Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Travis
PRESENT DAY
“Hi, Mom,” I greet the most important woman in my existence as I move towards the kitchen.
Like every Sunday afternoon, I catch her on the couch, watching her favorite medical show, hopelessly dreaming of being in one of those scrubs. Which is ironic since she’s in one most of her days. I’d expect her to be repulsed by the sight of another blue and unflattering fit by now, but after two decades, she still loves it. I wish I had that much love for my job as well.
“Hi, sweetie. How’s your new project going?” She turns back in my direction, her blonde hair dancing along.
“I still have a few things to put together, but I’m almost done. You’ll love this one,” I answer with an eccentric smile on my face. I pour myself a glass of water behind the marble countertop as I join her in watching the show.
“I always love your paintings, honey,” she says. It’s like a subconscious phrase she has locked in. It flows out of her mouth with ease as she turns back to watch the TV.
I know she loves them. I’ll never not know. My paintings are somewhat her proof she never wasted a breath on me, making it more difficult to tell her I want to put a pause in my career after this last work.
“Travis,” a faint and deep voice accompanied by loud steps interrupts the almost-awkward moment we were about to have.
Simon shows himself. It never gets old how stunned I am every time I see him. I can’t believe he’s already hit puberty and basically competing with me in life.
“Hey, buddy. How are you?”
“I’m good,” he answers in a beat. “I wanted to ask you about something.” He turns to Mom, making sure she isn’t in on the conversation.
“What is it? And it better not be the latest console.”
He takes a step closer, reducing the distance between us. “I need some advice on something,” he whispers.
I raise my eyebrows at him, urging him to continue. The moment feels tense as he scans Mom’s direction once again.
“It’s about a girl.” He lowers his voice even more.
A girl. Since when did my brother have girl issues? I knew he was growing up, but damn, this one stings deep. He’s always been the little bean I once despised because I wanted to be an only child, but then realized he was the most adorable bean ever.
“A girl,” I echo his words.
He quickly shuts me up with his index finger hovering around my lips. I might have spoken out loud, but to be fair, I don’t want to have this conversation. Not yet. He’s still a kid, at least, to me.
“Are you trying to get Mom over here?” he hisses, his voice still battling the air. “Okay, so this girl. She’s in my Spanish class, and a few days ago, she gave me this.” He reaches for something in his jeans pocket. A folded sheet of paper makes its appearance. He hands it to me.
“What is this?”
“Open it.”
Immediately, my hand lands on my mouth, covering it up. Not out of shock, but to prevent my laugh from rushing out. This is a love letter. A fucking love letter. I had no idea that was still a thing—in ninth grade. This is funny and interesting, all at once.
I gather my laugh and repress it. He can’t see me laughing at this. “So, what do you want me to do with this?” I nonchalantly ask.
“What am I supposed to do? Or say to her?”
“Well, Simon,” I raise my voice. For a minute, I forgot about Mom’s presence. “Come with me.” I take the lead to the hallway, trying to abide by his wishes.
The moment we get far enough, he rushes, “So? What should I do?”
“Do you like this girl?” I shake the paper in the air. That’ll represent our girl for now.
He stays silent, his eyes shifting to the side.
“What do you think you should answer to that?” I reformulate the question.
“I don’t know. That’s what I need you for.”
“Simon, you know I can’t tell you what to say to her the next time you see her. If you like her, then ask her out. Better yet, write her a letter too. If you don’t like her, be honest with her, and don’t beat around the bush. Don’t make it weird, and no matter what, don’t ask her to be friends. Understood?” He nods. “Now, I’ll ask again, do you like her?”
“I think so.”
I tilt my head at his answer, giving him another chance to be honest with himself. If he didn’t like her, he wouldn’t be coming to me for something as simple as this. Though I’m still in denial about him growing up, I know this is something he could’ve handled by himself. But he likes her, which is why he wanted a second view of all of this. I’ve been him before. That’s who the men in this family are. Hopeless lovers who lose their shit when it comes to girls.
“Yes.” He goes again.
