in front of me in search of an article, and when I found what I was looking for, I picked up my pen and started taking notes.

Luke didn't like being ignored, and he grumbled for the fifteenth time. "What kind of losers hang out in a library?"

"You can leave," I said, not taking my eyes off what I was writing. "I don't even remember inviting you here."

"I was fleeing from Heath."

"And now he's here," I pointed out. "So you have to be on the run. Again."

He gave a heavy sigh and cast a bitter look at Heath, who was still staring out the window as if we didn't exist. "Why won't Jahdiel put him out of his misery and unblock him? He's been acting like a zombie."

I set my pen down and highlighted a paragraph on my MacBook as I spoke. "Your man is brokenhearted. The least you could do is buy him a tub of ice cream, tuck him in bed, cuddle with him, and give him some comfort in this trying time."

When Luke stared at Heath for an uncomfortable number of seconds, Heath growled without taking his eyes away from its spot on the window, "Don't even think about it."

"It was a good suggestion," Luke muttered and tossed the sports magazine on the table, abandoning it.

I shook my head and chuckled lightly before returning my focus to my work. Unlike Luke, I wasn't a last-minute guy, and I wanted to finish my report before the deadline was due.

With the chaos brewing in the house, I doubted I would have the peace of mind to do schoolwork at home, which was why I'd snuck to the library. Plus, working around other students with the same energy to actually get shit done motivated me. Everyone looked busy and immersed here, and I liked it.

Luke had appeared later, taken one of the two seats left around my study table, and started complaining about how difficult it was to be around Heath. After twenty minutes, Heath had also shown up, and Luke started getting restless.

I'd ignored both of them, intent on finishing. Heath was quiet anyway. It was Luke who kept grumbling under his breath.

Heath leaned forward, clasping his hands in front of him.

"Travis." The desperation in his voice had me looking up from the screen of my MacBook and at his eyes. They looked darker, worried. "Has Rebecca by any chance... mentioned Jahdiel?" Nervously he bit the inside of his cheek. "How's she doing? Anything?"

I felt for him, really. I knew what it was like to be shut out by someone you held dear to you without any reason or closure.

"No." I shook my head, wishing I knew anything so I could ease his mind, but I didn't. I remembered he had Rebecca's number, and I wondered out loud, "Why don't you ask her yourself?"

He chuckled darkly. "I've tried, but she's so tight-lipped and stubborn sometimes I wish I could grab her and give her a serious shake."

I cocked a brow and twisted a pen in between my fingers. "Watch it."

That made him smile. "I knew you'd say that. The point is, Rebecca won't say anything." He paused, thought a bit before hope flickered in his expression. "But I'm sure she'll talk to you. Can you please do that for me? I'm so worried, man. I just want to know if Jahdiel's okay; that's all."

I nodded firmly with understanding. "I got it."

"Thanks." He leaned back in his seat.

Luke slid in with his opinion. "Maybe Jahdiel has a boyfriend, and whatever happened between you two was a one-night thing."

Heath's expression hardened before he sat straighter in his chair. "Nah, I don't think so. She would've told me."

Luke shook his head, disagreeing with Heath. "Women have a way of keeping secrets; trust me."

He slid a knowing look on him. "Yeah, you of all people should know and testify to that."

That stopped Luke. They stared at each other for a pulsing heartbeat.

Luke recovered first. "Heath, no need to be a little shit. I'm just trying to point out something you're choosing to overlook, okay?"

Heath muttered something under his breath that I didn't catch.

"Did you guys fuck?"

He gave Luke a look of annoyance. "Why the hell will I tell you that?"

"Meaning you did." Luke cocked his head and grinned. Then turning solemn, "Maybe she just wanted a one-night stand, and when she had what she wanted, she's back to her boyfriend. This is the best explanation there is."

Heath swore under his breath before running a hand through his hair. "I don't kiss and tell, and I hate to do this, but I'm just saying this to prove a point. " His voice lowered, cheeks tinting a little. "It was her first time."

That left Luke speechless.

I dropped my pen, let out an "oh."

"I don't think there's a boyfriend, as Luke is reasonably suggesting," Heath went on. "I don't know what's made her this way, but I'm just... I'm torn. I'm also concerned," he added. "I want to take her seriously."

"Maybe you were bad in bed...?" Luke offered humbly.

Heath shot him a scathing glare that said, unlike Jahdiel, he'll never take Luke seriously.

I picked up my pen again, prepared to get back to work. "I'll make sure to talk to Rebecca, really," I assured Heath. "I hate seeing you like this."

Luke wrinkled his nose. "It's even difficult for us to live together. I hate to say this," he said, looking nowhere near contrite, "I'm starting to regret being roommates with you."

Heath sighed. "I know, and I'm sorry. I'm just in a bad place, okay?"

