Intertwined episode 16

🤝INTERTWINED🤝

💑EP SIXTEEN💑

 

When we got back to the hotel, Travis and I sat on the bedand talked. We were…well, basically planning our future.Although we were not lovers, we were betrothed andwhether we liked it or not, we had lives that we would livetogether, for the next two years, minimum.

“You said you were thinking of moving cities,” he said.

“Yes.”

“Then come to Manhattan with me,” he said. “You canmanage your gallery there instead. You can paint all youwant. I’m pretty sure there are dance studios that would behappy to accommodate you.”

“That sounds like a plan.” I smiled. I found that proposalinteresting.

“I have an apartment there. You can move in with me.”

“Why? Can’t I rent my own?”

“Useless,” Travis replied. His tone told me that hethought my idea was ridiculous. “When do you intend to getmarried anyway? You’re approaching your deadline, cherie.Didn’t you want to get married before that?”

I nodded. “Are we getting married in New York?”

“It’s up to you, really. We could get married at home. Orin New York, whichever you prefer.”

“New York is expensive,” I said. “I don’t think the moneyI have saved up is enough. But in any case, I intend to havea small ceremony.”

Travis raised a brow. “Did you really think I would let youpay for our wedding?”

“But, Travis, this is a favor!” I protested. “You alreadygave me this lovely ring! Which…I will return when we divorce, by the way. So you don’t have to buy a new one foryour real fiancée.”

He smirked. “You are my real fiancée,” he reminded me.

“I mean…you know what I mean!” I said in a frustratedtone. Our relationsh¡p seemed to be getting h-rder andh-rder to define with each passing day.

“Well, in any case, you won’t be spending a dime on ourwedding. I’ve been saving up for it since I was sixteen yearsold,” he said.

“You have been?”

He nodded. “I promised to be your safety guy. I had tomake provisions for this event, you know.”

I sighed. “You really have the answer to everything,don’t you?”

“Not everything.” He took a deep breath. “So, are youfine with moving in with me…to my apartment inManhattan? I personally do not like my fiancée staying in anapartment decorated by her ex-boyfriend!”

I laughed at that. Travis sounded like he was irritatedand insulted at the same time.

“And besides, maybe you’d like to get married in two orthree months,” he said. “It’s not forbidden for engagedcouples to live together prior to the wedding.”

I nodded. “You state your case well, Mr. Cross,” I said.

“Do you have a guest bedroom?”

He raised a brow. “My guest bedroom is a third the sizeof my room and has no walk-in closet. No way I would letyou stay there. And besides, why would we stay in separatebedrooms?”

“Because nothing will happen between us, remember?”

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t share a bedroom.”He raised a brow.

“We certainly can’t share a bed!” I protested, blushingviolently.

He laughed. “Yes. But my bedroom is big enough toaccommodate you. And I can always add a couch big enough to be a bed and I’ll spend my nights there. Samebedroom, separate sleeping arrangements.”

I looked terrified. Would I really be living with Travis?Staying in the same bedroom as him for the next two years?

He narrowed his eyes. “You haven’t thought thisthrough, have you?”

I shook my head. “At least not this far.”

He slightly shook his head. “Oh God, Brianne!” he saidunder his breath. Then as if he were talking to a ten-year-old, he said, “We’re going to get married. We will live in thesame house and we will stay in the same room. We don’twant to risk your parents or any of your relatives droppingby our apartment and finding us living separately. If theyfound out that this marriage is an arrangement or a favorI’m doing for you…you’d be ‘cursed’ no matter what.”

I sighed. He had a point. “I guess you’re right.”

“Furthermore, we will show affection as if we really are ahappily married couple. We can k-ss, we can hug, andcuddle with each other, but…” He paused, giving me a hærdexpression. Then he continued, “We will not have s€×. Andin two years, you promised to discuss the possibility ofhaving at least one son with me.”