I slam the paper on his chest. “Then you know what to do.” He grabs it, and I walk back to the kitchen. He’ll be fine.
“Is everything okay with him?” Mom asks, a vicious smile drawn on her face. I send a knowing look her way, acknowledging her acting skills. No matter how hard Simon tried to keep this a secret, he’s failed. That woman has the ears of a moth. There’s no way she didn’t know before he told me.
“So, tell me. What’s the point in you moving out if you’re going to walk in here every single day?”
“Can’t a son visit his mother and brother?”
“This is past visiting, Travis. You might as well move back in.”
I chuckle.
“I’m fine where I am.” Just then, a notification pops up on my phone screen. A message from a name I’ve heard a million times but never seen in a long time.
Bella
Hello sir, I hope everything is well with you. I’m an Art Auction Specialist at Maurney’s Auction House in Paris, France. We’ve been really interested in working with you and displaying some of your art at our upcoming auction event. You’ll find below a link to our website, as well as a way to contact us. Hope to hear from you soon.
I never changed it. I never touched it. Never searched for it. For six years, this name has been existing, and somehow, seeing it again peculiarly rubs me.
Me
Sir? Really, Isabella?
Bella
How do you know my name?
Me
Did you delete my number?
Bella
It really is you, I see.
Why does the thought of her trying to forget about me hurt even more than what she did to me? Anyway, I can’t get sucked in again. This is so out of the blue, and a hole waiting for me to fall in. I just can’t.
Me
Anyway, I will have to decline your offer. I can’t talk right now. Bye.
Bella
Wait.
“Is something wrong?” My mom’s voice snaps me out of it.
“No, everything is fine.” I shut the phone off and slide it in my back pocket, closing the chapter before it even began. “I have to go. See you tomorrow?”
I don’t even remember why I came here to begin with. Right now, I have to get out of here and forget the last two minutes of my life.
“It’s time I take away your spare key.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” I swing the key set in my hand, the noise reaching her. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” She chuckles.
I walk out, purely on edge. It’s a good thing I live a few houses away. I desperately need my couch right now.
Among the tens of keys I possess in my hands, I pick out my house key. I must admit, though I enjoy walking to my mother’s house more often than I should, every time I turn this key in the lock of the six-foot white door in front of me, I feel at home. My home.
Maybe a little too big for a one-man person like myself, but I’m lucky to have it. Especially in this town, where all the houses are long-lost twins. Shaped like the way I drew houses when I was a kid, but with a veranda up front, and trees hovering over them. Mine isn’t that much different, but I like to see it as such. It’s the only way I can escape the fact that this is now my life. Still living in the same town for almost a decade, and living the normal life every citizen in Road Haven are comfortable with.
London doesn’t even come to mind anymore, and as scary as it should be… it’s not.
I have every reason to leave, but somehow I can’t. I always say it’s because of my family and friends, but a part of me knows the real reason I can’t. Or don’t want to.
As soon as I step foot in, three distinctive figures come into view. Immediately, I roll my eyes, knowing well enough that the tranquility I desire right now isn’t going to reach me anytime soon.
“Dude, you’ll never guess what just happened,” a loud and pesky voice welcomes me as I close the door behind me.
I sigh. “What the hell are you all doing here?”
“Watching the match, duh,” Billy says, as if stating the obvious. “Is he serious?” he mutters, expecting all favors to be on his side.
They sit comfortably on my couch as if it were their own, with my cans of beer in their hand. Maybe I should reconsider moving away, after all.
“Okay… let me rephrase that. Why in the world are you watching the match in my house?” I ask, standing behind the couch and looking down at them.
“Cause’ you’re the only one with a damn flat TV, so shut up and sit with us.”
I can’t help but sigh again. I do as he says anyway, shifting him aside to sit next to him. Another argument with Billy, and I’ll lose my shit, so I opt for the beer night. A few minutes ago, he wouldn’t even have to tell me twice, but with recent events, I fucking need my peace of mind.
