Chapter 4
Trek
It pained me to hear how hurt my bestie was. Travel just didn't know how rare and special she was. She shouldn't have had to deal with Mook's shiesty ass all that damn time, but I guess it was a lesson that she had to learn the hard way.
I had to learn shit the hard way with June as well.
When I did, I got up outta there. Now that I have Travel in my home for a long period of time, Mook's ass would soon be a distant memory for her.
Travel's situation was fresh, so I wouldn't rush anything.
I knew once she saw how I showed up for her, wanting nothing in return, I hoped her image of me as her bestie would change naturally.
Once I started to see the signs, I'd act.
Until then, I'd continue to show up for her and Deshoni.
We cruised around the mall, stopping in store after store. Junior had no problem grabbing what he wanted, but I observed Travel pick up something, then put it back once she glanced at the tag. I'd grab it and hand it back to her.
This was the third store, and I was already exhausted from our dance. Travel went to put back some sneakers, and then she grabbed some thigh boots. There was no way I'd let her put them boots back. She looked good as hell in them when she tried them on.
"Aht!"
Travel turned and looked at me with her brows furrowed. "What's wrong?"
I exhaled. "Travel, stop playing with me. Get the boots and sneakers. You're a shoe head just like me. That will not change because you have to start over."
"Trek, they're too much."
I nodded. "Oh, I see. You tryna call me a broke nigga. It's cool, I got something for you." I signaled for a salesperson to come over.
Junior's chuckle filled my ears. He understood his pops. I always told him to stand on business when it comes to the ones you love. I looked at him, and he tossed me a smirk before he went back to entertaining Deshoni.
The brown skinned, short, and happy-looking middle-aged woman walked over to us. "How can I help you, sir?"
"Yes, ma'am. Can I get this row, the lower row, and the top row, all in a size seven, please? Oh, the shoes in her hand as well."
Travel's eyes widened in shock as she quickly stood next to the woman. "Ma'am, that won't be necessary. These are just fine." She raised the boots she'd tried on.
The saleslady looked at me for confirmation.
"We'll take all the rows I asked for, please and thank you."
"Very well," the saleslady replied.
My brow rose as Travel rushed over to me. "I don't wanna hear it, Travel. Do I tell you how to show up for me?"
She looked down at her shoes. "No," she softly answered.
I placed my finger under her chin, so she knew I was serious and intentional. Our eyes peered into each other's eyes. "Exactly. Let me show up for you the ways I want to and need to. Are we on the same page?"
Travel nodded. "Yeah, you got it." She walked away and took a seat on the bench.
I knew she felt like she was forever inconveniencing me, but that's because that punk ass Mook made her feel that way. She'd eventually see that with me, shit was different.
Travel watched as the saleslady and her associate brought out stacks of shoeboxes.
Without looking, she tapped Junior's thigh because he laughed at her facial expressions.
There were times she leaned forward to stop them, but she caught herself and looked up at me.
I mouthed, "Good girl," to her. She'd get the memo soon.
Once I'd paid for everybody's shoes and clothes, Junior and I loaded up my XL truck while Travel and Deshoni grabbed us a table for lunch.
"Dad?"
"What's up, son?"
"You're in love with my god mom, aren't you?"
I stopped loading in Travel's shoes and faced him. "Yeah, I am. It's been that way since I was a boy," I responded honestly.
Junior nodded his understanding. "You found your first love at a very young age. I know you got love for my mama, but I see the difference when it comes to Travel. Mama can see it too. The only person who can't see it is Travel. I think it's time you showed her."
"That's the part I don't get. How can everybody see it but her?"
"Maybe it's because you keep showing up like a friend does. I'm no love expert. I'm only sixteen, but maybe it's time you start showing up like her man instead. What do you think?" he probed, adding the last bag in the trunk.
"It honestly scares me. What if she only wants to be friends?" I quizzed. "I'd hate to ruin our friendship because she's never looked at me as a love interest."
"I get it, but the only way to find out is to show her how you feel about her. Travel has already witnessed what a toxic relationship is. I think it's time you showed her what a healthy and happy relationship looks like."