“Wow. You got that one mapped out.” I knew only that Ihad asked Travis to do this for me, but it seemed that he’dgiven it more thought than I had.

“I have to. I don’t want to confuse the do’s with thedon’ts!” he muttered under his breath. “Are you going to beokay with all the rules?”

I nodded slowly. Then I said to him, “Women.”

“What?”

“We need to discuss the issue of your women,” I said. “Iknow you’re a player, Travis Cross. How would yourmarriage to me impact your…s€× life?”

He narrowed his eyes at me and then he said, “Let thatbe my problem.”

“I said it was okay for you to continue your usualactivities,” I said. “But I can’t let my parents know or thinkthat you’re cheating on me. They love you like a son, Travis.If they thought you were hurting me, that would change.And I couldn’t let that happen. You don’t deserve that.”

“I told you…let that be my problem,” he said in a moreserious voice, as if telling me to shut up, as if he didn’t wantto discuss the subject matter anymore.

“Do you have a mistress? Girlfriend? That I should knowabout? I mean…not that I care, really. I just want to know if Ineed to watch my back.”

He raised a brow. “What do you take me for?”

I sighed. “Travis…I…don’t know your relationsh¡p profile.I know there’s been a string of women. I just want to know ifanybody from that string actually stuck.”

He sighed and said, “No one has the right to hold a gunto your face or stick a knife to your back. You should besafe. There were women…but no one stuck for more than acouple of weeks.”

I was surprised. “Why?”

“Because I’m a difficult man, Brianne!” he said in anirritated tone. “No woman will want to have a relationsh¡pwith me! No woman can!”

His voice was so forceful, it made me turn away fromhim. I swallowed hærd and then I turned around to get upfrom the bed and walk out of the room.

I heard his sharp intake of breath as I exited thebedroom, and before I knew it, I felt him pull my arm, andthen I was enclosed in his tight embrace. I closed my eyes. Ididn’t hug him back. He didn’t say anything, but he kepthugging me tightly, and I was almost afraid I would becrushed.

“I don’t want to fight with you, Brianne,” he whisperedsoftly. “Especially not on the first day of our engagement.” Itseemed that he was struggling for words. “But it is true…asyou will soon find out when you live in my world. I’m a difficult man. I’m ruthless! Heartless even! I do not careabout other people’s emotions. Maybe that is why I wasgetting better at my game. Because I see things logically all

the time. I make decisions based on what I think would bemost profitable. Regardless of what’s at stake. I’m a stone,you know!”

I shook my head. “If you were a stone, Travis, youwouldn’t be standing here, holding me!”

Instead of letting go, he hugged me tighter. “You’reprobably the only one allowed to see me…weak. Maybe it’sbecause you’re the only thing left to remind me what it’slike to feel love…and pain.” He took another long breath.

“Maybe it’s a good thing that you’re the one I’m marrying. If it were somebody else, I’d probably just break her heart,shred her to pieces.”

“And you can’t afford to hurt me…because you promisedTom you wouldn’t.”

He sighed but chose not to answer that. Then he pulledaway to look at me in the eyes. “I’m sorry I raised my voiceat you. I will try my best not to let that happen again.”

I smiled at him. I took a deep breath and I stood on mytiptoes so I could give him a k-ss on the l-ips. I knew Iwouldn’t normally do that. But it was something that I wouldhave to get used to. Something that I should be comfortabledoing from now on to make it easier to pretend in front ofeverybody else. He was my fiancé now. Everything was real.

He took a deep breath and leaned his forehead against

mine. “You’re a good man, Travis. I know you are. You canpretend to be ruthless all you want. But nothing can changethe way I see you. I know you have a heart. And I know thateven though you’re just doing this as a favor, I still am alucky girl to have you for my husband.”

He smiled ruefully. “You have so much faith in me,Brianne. Sometimes I don’t think I deserve it.”

“You do,” I said and gave him a hug again. “And I won’tstop believing in you, Travis.

