Interetwined episode 10

🤝INTERTWINED🤝

💑EP TEN💑

I was excited to start my new life. For once, I would live in ahouse where I did not have to wonder when my parentswere coming home, or if they were coming home at all.

The last time I’d seen them was graduation day. Theydecided we would be a family once more. It was also thefirst time I’d seen Travis since…since he started stayingaway from me. He didn’t go to the stage to take his diploma.But he appeared out of nowhere just as I was posing withmy parents for a photo.

Emotions overwhelmed me. After that…night…he kept agood distance from me. I wanted to tell him that it wasgoing to be okay, but I had to remember that it wasn’t mewho had a problem with what happened between us. I knewI had to respect his decision and the space he asked for.I missed him like crazy and I almost regret what I askedhim to do for me. I realized that though it was the most

amazing night of my life, worth every second of giving upmy ‘first time’ for… nothing is worth losing Travis for. If I losthim, it would be like losing my last good memory of Tom.And I can’t give up my one remaining connection with mybrother.

I hugged him tightly when he approached us. Eventhough he was brilliant at disappearing from my life,somehow I knew that he was still there. Still watching me.Still keeping his promises to Tom to keep me safe.

“I missed you,” I couldn’t help whispering to him. Hegave me a gentle smile.

“I missed you, too,” he said softly, as his arm wrappedaround my wa-ist.

I pulled him toward my parents so we could all take apicture…as a family.

“So, am I safe again?” I asked him. When hedisappeared, he told me it was because I was in gravedanger…of him. I wanted to know things were going to beback to the way they used to be…the way they should be.

He smiled at me gently. “I guess it’s safe to say so.” Itrusted that he was telling the truth. Because if there wasanybody who could take hold of his strong emotions, it wasTravis.

I smiled at him brightly again. “It’s nice to have you backin my life. It was difficult not having you around.”

He fell silent for a while. Then he reached down andintertwined our fingers. He pulled my hand to his l-ips andplaced a gentle k-ss on the back of my hand. “It was helltrying to stay away from you,” he whispered so quietly, Ialmost didn’t hear his words.

My heart pounded in,side my chest, and I knew I wasblushing a bright shade of red. I was thankful when wereached our parents. It gave me a chance to let go of hishand, so he could hug both of them before we all posed totake a picture.

Travis chose to go to a university in the same city as me.I was happy about that. At least I would find comfort in thefact that he was close by. That I could run to him when Ineeded him…and he could run to me so he wouldn’t feelalone.

That…wonderful, amazing night that happened betweenus was best left forgotten…or at least the memory of ittucked away in a safe, special place…until there wasabsolute need to call on it.

I aced Mr. Atkins’s art class, and he gave me very high recommendations. At first, I was hesitant. But in the end, Itook his advice and chose the fine arts program at SouthernConnecticut State University.

I was geared to take over my mother’s gallery someday.I would probably try to exhibit something of my own. I livedin a dorm near the campus. I also joined a dance club. Myroommate, Sarah, was a dance major, and I developed apassion for contemporary dance.

I went out on dates once in a while, but nothing reallystuck.

I didn’t see Travis regularly. I did receive emails fromhim, asking me how I was. We would text each other, chatfor hours on weekends, as if we hadn’t spoken to each otherin years, talking like we were just there side-by-side witheach other. It felt nice to know that he was always nearby.

Travis and I didn’t need to be together every day toremember how much we meant to each other.

One Saturday, I was hanging out with Sarah at the publicpool.

I welcomed the heat of the sun on my skin. It was almostspring break, and we were sitting at one of the poolsidetables. I was wearing a yellow two-piece suit.

“Do you ever think about what you will do? I mean…I’mpretty sure I’ll still be unmarried by thirty. I might be datingsomeone seriously, but I don’t think marriage would alreadyhave been an option by then. That age is too young. What ifyou’ll be in the same situation? What if…by thirty, you’renot yet married, or worse…not even close to finding Mr.

Right? Isn’t there a way out of your family’s…crazytradition?”

