Chapter 14
14
Heaven
“Sweetheart, you have got to stop pacing; you’re going to wear a hole in the hardwood flooring, and if you do that, then selling the house when you finally move to the club will be difficult,” Steal says from where he’s sitting on the couch stuffing his face with popcorn with my son sitting next to him who’s looking way too giddy for my liking.
I knew I should have ensured Travis didn’t spill the beans about what we were doing. Micha’s ten; he doesn’t need to know his parents are trying to date to see if they can get back together.
Wait, what did Steal just say about my house?
Now why is he already talking about selling my home when I’ve only agreed to date Travis again, and why in the hell does he think I’ll live where Ginger still slinks around?
Last time I checked, I still had at least another fifteen years to pay off the mortgage. I freeze.
Please tell me Travis did not pay off the mortgage?
I scowl at Steal, which, of course, doesn’t faze the President of the Huntsmen MC.
Instead, he grins and goads, “To be honest, it’s nice seeing you like this again. It’s like we’re back in high school, and you, the shy nerd.”
I roll my eyes and mutter, “I was not that much of a nerd idiot,” as Micha chimes in and asks, “Why, what happened in high school, Uncle Colt?” with excitement and curiosity in his eyes.
Steal chuckles at me and replies to Micha, “Your mom and dad had just started dating, and your mom, when she realized how popular your dad was in high school, panicked in the parking lot, seeing several eyes on them already. So she let go of his hand and tried giving him his leather jacket back, demanding they stay on the down low, but would your dad have it?” Micha laughs and shakes his head, and I sigh.
“Alright, you two. No more going down Memory Lane,” I say, exasperated, my nerves shot.
God, why am I so nervous? It is just Travis, my high school sweetheart, and my husband. We used to go on dates before I got pregnant….
“It’s going to be okay, Heaven,” Steal says, knowing me so well as he passes Micha the popcorn, whose attention is now on the TV.
“Is it?” I ask him as he walks my way, then leans against the back of the couch, crossing his arms over his chest, his eyes taking in my nerves.
“Talk to me,” he asks before quickly looking at Micha, ensuring he’s preoccupied, which he is. Steal then looks back at me and continues, “What’s on your mind?”
I look down at my outfit—jeans, boots, and a flannel—then look back at him, and admit, “I’m scared, and you're joking about selling my home, a home I’m starting to think Travis paid off.”
He says, “I’m not joking, Heaven. You should have moved onto the compound years ago, and you know this, and of course he paid it off, the man doesn’t want to see you struggling.”
“Colt,” I try, but he cuts me off and says, “No, I get it; Ginger is still around, but not by his choice—or mine, for that matter. She hasn’t done anything to give me a reason to bring it up with the whole club, and until you and Travis out your relationship, something he won’t do until you’re wearing his cut and your wearing your ring again, he won’t tell the brothers about you or his fuck up.” His dark gray eyes race between mine as he leans down and little and whispers, “He loves you Heaven, and you love him, that is how I know this house will go on the market. I knew it in high school, and I know it now, you belong together, you just have to get on board.”
“I’m scared,” I admit, and his eyes soften.
“I know, but the fact you agreed to this despite the shit your mom said over the years shows, despite the pain, how much you want this, and the fact you haven’t terminated your pregnancy after he tried to trap you….” He trails off as the sound of pipes echoes from outside. I groan, dropping my head, not only realizing Steal knows I’m pregnant but also why Travis told me to wear jeans and boots.
Steal chuckles, kisses my head, and rasps, “Like I said, you’re his everything, and don’t worry; he’ll ride safely, knowing you're carrying precious cargo. Now go and fall deeper in love with your husband.”
I sigh but nod and look around Steal at Micha, who grins wide at me from in front of the couch, basically bouncing on his toes.
I point at him. “No junk food after eight.”
He nods and quickly rushes over to me, kissing my cheek and making my smile go wide. I hug him tightly.
This boy is the best thing to ever happen to me; he shaped me into the person I am today, giving me the strength to keep moving forward, even if he did sabotage all my dates.
Kissing his head, I turn and open the front door. I walk out but halt at the sight of Travis sitting astride his dark red Harley in his usual biker boots, jeans, tank, and cut, with his black sunglasses on.
He tilts his head at me, and I raise a brow and state, “I’m not stupid, you know. I know only old ladies go on the back of brothers’ bikes.”
He grins and admits, “If I hadn’t fucked up, then you would be wearing my cut. Now, get your sexy ass on my bike, Heaven.”
I chew my bottom lip as I eye the machine. When we got married, he had a small 125cc Honda dirt bike, and now, he has a very large Harley. He got it a week after he patched in, a present from his dad, or so his sister said when she came round to beg me to take her brother back. All that was before his mom called me selfish.
I haven’t spent proper time with either of them in years.
“Come on, Angel, get your ass where it belongs,” he encourages me, and without my permission, my feet move toward him, and the smile that graces his handsome face makes my heart race.
“Dad will never give up, will he, Uncle Colt?” I hear my son say excitedly, and I know I’m screwed because, even without the shades, I know Travis is looking at me with determination, his eyes heating my skin.
“No, kid, he won’t. Your parents will be back together by Christmas,” Steal confirms, and I can’t even turn round and snap at him because I have a feeling he’s right.
As soon as I stand before my husband, he holds his hand out and says, “Swing your left leg over and pop your feet on the pegs, but keep your legs away from the pipes because they get hot, and I don’t fancy trashing my bike for hurting you, Angel.”