***

The next day we were in Manhattan. Travis took my hand inhis as we entered his building.I couldn’t help but notice that everybody on our wayupstairs seemed to have frozen in place when Travis walked

past them. Everybody greeted him formally, Goodafternoon, Mr. Cross. And then the path seemed to just openup for him, like everybody in the building knew better thanblock his way.

Travis walked past every single one of them without aword, not even a nod. It was as if he didn’t hear them…theydidn’t exist, except for the bellhop who brought my bags up.A man in an Armani suit opened Travis’s penthousesuite.

“Mr. Cross,” he greeted Travis. He didn’t smile, either.But I didn’t miss the quick look he gave me.

“Call the landlord, Karl,” Travis said in a cold,commanding voice.

“Right away, Mr. Cross,” Karl said. He turned to thebellhop, gave him a tip, and immediately asked him to go.

Travis turned to me. When he saw me standing beside acouch eyeing him curiously, he said, “You can sit, you know.This is your home now.”

“Oh. I was waiting for you to tell me what to do,” I saidwryly.

Travis didn’t miss the sarcasm in my voice, but insteadof answering back, he turned away from me and went to thebar and poured himself a whiskey.

Karl came back with a man in his fifties. They stoodbehind Travis.

“Mr. Cross. Welcome back,” the man greeted him.

Travis got straight to the point. “This is BrianneMontgomery,” he introduced me to both Karl and thelandlord. “She’s my fiancée. She’s going to live with me inthis apartment. Tell all your staff that I want them to treat her with the same courtesy you give me. I don’t want any ofyour guys giving her problems. Am I understood?”

The man nodded. “Yes, Mr. Cross.”

Travis turned his back on them. That must have meantthey were dismissed now. They turned around, and the mannodded at me. I stood up from my seat and ran after themjust as they were about to reach the door.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name,” I said to the olderman.

He stared back at me blankly. “Excuse me?”

I smiled at him brightly. I extended my hand to his. “Youcan call me Brianne.”

He shook my hand and smiled. “I’m sorry, Miss Brianne.My name is Andres Ferguson.”

“Nice to meet you Mr. Ferguson,” I said.

Then I turned to Karl. He was staring back at me in wildamazement. “I’m…Karl Dereks. I’m Mr. Cross’s P.A.,” he saidin a voice that was too feminine to belong to a straight man.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I smiled.

Mr. Ferguson nodded at me and then he exited throughthe door.

“Are you hungry, Brianne?” Travis asked, walking towardme and Karl.

I nodded. “Kind of.”

“What do you want to eat? We can have food delivered.”

I shrugged. “Asian cuisine should be fine.”

Travis nodded and turned to Karl. “Go to Pearl deOriente. When you get there, read me the menu. You canbring the food over.”

Karl nodded.

I glared at Travis. He raised a brow at me.I turned to Karl. “I’m new in the city! Perhaps if I go withyou, I can start learning the streets of New York.”

“You will not walk the streets of New York, there’s noneed for you to know them.”

“How do you expect me to get around?”

“I’m arranging for a limo and a driver to be at yourdisposal wherever you go.”

“Great! Lovely!” I rolled my eyes. “No, thank you. I’mnot crippled. And I need to make new friends in the city.Perhaps Karl is a good start.” I turned to Karl. “I’ll come withyou.”

He was open-mouthed as if he was appalled that I wasdaring him to defy Travis’s command. But I pulled him bythe arm and started for the door. Then, just before westepped out of the apartment, I turned to Travis and said,

“I’ll read you the menu!”

I pulled Karl with me, closing the door behind us. He wasstill staring at me widely.

“What?” I asked.

He shook his head. “You’re going to get me fired!”

I laughed. “If he fires you for this, let me know,” I said.“I’m pretty sure I can make him hire you back.”

He gave me a weird look and asked, “Who are you?”