My brows furrowed together with a smirk. "When did you get to be so wise, kid?" I rubbed his head, making sure not to mess up his waves.
"I learned from the best. My pops is the best in the world," Junior answered with a grin.
"Thanks, kid. I appreciate it. Come on. Let's go to lunch. All this shopping done made me hungry."
"I'm with you."
I slammed the trunk closed and locked my truck. My kid gave me relationship advice. I still couldn't believe it. Junior made a lot of sense, though. I needed to show up as Travel's man if I wanted her to see me as anything other than a friend.
<<<
We'd made it home a few hours ago, and everybody went their separate ways for a nap. Now that it was later in the evening, we had dinner, and Junior suggested we watch a movie in the theater room. When he winked at me, I knew that was his way of setting up some alone time with Travel and me.
I laughed as I set up the room, then popped the popcorn while they all showered. My kid was something else. It appeared as if he had some intentions. I wondered what they were?
My mind filled with thoughts of what ifs as I strolled to the theater room.
I plopped down in my seat. It was too soon to pursue a full relationship, but I had to figure out a way to woo Travel without adding too much pressure on her.
It would help if she felt something for me.
That would probably speed up the process.
For now, I needed to take her out on dates and go from there.
Once the boys decided to fall asleep, I'd ask her out.
Light shuffles filled my ears and pulled me from my thoughts. Travel was dressed in her two-piece character pajama top and pants with her long hair wrapped under her scarf. She took a seat in the chair next to me and pulled the throw blanket next to her over both of us.
The smell of her fruity and floral body moisturizer tickled my nose, and I inhaled her fragrance.
She always smelled so damn good, and her skin was always soft.
Travel's lips stayed moisturized and looked soft like a cloud.
I'd gone many years imagining how her lips would feel against mine.
Her face was all I could see anytime I messed around with other women.
Travel was the only woman that I wanted, and I prayed God was on my side.
"Where's Deshoni?" I queried.
"He fell asleep during his bath, so I put him in bed right after," she revealed, grabbing a handful of popcorn and shoving it into her mouth.
Junior stepped into the room with his gamer headset on. "Uh, where's lil' bro?" he probed.
"Sleep," Travel responded, with a mouthful of popcorn.
"Is that right?" Junior quizzed with a wide grin on his face. He looked from Travel to me. Junior wiggled his eyebrows at me.
I shook my head and lowered it briefly. Why was he that way?
"Yup. Are you joining us, boo?" Travel asked him.
"Nah, god mama, I'ma let you and Pops have some time to y'all selves. Today was a busy day after all."
"Alright. Make sure you brush them teeth before you go to bed," Travel directed before eating more popcorn. She was a big stickler when it came to oral and body hygiene. I was right behind her.
"Yes, ma'am. Y'all have a good night. Pops, handle your business."
I threw a handful of popcorn at him, and he dodged it, chuckling as he darted out of the theater room.
Travel laughed at us. "My god baby so crazy. Why is he tellin' you to handle your business?"
"I don't know. You know that boy is something else," I expressed, eyes focused solely on the screen until I landed on a romantic thriller. That was Travel's favorite genre when it came to movies.
Travel giggled a little more. "That I do know." She went quiet as the movie started.
Junior was right, though. Now was the best time to ask her out. First, I needed to see where her head was.
"Tell me, some days have gone by since you left Mook, so how are you feeling mentally and emotionally?"
Travel swallowed the mouthful of popcorn she munched on. Her eyes were still locked on the screen, but she responded.
"Honestly, mentally, I left Mook years ago.
The hardest step was willing my body to physically follow my head.
I held on to him for so long because he was all I knew.
My heart hurts because he was my high school sweetheart, but I don't see myself going back, especially after the other day.
" Travel snapped her lips closed and looked at me with widened eyes.
My brows merged, and I gave her my full attention. "What happened? Don't leave anything out. I want the full truth."
Travel sighed and nodded. "When I got out of class a few nights ago, Mook was there waiting for me. He wanted me to come to him, but I refused because I knew he'd do something to me.