I laughed. “I wish it was just a tradition that I couldbreak. But with all the unfortunate coincidences happeningto my relatives who broke the rule…I’m scared that it’sactually a curse. But don’t worry—I have a plan,” I replied.

“What? Like…die? Or disown your own family?”

“Relax. I’ve got that sorted out,” I said. “I will be marriedby the time I’m thirty-one. I won’t be ‘cursed’ or‘disgraced.’”

“You’re so positive!” She rolled her eyes. “You’regorgeous, I know. But we both know that these days, findingthe right guy requires luck, too. What makes you so sureyou will be married by then? You know guys can’t be forcedinto marriage nowadays.”

I smiled at her. “I’ve got…a backup plan.”Sarah raised a brow.

“You know, one of those boyfriends who promises tomarry you at a certain age if you’re still single by then?”

“A safety gu?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I’ve got one of those.”

“Wow! Good thinking!” She giggled. “And you plan tostay with this guy for the rest of your life?”

I shook my head. “Until I find the one.”

“What if he finds the one ahead of you?”

“I doubt that. You see…you’ve got to find one of thoseguys who is happy staying a bachelor for life. You tell him hestays married to you on paper only and for purposes ofappearance. But he can continue being…a player for all youcare. And when the guy for you finally arrives, you can file adivorce, taking nothing from each other and then remainingfriends,” I said to her. “Brilliant plan, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” She smiled at me. “I think…I’m going to getmyself one of those…safety guys. But I won’t be as…unrealistic or crazy as you. I’ll set the bar at…thirty-eight.Before menopause.”

I looked away from her and turned to the bar instead.And I went still for a second. It was like I was seeing a ghostall of a sudden. I had to blink a couple of times to make surethat I wasn’t dreaming.

But that familiar blond-streaked black hair wasunmistakable. He was looking at me, too. He nodded inacknowledgement, and then I watched him stand up fromthe bar and make his move toward me.

My knees were shaking. I sood up from my seat. It’dbeen so long since I’d last seen him. Sure, we got in touch all the time, but seeing him then made me realize just howmuch I’d missed him.

I smiled at him as he made his way toward me. He gaveme a crooked smile that would make any other girl’s heartstop beating. But my own heart was pounding in my chest. Iran toward him, and it was like I was running toward home.I didn’t hesitate. I threw myself into his arms. He caughtme and gave me a tight hug. I closed my eyes and his fresh,masculine scent filled my senses. I closed my eyes and

drowned myself in his embrace. I let myself be locked intosafety. And I knew there, no one could touch me.

“I missed you,” I whispered to him.

“I can tell,” he whispered against my ear. I wanted himto say he missed me too, but for Travis to say things thatgave away a hint of emotion at all was within the range ofrare and non-existent.

I gently pulled away from him so I could look into hiseyes. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s a public pool, and just in case you’ve forgotten, I goto Yale. We’re in the same vicinity.”

“It didn’t feel like that for the past couple of months,” Iprotested. “I haven’t seen you in like…” I trailed off, tryingto recall the last time I saw Travis.

“I know. Months!” he supplied for me.

I knew Travis wasn’t Thomas, but it was certainly sad nothaving a sibling around. Thomas was also protective of me.And Travis was doing the job he was supposed to be doing…sometimes even overdoing it. Except for the past fewmonths, when he’d just let me be.I leaned forward and hugged him again.

“Sorry if you came here to find some girls!” I said,giggling. “I missed you—and all this hugging will lessen yourchances of hooking up with another girl.”

He laughed. And instead of pulling away, he hugged metighter. This surprised me. I expected him to push me away.

“I did find a girl,” he said. “She’s gorgeous as hell. I feelsorry for the guys who were thinking of introducingthemselves to her. Because now, she’s like putty in myarms.”

I pulled away from him and gave him a playful punch inthe shoulder.

He laughed. “You didn’t come here with a date, so Iguess it’s safe to buy you a drink.”

I nodded. “But wait, I’m with…” I turned around towardSarah. I found her chatting with a cute guy, but somehowher attention was divided between me and him. I turnedback to Travis. “Never mind. Sure!”