I laughed at that. “I’m Travis’s angel counterpart,” Ijoked.

When I called Travis to read him exactly what was on therestaurant menu, he didn’t even make me start. “Orderwhatever you want, and bring the same thing for me. Karlhas my credit card. He’ll pay for the bill.”

“Are you sure you don’t have a personal preference?” Iasked, provoking him.

“You know I’m not going to let you read that menu!” hesaid in a frustrated voice.

“I don’t mind, Trav.”

“Brianne…are you testing my patience?”

“Hmmm…nope. But maybe I want to find out just howshort your temper really is,” I said evenly.

“Very short,” he answered curtly. “So please hurryhome.” Then he hung up the phone.

Karl stood in front of me open-mouthed. “Okay, so I’mpersonally your fan now!” he said.

“What are you talking about?”

“That is just amazing! I think this is the first time I eversaw someone stand up to Travis Cross!” he said.

I laughed and then turned to the waiter and orderedthree of their beef set specialty.

“Why three? Their servings here are massive,” Karl said.

“Yes. The other one is for you.”

Karl shook his head. “No, no. I can’t.”

“Consider it my treat,” I said to him, smiling. Then Iturned to the waiter. “Please don’t put sesame seeds on oneof the sets.”

“Are you allergic to sesame seeds?”

I shook my head. “But Travis is.”

“How did you know that? I’ve worked with him for threeyears and that never came up. Who are you and where didyou come from?”

I laughed again. “I’ve known Travis since we were ten,” Isaid. “He was my brother’s best friend.”

“How did you…end up engaged?”

“Ahhh…” I hesitated. I didn’t know how to say this. “Spurof the moment, I guess. Things just sort of happened. Butbefore that, Travis and I were…like the best of friends.”

“How could you be best friends and engaged to anintimidating man like that?” he asked. “And how can youspite him…and make him bend?”

“I don’t really have an answer to that,” I said. “Since mybrother died, Travis sort of…took it upon himself to take careof me. We’ve known each other for years.”

“And that makes it easier for you to stand up to him,”

Karl said. “Do you mind if I look at your ring?” he asked.

I nodded and extended my hand to him. “Didn’t he askyou to pick this one out?”

He shook his head. “I know rings. This is gorgeous! Thedesign is nothing like you’ll see in the shops today. It’sabsolutely out of this world!” He looked at me. “Perhaps thisis an heirloom?”

I pulled back my hand and stared at the design of thering. The center stone was probably four carats or more,and the diamond was very clear. There were stones andcarvings on the side that made it look elegant and classic. Itwas a beautiful ring. And I knew it was more expensive thanany of the rings I’d dreamt of wearing whenever I thoughtabout being proposed to.

“Where do you live?” I asked him.

“Same building as you,” Karl replied. “Travis wasgenerous enough to rent an apartment for me. Part of mypackage.” And he seemed really happy.

We walked back to the building. “Are you sure you’reokay? You walked a couple of blocks!”

I laughed. “I’m a part-time dancer. I have much morestamina than you think.”

“You dance?” he asked. “Ballet?”

I shook my head. “Contemporary. And sometimes jazz,h¡p-hop. I’ll probably try breakdancing soon!”

He grinned. “Wow! You’re cool! No wonder he’s smittenwith you.”

When we reached the lobby of the building, I told himthat he could have lunch in his apartment.

“But Mr. Cross might need something.”

“And I’m here to take care of that. I’m sure he will notneed a rundown of what happened to his businesses whilehe was gone. Just go to your apartment and enjoy yourlunch. I’ll bring our lunch up. And besides, he might bepissed off with me when I get back. You don’t need to bethere when we have our verbal judo!”

I took the paper bags from Karl when we entered theelevator. He pressed his floor.

“Are you sure this is okay? I’m worried.”

I smiled at him. “I promise you won’t get ‘disciplinaryaction’ for this.”