I swallow hard and take his hand, allowing him to help me onto his bike. I wobble a little, causing him to twist and grab my leg as I bring it down while keeping hold of my hand, keeping me balanced. Then, he wraps it around his waist as soon as I’m situated before he grabs my thighs and pulls me so I’m flush against his back. I catch sight of Steal and Micha high-fiving near the front door, making me snort.
Travis revs his bike, getting their attention. He salutes Steal and then points at Micha, warning him to be good before backing down the small drive.
“Okay, Angel, hold on tight,” he says loudly over the pipes before he spins away from the curb, making me squeal and hold him tighter as his laughter fills my ears. Instead of looking at the scenery, I lay my head on his back and close my eyes, enjoying his warmth through the blasting winds, wishing this was how it always was, wishing he never hurt me the way he did….
Travis gently rubs my thigh fifteen minutes later as he comes to a stop, and I look up only to freeze at the building before me.
This damn man.
“I wanted to go back to the beginning,” Travis says when I don’t move. “I wanted to remind you why you fell in love with me to begin with, to show you I’m still that guy who only saw the shy new girl.”
I sigh and drop my forehead against his back as I grip his shirt in the front and mutter, “You’re not playing fair, Trav….”
I feel his hand cover mine, still wrapped around his waist, as he replies, “I can’t afford to play fair, Angel, not when my life is at stake, when you are at stake,” before gently removing my hands and climbing off his bike.
I stay sitting astride his bike, my eyes on the bowling alley where he took me on our first date. It was also the first time he kissed me, which I have to admit was much better than Todd Tweenies kiss in fourth grade, where I punched him in the face for even pressing his lips against mine without my consent.
They were sticky and slimy at the same time.
“Angel,” Travis says, and I look his way and smile, making him grin as he takes a picture of me on his bike, then he puts his phone down at his side and mumbles, “So much better than sitting on the Honda.”
I snort and remind him, “Our son was conceived on that Honda, Travis.”
He grins and laughs, “That is the only reason I still have it.”
I shake my head and look down at my very small bump.
I’m only ten weeks, or so the OB stated yesterday, but the baby is healthy, which is good. I just wish I wasn’t so conflicted about its father. This is our second child together, and we’re what, dating?
This cannot be normal, though, saying that, I don’t know many women who stick to their gut and not run back to their cheating husband.
Can it still be classed as cheating when he only did it once, or so he said?
Is it more a major betrayal?
God, I’m so conflicted….
“Heaven?” Travis questions when I zone out. I feel his hand cup my cheek, forcing me to look his way. “Talk to me…. Is this too much?”
My eyes tear up, and I admit, “No, it’s kind of perfect because the last time we came here, you dropped a bowling ball on your foot before falling halfway down the lane when your ball got stuck on your fingers.”
He narrows his eyes playfully and states firmly, “That will not happen again. This time, I’m going to kick your sweet ass, and we are not going to get kicked out again.”
My tears fall at the happy memory, causing his body to sag with worry as I lean into him, but he soon grins when I whisper, “I’ll bet you a goodnight kiss that I’ll win,” repeating the exact same words I said all those years ago, my shy seventeen-year-old self wanting nothing more than his lips against mine but not brave enough to take it.
His eyes race between mine as he says, “There’s a reason why you are my only one, Angel, and why, in ten years I’ve only been with you since that bittersweet day…. I love you so fucking much, and you, remembering our first date, seeing the joy in your eyes when you speak of it, proves you are my only and I’m yours.”
I nod, and he presses his lips against mine in a hard, searing kiss. He grips my loose hair, gripping it tightly as he tilts my head, deepening the kiss. He pushes his tongue into my mouth, tangling it with mine, and I can’t help the moan that escapes me at his minty taste.
Letting myself focus on the moment, I grip his cut, holding him to me, making him groan, before he wraps his arm around me, holding me close, and we lose ourselves in each other.
The past fades, with the hurt and pain; all I can feel is him, his warmth, his love….
Someone wolf whistles, breaking our moment but instead of breaking the kiss instantly, he slows it before pressing several kisses against my mouth, cheek, nose, and neck, making me giggle.
“Fuck, I missed that sound,” Travis rasps as he presses another kiss against my neck, making me shiver in delight. I sigh, wrapping my arms around his neck, my body twisted in an awkward position, making it uncomfortable, but I ignore the twinge and grip his hair.
“We’re going to be alright, you and I, Angel, and I swear to you, a year from now, we’ll have our two kids in our home at the compound, and we will have another on the way,” he promises.
My tears fall again, and I choke, “First, I need to kick your butt at bowling, and it will help your case if you end up sliding down the lane again.”
His body shakes with silent laughter before he pulls back, gently lifts me off his bike, and cups my cheek with one hand, the other going to our baby, a wide grin on his face.
“I can guarantee, Angel, that will most likely happen,” he assures, and I smile wide, push up on my tiptoes, and press my lips against his quickly before removing myself from his hold. At the same time, I grab his hand and walk backward, pulling him with me.
“Come show me what you’ve got, Biker Boy,” I say, the same words from our first date. Happiness radiates from him as he quickens his steps and drapes his arm over my shoulders, pulling me to him as he kisses my head and guides us toward the large gray building with a massive bowling ball on top. He does as he says and not only slides along the lane but ends up knocking the pins in with his head after a ball got stuck on his fingers. After he drove me home, I got my goodnight kiss, which lasted at least ten minutes longer than the one we had on our date. The kiss only ended when Steal shouted it was past curfew.
I knew, deep down inside, that Travis and I were going to be okay; I knew his vision of me being by his side was going to happen. I just didn’t know that the future looked bleak for me, that he wasn’t meant to end up with me….