Travis wound an arm around my shoulder again and I putan arm around his wa-ist. He didn’t pull away from me.Instead, he leaned forward and gave me a k-ss on theforehead.

We sat at the bar and Travis ordered some drinks for us.

“How is school?”

“Wonderful! It’s almost break. Are you going home?”

He shrugged. “Depends on where my father will be.”

“Travis…” I narrowed my eyes at him.

He sighed. “You know he’s a difficult man.”

“You’re not too easy, either,” I argued.

“Wow! That coming from the person who couldpractically extort anything from me. How difficult could Ibe?” He rolled his eyes.

“You know you are!” I said, and then I smiled. “And thankyou. Because you make it too easy for me to change yourmind all the time.”

“I don’t always like it. But you know I find it so hærd tosay no to you.” He rolled his eyes again. I had to smile atthat.

“Let’s go home,” I said—an idea had come to me. “Youand Thomas talked about taking a camping trip down atyour lake house on your first spring break, right?”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “You know very well that’snot going to happen anymore.”

“Well, you were doing what Thomas was supposed to bedoing…protecting me. Let me do what he’s supposed to bedoing with you. I’ll go with you instead.”

“One wh0le week with you? Wow! I’d rather be under thesame roof as my father!”

“Lie!” I snorted. I knew that Travis hated nothing morethan being in the same room as his father.

“Nevertheless, it’s supposed to be a guy thing,princess,” he said. “We were planning to take a hike in thewoods and go camping. You’re…too delicate for that!”

“Of course not! I’m not so fragile, you know.”

“But that’s how I see you. And if you camp with me, I’llbe paranoid about your safety—it will be far too distracting,”he said.

I sighed. “All right. I get your point. I was just…offering.”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” he said. “And I plan to stay asfar away from my father as possible.”

“Really, Travis, I do not understand why you hate him somuch.”

“We didn’t not see each other for months only to talkabout my dad the first time we see each other again, right?”

I laughed. “You gotta talk about him some day, youknow.”

He sighed. “I know. But don’t hold your breath. It’s notgoing to happen this year.”

I smiled at him. “So, what about you? Any girlfriends?Serious relationsh¡ps?”

He looked at me for a while and then he said, “How can Ihope to have a serious relationsh¡p? My fate is tied to yours,remember?”

I raised a brow at him.

“I’m good at keeping my promises, cherie. Sure youknow that by now. I won’t break my promise to be yoursafety guy. So, only after you tie the knot with another guy could I even hope to start finding someone I will have heirswith.”

Now I felt guilty. I was keeping Travis from finding hisown happiness.

“Travis…” I started.

“Save it,” he cut me off. “I don’t mind. In fact, until youasked me to be your safety guy, I didn’t think I would getmarried at all.”

“Thanks! That makes me feel loads better,” I said. I tooka deep breath and gave him a serious look. “Even if it wasjust a favor, Travis…I hope you smile a lot at our wedding,okay?”

He was taken aback by what I said. And then, as ifsomething in,side him softened, he reached forward andtouched his palm to my cheek. “I’m pretty sure it won’t endlike that, Brianne. I’m almost sure you will be married to aman who is head-over-heels in love with you…before you’rethirty-one. A lot of guys would be lucky to have you.”

I turned away from him and thought for a while. I surehoped he was right. I was glad I was safe from my family’scurse, but a bigger part of me wanted the real thing, too. Istared back at Travis’s handsome face, then I raised myglass to him and said, “Toast to that!”

He smiled and touched the bottle of his drink to myglass.

Sarah sent me a text message.

I’ll go ahead. Looks like you’re taken care of! Details! Iwant every little bit of it!

I smiled. I could just as well have been the luckiest girlwithin a mile radius. Travis looked a lot hotter than the lasttime I saw him. He’d grown taller, and his muscles and abswere well-toned. His face matured, but only just a little bit.

At first glance, he’d grown colder. But when he looked atme, I could still see the boy who used to pull my hair andmake me cry a lot when we were eleven years old.