I understood it perfectly. It was the same reason I'd refused to go home for a year. Aside from staying away from anything that reminded me of Rachel, I also needed space.

They say people aren't supposed to be alone in their trying times, but sometimes, they are. They needed the space to express their grief without any onlookers observing with pity or judgment, whichever came in handy. They needed to just be.

Reaching into the pockets of my jacket, I drew out a set of keys and threw them at Luke. He caught them easily, staring at them, confusion marring his features.

"They're my apartment keys," I pointed out.

He flashed me a look that said he was offended I thought he didn't know. "I know. Why you've given them to me is what I don't understand."

"It's obvious Heath needs some space right now," I explained. "You can crash at my apartment for the meantime. It's not like I go there these days anyway."

"Oh... uh, I was joking, but wow." Luke rubbed his neck sheepishly. "I think I could use the space. Thanks, man."

"Anytime. Now that everything is resolved, could you two not distract me anymore?"

***

My dad was predictably not home. My mom busied herself making dinner, typing away on her MacBook in between, her AirPods wedged in her ears all the while as she made calls trying to explain to her family about her decision to leave her husband.

"You can't talk me out of this," I heard her say as she put something in the oven. "I closed work early today just to have a meeting with Mabel. That should tell you how much my mind's made up." Mabel was her lawyer.

I wanted to help her with dinner, but she waved me away. I immediately understood the motions helped her take her mind off things, so I left her alone. I still had some wrapping up to do on my work anyway.

For an unknown reason, my sister finally had the decency to invite Rebecca to her private dance studio instead of practicing in her room like they always had.

Which explained why Huxley followed me around the minute I walked through the door.

With the way my mother was busy and my sister's absence, he wasn't getting any attention. My happiness came crashing down quickly when I realized he was only following me because he hadn't been fed yet.

I filled his bowl with doggie treats, tried petting him, and when he snarled at me, vanished into my room. I only came out two hours later when practice was over for Blue.

"Why wouldn't you stay for dinner?" I asked her as I drove her home in the evening, glancing at her briefly.

She was snuggled cozily in the seat, arms wrapped around her torso. Her head bobbed gently in time to the soft music from the radio; else I would've thought she'd dozed off.

"Because I'll eat at home," she mumbled and placed a hand on her mouth to cover a little yawn.

"You seem really tired," I observed.

"Yeah." She nodded. "I got carried away today. Cornelia's studio is so great. All these mirrors to reflect all your angles... It's like something from a dream." She sighed with awe and contentment. "Practice was just so much better, sort of... professional."

"I'm glad she finally let you in there." I chuckled. "That place is like her shrine. No one dares enter without her permission, even the cleaning ladies."

Blue smiled and said softly, "Cornelia isn't that bad, I think. She's just a bit... like me."

"Prickly thorns on the outside, but all soft and mushy and cuddly on the inside?" I raised a brow at her, unable to keep the smile from my face.

She narrowed a glare my way and deadpanned, "I'm not all soft and mushy and cuddly."

Did she realize how cute she looked trying to look feisty? Streetlights fell on her through the passenger window as we passed, illuminating parts of her face and leaving some in shadows. Her hair was tumbling all over, and her lips looked so cute with that pouty expression on her face.

I only smiled softly at her and refused to say anything else, redirecting my attention to the road.

By the time I parked in their driveway, Blue was fast asleep. I killed the engine, leaned backwards in my seat, and contemplated what to do.

She looked so peaceful and innocent when asleep. It made you feel like an ass for trying to wake her up. But she hadn't eaten, and she had to be awake to get to her house anyway.

With a pained sigh, I got out of my car and walked to her side. She shifted away from me the moment I opened her door and mumbled, "Go away."

"We're home." I touched her hair, ran my fingers through it. Very soft. Like velvet.

She curled deeper into the seat. "I don't want to leave yet. I want to sleep."

"In my car? I'm sure you have a comfortable bed waiting for you."

"Doesn't smell like this." She mumbled it as if it was an obvious reason enough for me to let her stay the way she was.

My heart melted immediately like ice cream on a very hot summer day. I reached for her wrist, my voice suddenly sounding hoarse with too much affection. "All right, Blue, you're too cute; I get it. Now, let's get you inside."

She slowly sat up, trying to blink the sleep away. "So quick to get rid of me?" she shot accusingly.

I paused, taken aback. "What? That's not—"

Shooting me a silencing glare, she straightened her shoulders and stepped out of the car. Dazed, I shifted as if I weighed a feather as she pushed me aside and shut the door firmly. Then, with her chin up and nose in the air, she pushed past me, sauntering away.

I could only watch in dazed shock, helplessness, and pure awe.