“Okay, so as I was saying, you’ll never guess what just happened.” Tyrone gets back his voice.
“What?” I sarcastically ask as if I care.
“Dan just admitted he’s in love with Raina.”
“Raina Lodge? The mayor’s daughter?” I make eye contact with Dan, and he wears a cunning smile on his face. “Are you insane?”
“Why? She’s gorgeous and smart. Sure, her father is treacherous, but damn, she’s stunning.”
“Your funeral.” I lean back, finally getting a taste of rest.
“You’ll be the first to get the wedding invitation.”
“Dude, she doesn’t even know you like her yet. Start with that before you start talking about marriage,” Billy hops in.
“What about you? Have you given Hawksley an answer yet?” Tyrone changes the subject. A longing curiosity spikes in him as he asks, and it draws me to him.
I was expecting this question for a while now. Honestly, I’m quite surprised it didn’t come sooner. It’s been a week since Olivia Hawksley asked me out at Lori’s Diner, and I’ve yet to decide on what to do. I never really thought of her as someone I could lie next to and be the happiest man on earth. And I’ve never pinpointed her as a woman to want such a life, either. But I can’t seem to say those things to her face.
Olivia as a friend? For sure. But, as the woman to spend the rest of my life with? No.
Also, I’ve known her for like a minute. Well, five years, but it’s still a short time. And to top it all off, her father is the damn sheriff. God knows I love rebels, but she’s just not?—
“No,” I answer.
Tyrone stays silent, but his gaze still locks on me.
“Why do you keep dragging this? Olivia has been pursuing you for the past year, and you’re still making up excuses instead of saying no to her.” Billy and his big mouth make another appearance.
“Yeah, man. Last time, what did you tell her again? Oh yeah, that you wanted to finish this one painting first, and then you’ll give her an answer, right? What a lame excuse.” Dan puts down his empty can and reaches for another on the coffee table.
The fan chants from the television harmonize with our conversation, and no one seems to be focused on it.
“Just tell her the truth,” Billy’s gravelly voice showers on me.
“And what’s that, Mr. Know-it-all?” I ask.
“That you’re still hung up on Isabella like a fucking leech.”
“No, I’m not.” The room immediately becomes silent, and everyone turns their head at me. I might have said that too fast. “I’m not.” This time, I can’t help the offense in my voice.
“Then explain to me why just last week I saw you at the shop, helping Mrs. Kirby put her grocery bags in her car?”
“I was only helping her, okay? Nothing more. And besides, she’s a lovely woman. It’s not because I’m no longer with her daughter that I must walk past her whenever she’s struggling,” I spout.
“No, but you’ve done it more than once. She might as well be waiting for you at the shop every time she goes there.”
My phone vibrates again, and for a second, I am grateful for that escape from this conversation, but my relief quickly dissipates.
Bella
Are you going to be petty about this, Travis?
I stare at her message, unable to type in anything or even shut it off. What was I thinking, responding in the first place?
“You’re a lost cause, man,” he continues. The hairs on my arms flare up at the sound of his voice, making me think he might be aware of who’s behind the continuous buzzing on my phone.
“Leave him be. He’ll get back to his senses one day.” Dan chugs his beer right after, his legs on the coffee table, and a million thoughts I never asked him to share. “Yes! There you go,” he yells, shifting the attention to the match.
“Come on. The net is right there, dammit.” Billy joins him.
I breathe out, relieved.
Bella
Can you be a little professional about this, please? I really do believe this is a great opportunity for you. For whomever those paintings were from.
I promise. I had no idea it was you.
Ouch! That was a hard blow.
I could partially understand the fact that she might have deleted my number after the breakup, but for her to not have recognized my paintings makes me believe she never really cared. It’s not as if I’d changed brushes or colors. Sure, it’s not unusual for an artist to keep the same formula for years. In fact, it’s a must, but I kept it for one reason. The foolishness in me believed somewhere out there, she could see my canvases. And the pettiness in me also believed seeing them would break her the same way she did to me.
Bella
I know you’re seeing my messages.