Looking at his abs, a memory threatened to come to my consciousness, but I immediately shut it out. I was notallowed to do that. I couldn’t allow that memory to taint theway I saw Travis. He was dear to me. He always would be.And I couldn’t allow myself to think of him as somethingelse…even if that night was probably the most rom-nticnight of my life.

“So, do you have plans tonight?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“Let’s have dinner. We have a lot to catch up on.”

“You honestly mean to say you don’t check up on mewithout my knowledge, Travis Cross?” I teased.

He gave me one hærd, guilty look. Then he turned away.

“Still, hearing from you is a lot better.”

My eyes w¡dened. I was just joking. I couldn’t actuallybelieve that I was right. “I don’t believe this!” I glared athim. “Travis James Cross!”

He raised a brow. “I told you I’m good at keepingpromises. I had to make sure you’re safe…all the time.”

He stood up and paid our bill. He waved at the waiterand then he took my hand in his. I refused to budge.

“So, just exactly how do you do that? Do you stationbodyguards around me? Undercover agents?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t be silly.”

“Then how? How do you check up on me without askingme…without me knowing you are?”

He sighed. “Let’s just say that the head of security atyour university and your dorm are good friends of mine now.I just told them to keep a special eye on you, make sureyou’re safe, and to call me if something seems just a littlebit off.” He held his hand out and motioned for me to walkahead of him.

I walked toward the locker rooms and then turned tohim. “I’m going into the locker room. Do you have securitycameras all over the place as well?”

He raised his face toward the sky. “Oh, God! You’re stillthe same difficult…complicated girl!”

“And you’re still the same paranoid guy! Why?”

“Because…” he trailed off.

“Because you’re good at keeping your promises?”

He took a deep breath. “That. And some other things.”

“Like what?” I continued glaring at him.

He sighed in defeat. “Because I don’t want to lose what’sleft of what I love.”

I was taken aback. I stared back at him. He reached outand touched my cheek with his palm. “You know you andTom were the only ones I had for a very long time. I wasalone for more than half of my life. That makes it easy togrow up ruthless…cold. You and Tom were my family. ButTom’s gone, too. And now…it’s just you.” He shook his headand smiled ruefully. “Can you imagine what kind of person

I’d be if I were to lose you, too?”

I bit my lip to keep myself from crying. I couldn’t sayanything. So instead, I reached forward and gave Travis ahug. He hugged me back.

“So don’t go and die on me, too, okay?” he whispered.

I shook my head. I pulled away from him gently.

“Couldn’t you just pick up the phone and ask me if I wasdoing okay?”

“I can easily do that,” he replied. “After all, if you pick upthe phone, I can automatically say you’re safe, right? It’s thetimes I can’t be there that I worry about.”

“I’ll be fine, Travis,” I said. I smiled at him. “I’ll fight tohelp you keep your promise to my brother.”

“Good! So now that you know my one weakness, howmuch do I have to pay to keep you silent about it? For amoment there, I felt like such a weakling!”

I laughed. “No, Travis! You just became human to me!”

When I came out of the locker room wearing a pair ofshorts and a shirt over my swimsuit, I found Travis waitingfor me just outside.

“Where do you want to go?” he asked.

“Home,” I replied. “At least to take a shower and tochange into decent clothing.”

“Why? What’s wrong with what you’re wearing?” heteased. “You’re making a good first impression on the guysright now.”

I raised a brow at him. “No, I prefer to repel boys bygiving an impression that I’m a smart, boring, and prudentV-rgin,” I said dryly.

He looked at me pointedly. “I beg to disagree with atleast two of the words you just said there.”

“The smart and prudent ones?”

“Actually the boring and…V-rgin ones.” He stared at mewith a serious expression on his face. “I have it on goodauthority that you are not either of those things.”

My face turned beet red. I stood there open-mouthed.

When he turned to me again, he wasn’t smiling, but his eyeswere somewhat dancing. I could tell he was teasing me.

“So, do you want to drive?” he finally asked.

I snatched the keys from him and walked toward the exitas fast as I could. Damn! That guy knew how to stir upunfamiliar and unwanted emotions from me. Was it notenough that he could already read me like a book?