She would've looked like a total baddie as she sauntered up the path to the front porch, except she tripped on her feet and nearly fell on her face. I let out a whoop of laughter, which earned me another withering glare over her shoulder.

"Come on, Blue." Walking up to her, I grabbed her hands, steadying her. "I wasn't trying to get rid of you, and you know it."

"Okay. You've made your point. Can I go now?" But she was leaning into me. Even though she sounded snappy and nonchalant.

My arms automatically wrapped around her. I heard her sigh softly as she laid her cheek on my chest.

I cleared my throat. "Sure, but I want to ask you a question."

"About?" She lifted her face from my chest to look up at me. The soft light from the porch fell on her face, revealing curious blue eyes.

"Jahdiel."

She sniffed. "So you like my friend now?"

I groaned. "Hell, no."

She narrowed her eyes. "Then why are you curious about her?"

"Heath wants to know if she's alright."

That seemed to snap her out of her stupor, and she pulled back. "I have to go," she muttered.

"Blue, please." I caught her by a wrist and pulled her back. "The guy's worried sick."

She ran a hand through her hair, worrying her bottom lip. Her eyes suddenly clouded, looking troubled. "I'm really sorry," she said softly, "but it's not my place to tell you anything."

"Please."

"I really can't tell you."

I cupped her face, brushed her hair back away from her cheek.

I didn't miss the way she sucked in a breath and leaned into my touch, lashes fluttering. My fingers trailed down her neck slowly, to her sides. Her breathing quickened, her body giving up the fight and melting into my touch.

"Have I told you how much I love the way your body responds to my touch?" My fingers felt her sides once more. She sucked her bottom lip in her mouth.

Then I started tickling her.

Her eyes cleared immediately, and she let out a squeal of laughter, rearing back. "Travis Connor, you moron, let me go!"

She dropped to her knees on the lawn, laughing and gasping. I followed her down to continue my torture, not wasting a breath.

"Not until you tell me why Jahdiel ditched Heath."

She laughed and cried, kicking her legs and twisting her body. "I'm not telling you anything. God, I'm going to pee."

When she flattened herself on the lawn and rolled over, I rolled with her. She kicked her arms and legs with all her might, yelling at me to fucking stop. I rolled on top and kept tickling.

"Travis, please, I'm peeing. Oh my goodness, my panties." She gasped, followed by a shriek of laughter and a wild series of thrashing. "HELP! Somebody help me!"

"Tell me, and I'll release you."

She managed to clamber her way on top of me, but I rolled her right underneath me, pinning her down. Her hair was all over the place, its sweet smell wafting through my nose and nearly distracting me. She thrashed wildly and kicked out her limbs and let out a breathless laugh when I resumed tickling her.

"Travis, I swear I'll kill you once I escape this torture!"

That was when their front door burst open to reveal a frantic woman clutching a baseball bat. She ran forward. "Nicole! What's the matter?"

I stopped tickling her. Blue wheezed and tried to catch her breath. We tried untangling ourselves from each other, but it was almost impossible. There was a shriek as Blue told the woman to hold on, but it was too late.

My breath came out in a whoosh of pain as the baseball bat made contact with my ass with a loud smack.

"Aw, hell," I groaned softly.

"Are you okay?" Her hand shot to the side of my face, concern flashing in her eyes. I would've reveled in how cute the gesture was if my ass didn't feel like it was on fire.

I nodded weakly and slumped back on her body, squishing her beneath me.

Her eyes sparkled, lips curving in a smug smile. "Well," she said sweetly, "you deserved that."

***

Never in a million years did I think I'd meet Rebecca's mom for the first time like this: slumped over her daughter in the dark on their front lawn.

Pieces of grass stuck in our hairs. Our breathing was labored. Our faces were flushed red. We weren't creating a good picture at all.

She narrowed her eyes at us.

With a grunt, I rolled over from Blue and stood. I held my hand out for her and helped her up as well.

"What in the world was going on here?" her mother snapped. "I thought—I thought something bad was happening to you, so I rushed out and attacked, only to hear laughter!"

I fought off a grin, my hand going to rub a spot at the back of my neck. "Sorry about that..."

"Mom." Rebecca cleared her throat. "This is Travis Connor, my... friend. Travis, this is my mom, Jennie Abbott."

Friend.

I shrugged off the bite of that title and extended my hand politely for a shake. I wouldn't be her friend for long anyway. "It's lovely to meet you, Mrs. Abbott."

Her eyes assessed me carefully. "Nicole never mentioned any boy friend—"

"Mom, he's not my boyfriend—"

"I didn't say that. I meant boy friend." She turned to look at me and explained, "She's never brought a guy home."

"Mom!" Embarrassed, Blue stomped her feet and pouted. She was so adorable I wanted to squish her in a hug till forever.

Her mom smiled. "Well, we were just about to have dinner. Come on in."

***

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