He grinned. “You’re a breath of fresh air, BrianneMontgomery. I think you really are what a guy like Travis Cross needs in his life.”

When I opened the door of Travis’s apartment, he wasleaning on one of the walls, watching me come in.

“Where is Karl?”

“I sent him to his apartment to have lunch.”He narrowed his eyes at me.

“It’s lunchtime, Travis,” I said. “The guy’s been waitingon you for hours. He needs nourishment if you want to keepyour assistant for a very long time. And whatever you needfor the next hour, I think I can handle it.”

I placed the paper bags on the table and prepared ourfood. When all was ready, I came to find Travis. He wassitting on the balcony, staring at his wonderful view. Heseemed lost in his thoughts.

I knew that he was raging mad at me right then. Traviswas used to having things in order. I was slowly disturbingthat balance, and I knew he wasn’t happy about it.

But he was too tense all the time. I knew he didn’t haveto apply military tactic to everything he did. The Travis I knew still knew how to have fun, how to let things go. Heused to be so mischievous and naughty when we weregrowing up. He even managed to joke and laugh wheneverwe saw each other in Connecticut. Now, here in his ownworld, he seemed engulfed with an invisible cold, toughcase.

“Lunch is ready,” I said to him.

He slowly stood up from the chair and faced me. I smiledat him. He didn’t smile back.I sighed. And because I didn’t know how to please himbetter, I stepped closer to him and gave him a hug. Hedidn’t hug me back, but I kept my patience.

“You said it wasn’t going to be easy for me to live withyou,” I said. “Well, it isn’t going to be easy for you, either.Because while you’re cold and ruthless, I’m warm andsunny, remember?” I stared up at him. “Do you want me tostop smiling all the time?”

He stared down at me for a long moment. And as ifrealization had seeped through to him, he took a deepbreath. He wound his arms around me and gave me a k-sson the forehead. “No,” he whispered. “I wouldn’t want youto stop smiling at all.”

I smiled. “I love you, Travis,” I said to him. I meant that. Imight not love him as a lover, but I knew I loved Travis withall my heart.

“You’re the only thing I have left to love,” he whispered.

I pulled away from him. “Come. Lunch is waiting.”

***

Over the next week, I settled into Travis’s apartment. Hewas busy most of the time, but he checked up on me almostevery hour. He left at eight in the morning and came homebetween eight and eleven at night.

I usually waited up for him. When he came home, I tookoff his coat, put his shoes back on the rack, and asked him ifhe’d had dinner. Usually, we had midnight snacks togetheron his balcony, and he told me bits and pieces of what hadhappened during the day.

“I’ll go to the gallery tomorrow,” I told him one night. “Ihaven’t called Mom yet. Perhaps I will surprise her. I senther my resignation from our branch in Connecticut. She toldme she would talk to me when she gets back from Paris.That’s tomorrow.”

Travis nodded. “I’ll send a car to drive you.”

I shook my head. “I can take the train, Travis. You don’thave to worry about that.”

He raised a brow at me. “You’re my fiancée, Brianne. Youwon’t take the train.”

“You don’t have to spoil me, Travis. I’m just an ordinarygirl,” I said to him.

“Brianne, could you please…at least for the first fewweeks while you’re still settling in…just allow me to do this,”he pleaded.

I sighed in defeat. Then I nodded. “Okay. But once I’msettled, the car and driver need to go.”

“What time are you coming home?” he asked.

I shrugged. “I’ll go around noon. I’ll probably be backaround five. Why? Do you need anything?”

He shook his head. “Just give me a call if you do.”

I slept on the bed, Travis slept on the couch in thebedroom. It was big enough to be a bed. Once or twice,when I couldn’t wait up for him, he slept in the guestbedroom, just so he wouldn’t disturb me when he came in.

Living with Travis was not as hærd as I thought it wouldbe. There were a couple of times that I still stared in spaceand thought about Chris…the last man I was in love with.But anger immediately crept in when I remembered Alanaand how she was in his apartment a couple of hours afterChris and I broke up.