When we came out to the parking lot, I discovered thatTravis was driving a new, sleek red Ferrari. I gulped, andthen I handed him his keys back.

“Why?”

“I’m not sure I could afford to pay you back if I dentedyour car.”

“It’s fully insured,” he countered. “And please! Have Iever taken money from you?”

I shook my head. “You drive. Just drive especially slow.”

He gave me an amused expression and then took thekeys from me.

I didn’t have to tell Travis where I lived; he knew exactlywhere it was. He parked in front of my building. I was about to open the door, but he was quick to come out and openthe door for me.

“For a cold, ruthless guy, you’re such a gentleman,” Iteased him. “I pity the girls who fancy seeing themselvesmarching down the aisle with you.”

“I’m pretty sure they will be disappointed. I’ve alreadypromised somebody I’ll wait at the altar for her.”

“If only to save her from humiliation,” I said.

He nodded. “So do a better job at finding your PrinceCharming. You deserve better than having a cold, heartlessman as your groom.”

“You’re not heartless, Trav.”

“Ahh…many would actually disagree with you.”

“They don’t know you better than I do,” I said, gatheringmy bag. I headed toward the building. Then I turned to him.

“Fifteen minutes.”

He leaned on his car and nodded.

I took the stairs to my room. When I opened the door,Sarah was already there. Her face brightened when she sawme.

“Oh my God, oh my God!” she scre-med. “Who is thathottie you were with? What happened?”

I put my bags on my bed and took off my shirt.

“That’s Travis Cross.”

“Who is he? Did he drive you back?” Sarah asked.

“Yes. I need to take a quick shower and change intosomething decent. He’s waiting for me.”

Sarah immediately ran to the window to peek. “HolyCrap! He drives a Ferrari?” She turned to me accusingly.

“Who is this guy and how long have you been seeing eachother?”

“We’re not seeing each other,” I replied, wrappingmyself in a towel. “He’s…I mean, was, my brother’s bestfriend.”

I took a shower as quickly as I could. When I came out,Sarah was waiting by the door to ambush me.

“Does he go to our school?”

I shook my head. “He goes to Yale.”

“So, are you, like, hooking up?”

“Hell no!” I answered quickly. “We’re…the dearest offriends. Like family. And you know what they say about nothooking up with your buddy’s sister, mother, or exes?” Ireminded myself briefly that Travis had done that oncealready, but I knew it almost didn’t count, since I asked himto do it as if he didn’t have a choice. And we agreed to

forget that night ever happened at all.

“He is…very handsome, Bry,” Sarah said. “I’m sojealous!”

“Don’t be,” I said. “We’re not dating, nor will we everdate!”

“So does that mean he’s…free?”

“For you?” I asked. When she didn’t answer, I said, “No.Don’t even think about it. He may look like the epitome ofgrace…but Travis Cross is…a devil in angel’s skin. He’llbreak your heart.”

“Really? He looked like he’d go to hell and back for you,”

she protested.

“He will,” I said. “But only because he promised mybrother he would look after me for as long as he lives.”

Her eyes w¡dened. “Wow!” she breathed. “How lucky canyou be?”

I raised my brow at her. “Not very lucky, apparently.Because I had to lose my brother in exchange for having ahot guy like that protecting me and looking out for me.”

Sarah bit her lip. “I’m sorry, Bry. I was insensitive,” shesaid.

I smiled. “It’s okay. But that’s the reality, really. Travis’sfate and mine…were involuntarily intertwined at the demiseof my beloved big brother. We were the only family he knew.I lost my family the day lost my brother. So, it seems like…it’s just the two of us now.”

Sarah sighed. “But still…wow!”

I laughed at her. “I can’t believe you! But then again,that’s not an uncommon reaction toward Travis Cross.”I took my bag and then headed toward the door.

“Will you be home tonight?”

“Of course, albeit quite late,” I replied.

“Have fun!”

Before I left, I turned toward Sarah again. “And, Sarah,you know that safety guy I was telling you I have?”She nodded.

“Well, that’s Travis Cross,” I said. Then I turned away,leaving Sarah dumbfounded with her mouth hanging open.