“Something bothering you?” Tyrone, whose gaze has been on me for the past few minutes, pulls me out of my thoughts. “Are you thinking about ways to reject Olivia?”
“Shut up.” I roll my eyes.
“Your loss, man.”
“You’re one to talk.” I get up and attempt to free myself from this unofficial intervention. It’s bad enough they’re at my house and taking advantage of my patience. They’re also lecturing me. I can only take one at a time.
As I walk up the stairs to my room, I dig in my brain a way to respond to Isabella’s text harassment. I’m no longer used to talking with her, and it kills me that of all the days and times this could’ve happened, now is the time. My lowest point in life.
Me
Why are you harassing me like this?
Bella
Oh great, you’re alive.
I promise this is purely business. I truly need a yes from you right now.
Why is she so mellow about the situation? Maybe this is purely business for her. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not, but I don’t want to engage in it.
Me
What do you want from me?
I type in as I walk into my room and find my bed.
Bella
A partnership. Between Maurney Auction House and you. We’re looking for an aspiring artist willing to put some of their best works for auction. We’re getting ready for a big auction event in six months, with a crowd of potential spenders. It’s a great deal.
Me
I don’t want to put any of my art for auction right now.
Bella
Not even ‘Ocean Sky’? It’s such a great painting. It’ll be such a loss for it not to be known by the public.
I pause at the mention. Ocean Sky.
The first ever completed artwork I had made before the breakup. I never shared it with the public. In fact, no one else knew about it, except for her. I didn’t even know she still remembered it after six years.
Me
It’s not for the public.
Bella
Fine, but please consider working with us. I know I’m the last person you want to talk to, or even work with, but don’t make this personal. It’s a great opportunity for you.
Me
I’ll think about it.
Bella
Good choice. Thank you for considering working with us.
Me
I have to go. Just send me everything required, and I’ll get back to you.
“Hey man, can I talk to you for a second?” Tyrone knocks once and enters. I turn off my phone and wrap myself in the covers.
“Sure. What is it?” I say as I shove my phone underneath the covers, my back resting on the headboard.
Tyrone hesitates as he approaches the bed, his hands hidden behind him. “So you know how close Liv and I are, right? And with all that’s been going on, I feel like I should say something.” His voice quavers the closer he gets. “Listen, believe me, I didn’t want to meddle or anything, but it’s about time I do.”
“I’m not following.”
False. I know exactly where this is going. It’s an obvious situation, and with the looks he threw me back downstairs, I wasn’t expecting anything less from him.
“It’s no secret she likes you. And it’s also no secret you’re still in love with your ex, so…”
“I’m over Isabella, okay?”
“Yeah, whatever makes you sleep at night.”
I sigh.
“I’m just looking out for two of my closest friends. It’s already bad enough as it is, so I’m going to ask you a single question, and answer me honestly.”
I nod.
“Is Liv walking into a wall?”
He already knows the answer to this. We both know and quite frankly, I’m sure Olivia knows as well. It’s like we’re all avoiding the obvious, and it’s a waste of time and energy.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter.
He steps back as he chortles. “Hey, it’s not to me you should feel apologetic.”
“Yeah, I know.” I look up at him, the side of my lips lifted in a cheeky smile. “I’ll make it clear to her this time.”
“Good.” He fiddles around, unable to fixate on me. “That’s all I came to say. Don’t take it personally. I’m just looking out.”
“I understand.”
He nods before turning his back on me, aiming for the door.
“Ty?” I call for him. “Quick advice. Don’t miss out on things worth fighting for. I know I wouldn’t.”
He tilts his head in confusion and nods anyway before walking out. He can pretend he doesn’t understand all he wants, but eventually, he’ll grasp it.
Maybe I should follow my words as well. Isabella reaching out to me again after so long might just be the perfect opportunity for me. The opportunity to find out what the hell happened to her for her to break things off with me on a whim. It’s a risk I’m not ready to weigh, but I’ll partake anyway because it’s worth fighting for the truth.
And the truth is what I’ll aim for.