I had yet to give up my apartment. I’d sell my stuff…assoon as the idea that I’d be living with Travis for a very longtime sunk in.

My mother was surprised when she saw me at herdoorstep the next day.

“I saw the limo, and you’re the last person I was€×pecting to step out of it!” she said, hugging me.

“It’s nice to see you, Mom.” I hugged her back.We sat at the coffee table by her glass window.

“What happened? You are resigning? And now I see youin Manhattan, being driven around in a limo.”

I took a deep breath. “Well, I might be living inManhattan for a while.”

“Why are you leaving your life in Connecticut behind?Everything okay?”

I nodded. “Everything’s fine.” Although I still thoughtabout Chris once in a while.

“I would like to have you here. I need help managing thisbranch when I travel most of the time,” she said. “And I think you’ll be safer here.”

I raised a brow and giggled. “This city is not crime-free,

Mom.”

“True. But Travis is here,” she said. “I know you’ll be welllooked-after here.” She looked at the limo outside. “I take ityou have seen each other already.”

I smiled. “How else could I afford that?”

“He spoils you,” she smiled. “By the way…are you stillwith that guy you brought to Aunt Vicki’s party? Is he…getting close to popping the question? You’re gonna bethirty soon, you know.”

I sighed. I shook my head. “No, Mom. Unfortunately, thatdidn’t work out.”

She was taken aback. “Oh my God, sweetheart,” she

sighed. “You’ve broken up? Why? I thought you’d beendating for a while now.”

I nodded. “But apparently, he has so much insecurity inlife. He doesn’t sit well with…our marrying-early tradition.”

My mother looked at me apologetically. “Oh, sweetheart.It doesn’t matter,” she said. “I married your father youngand look where we are now. Don’t mind the stupid familytradition. I don’t think it’s true. It’s better to wait for theright man to come.”

I laughed. “Thanks, Mom. But I’m not going to be thesubject of table talks and family gossip, or risk being‘cursed’ in love for life. I do intend to get married this year.”

“Well, this Chris character should come to his senses! Heshould know what a beautiful, amazing woman you are!”

“I’m not marrying Chris,” I said to her.

She looked confused and then her eyes drifted off to myfinger. She immediately pulled my hand to examine my ring.

“What the…” she started. “This is expensive! And itlooks like an heirloom! Are you marrying royalty?”

I laughed. “No. But I know he’s rich. Although that isn’tthe reason why I’m marrying him.”

“You just broke up with Chris. How come you’re marryinganother man? Chris didn’t propose to you and you datedhim for two years. How long have you been seeing yourfiancé?”

I shrugged. “Forever, I guess.” Because Travis and Inever really started dating, I couldn’t figure out the rightanswer to that.

“Who is this guy?”

“Take a wild guess, Mom. I think I’ve only known onefilthy rich guy in my life,” I replied.

She was thoughtful for a while, and then her eyesw¡dened. “You’re kidding!”

I shook my head and smiled. I think I was blushing, too.

“I didn’t even know you two were dating!” she said.

Then she narrowed her eyes at me. “Don’t tell me you twojust got drunk one night and then you got pregnant and youdecided to get married. Because I will kill Travis if that is thereason!”

I laughed. “Relax, Mom. That’s not it,” I said. “I guess…Travis and I had always thought we’d get married one day.We treat each other like family anyway. I guess marriage isthe way to make it official.”

My mother stared at me as if she was reading me. I feltnervous for a while, afraid that she might see through me,but what did I have to hide?

I loved Travis; he loved me. That was true. We didn’t loveeach other like lovers, but still we loved each othernonetheless. That counted for a lot. We promised to lookafter each other for the rest of our lives. That was a lifetimevow in itself. He did propose to me; I said yes. I had anengagement ring. The wedding would take place in a coupleof months. So in truth, there was nothing to be guilty about.

This engagement was as real as the real thing.

“Are you happy?” she asked.

I would not be ‘cursed’ by my family. I would not jointheir Hall of Shame. I would marry a guy who loved me and would take care of me better than any other guy could…andwould do a better job than my father ever did. I wasrecovering from my breakup with Chris in record time. I hada new life to look forward to. I didn’t have to worry about

losing Travis, at least for the next couple of years. Whatcould be happier than that?

I nodded. “Yes, Mom. You know I am.”

She smiled at me and tears rolled down her cheeks. “Ihave been…a bad mother, Brianne. I abandoned you somany times, and in so many ways. But I’m glad you turnedout okay. And I’ll always be indebted to Travis for looking outfor you during those times that we couldn’t. Travis…is one ofthe many things we will always thank Thomas for.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks, too. Because now, morethan ever, I felt that I was not only doing the safe thing bymarrying Travis. I was doing the right thing.

When I got back to Travis’s apartment, I was surprisedthat he was home. The table was set for two. He emergedfrom the balcony with a beer in his hand.

“There you are!” he said. “I have a surprise for you.”

I smiled excitedly. “Really?”

He took my hand in his and pulled me toward thebalcony. There, I saw an easel and a cabinet full of artsupplies.

“Oh my God!” I breathed.

I realized just how much I’d missed painting. I feltnostalgic and excited at the same time. Travis just remindedme what I’d been missing about myself all this time.

“I figured you’d want to start making that masterpiece ofyours. Paint the world, the way you see it.”

I lunged forward and gave him a hug. “Thank you,Travis!” For years, with Chris, I’d barely bought a brush. Hewasn’t fond of seeing me being idle and just painting. Henever told me to stop painting, but he also didn’t encourageit. And now, I realized just how much I’d really missed it,how much I missed that part of myself.

Travis hugged me back. “You’re welcome, cherie.” Thenhe pulled away from me. “How did your chat with yourmother go?”

I smiled at him. “Great! She cried, of course. She saidshe felt indebted to you forever since you’ve been takingcare of me since I was…fifteen.”

He looked at me with a sober expression on his face.

“And now I will take care of you for the years to come.”

“Until I find the right one,” I said, examining the canvasson the easel.

He didn’t answer. When I stared back at him, his€×pression was fathomless.

“Do you mind at all, Travis? That you’ll look after me fora couple years more?”

He pulled me to him again. “I’m not worried about that,”

he said. “With me, I’m sure you’re taken care of. It’s afterthe divorce that I’m worried about.”

I stared up at him. “Why?”

“I will only give you a divorce if you are sure that you’vefound the right one. That the guy you find will give you thelife you deserve.”

“And you’re willing to stay married to me until I find him?

What if…I find him after five years, or ten years? Will youstand by me for that long?”

“Yes,” he replied without hesitation.

“What about your own life, Travis?”

He took a deep breath. He pulled me against his chestand inhaled through my hair. “You’re going to be my lifenow. Before you, I wouldn’t think about marriage at all.”

“You’re saying that because you haven’t found her yet.But someday, Trav, you will find the girl you want to spendthe rest of your nights with.”

He chuckled humorlessly, as if he thought that was anoffensive joke.

“I’m not kidding! When you do, you’ll want to marryher…and stay married to her for the rest of your life,” I said.

“Is that what you were looking for?” he asked. “A guyyou wanted to stay married to for the rest of your life?”

I giggled. And then I nodded. “Yes. And a guy whowanted to stay married to me forever. Because he lovedme…because I ignited his senses, and he couldn’t live a daywithout me. Not just because I forced him into this fate along time ago.”

He fell silent for a while. Then he said, “Until you findhim, I’ll stand beside you.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks. I hugged Travis tighter.

“Thank you, Travis.”

“For what?”

I took a deep breath. “For you.”