Chapter 40
Annalise
“Did you get your chocolate smoothie?” Max asks over the phone as I enter my apartment building.
I peer down at the smoothie in my hand. I’ve drank almost a quarter of it on my short walk from the shop.
“I earned it,” I defend. Despite getting in late from Spain, where this weekend’s Grand Prix was held, I had a session with my trainer this morning. It was the final European race of the season and the most awkward. For me, anyway.
“I know you did. Wish I could’ve been there.” He yawns, and my heart swoons a little.
Max went to Amato’s headquarters in Italy to go over post-race data and statistics. He’ll return home later tonight.
“You should get some rest.”
I laugh. “I should be telling you that.”
“I’ll rest later. Are you going to my place?” The hope in his voice is palpable. I would argue that he’s not even there, so what difference does it make if I’m there or not, but I know what he’ll say.
“Maybe later. I’ll meet you when you get home.”
There’s noise in the background, and I recognize the voice of Drake Horner.
“You have to go.”
“I love you.”
My steps falter, almost causing me to trip. I don’t know when I’ll get used to hearing those words from him, but it hasn’t happened yet.
“Love you, too.”
Sighing, I hang up and head up to my condo. I don’t have many plans for the rest of the day, which makes me anxious. I’m used to fielding calls, texts, and emails on behalf of Travis in the days after a race. But this race is different.
He came in first this weekend, winning the Grand Prix.
I was there in the pit with the rest of my family, but it was awkward being a mere family member and not someone doing the work to shuffle Trav from one interview to another, in addition to coordinating with his agent and businesspeople there to meet with him.
Add to the fact that my and Max’s relationship is no longer hidden, as proved when Max kissed me squarely on the lips after he made pole. It feels really good to not have to hide it any longer, but I do miss my brother.
Travis hasn’t spoken much to me. Even after I sent him a congratulations text after winning this weekend. A short ‘thanks’ was the only response I got.
The ringing of my phone brings me out of my thoughts.
A smile crosses my lips when I see the name on the screen.
“Hello, brother,” I chime, but then am quickly alarmed by the screaming on the other end of the phone.
“Tristan? Is that Lucky? What’s wrong?”
“Lis?” Tristan answers, sounding out of breath. “Is that you?”
My heart constricts. Tristan rarely ever sounds worried or frightened.
“What happened?” Even as I ask, I race around my bedroom to grab a pair of jeans and T-shirt, ripping my towel away from my body.
“He won’t stop crying,” Tristan says. “Trav and Alyssia went out and everything was fine, but Lucky has been wailing for the past twenty minutes.”
Lucky is rarely very fussy except when he was in the earlier stages of teething or he’s really sick, like when he had the flu.
“Does he have a fever?”
“How would I check that?” Tristan asks.
“The thermometer—”
“Can you come help me find it?”
“I’m on my way.”
I get dressed at a lightning pace and head out the door in less than ten minutes. On the way over, I contemplate whether or not to give Alyssia or Travis a call. My parents have already returned to the States, leaving immediately after this weekend’s race.
A number of inquiries go through my mind as to what could be wrong with Lucky. Usually, Tristan is really good with him and he’s not the type to lose his cool, but I suppose anyone would dealing with a toddler that’s been screaming for twenty minutes.
My chest aches at recalling the shrieking that came from Lucky. Instead of my usually fifteen-minute walk, it takes about ten minutes for me to get to Travis’ condo.
Tristan opens the door, and I instantly pepper him with questions.
“Did you find the thermometer? They keep the baby Tylenol under the sink with the rest of the pharmacy stuff. Did they give you the code to open the lock?”
I peer over my shoulder when I don’t get a response.
Tristan stands in the doorway of the bathroom, holding Lucky at his side. They’re both just staring at me.
Slowly, I rise to my full height and walk over to my brother. I examine Lucky with squinted eyes.
“Why is he smiling?” He doesn’t even look like he’s cried in the last few hours.
“Him?” Tristan points. “Oh, he just ate. Happy as a clam.”
“What’s going—”
“Oh, she’s here,” Alyssia comes up behind Tristan, grinning.
“Told you it would work.”
I follow Tristan and Alyssia up the hall.
“What would work? What are you two up to? I rushed over here thinking my nephew was sick.”
“Yeah,” Alyssia draws out. “I’m so, so sorry about that. But in my defense, that wasn’t my idea.” She points both of her pointer fingers at Tristan.
He gives me a rare smile. “Don’t expect an apology out of me.”
“Why would you do that?” I punch him in the arm that’s not holding Lucky.
“Ouch.”
“You scared the hell out of me.”
He swivels his body out of the way when I go to punch him again.
“Okay, no violence in front of the baby.” Alyssia takes Lucky from Tristan. “I am really sorry, but Tristan thought this would be the only way to get you over here without any questions.”
“Why—”
I pause when the main door swings open and in walks Travis. When he sees the three of us with Lucky at the center, he comes to a stop.
“What’s going on?”
“Did you know about this?” I ask, but more so accuse by my tone.
He narrows his eyes on me.
“He’s innocent,” Alyssia defends. “As far as this little plan goes. This was all Tristan and me. But he’s far from innocent.”
“Alyssia, baby, what—”
“You know what’s going on. It’s time you two talk.”
“We’re all tired of you two not speaking,” Tristan adds.
“What do you care?” I ask tersely. “You like silence.”
“Not when it’s between the two of you,” he replies. “I like silence of my own making. Besides, your silence,” he waves a hand between me and Travis, “is fucking loud. I’m leaving for home tonight and not about to get on that plane with you two still at odds.
“So, you’re both going to sit your asses on this couch and hash out whatever you need to hash out.”
“Well said,” Alyssia concurs. “We’re going to lunch.”
By the time I’ve processed everything, it’s just me and Travis standing in the middle of his condo looking at one another, dumbfounded.
“Did they just set us up?” he asks, looking between me and the door.
“I think so.” I glare at the closed door. “I’m going to beat Tristan’s ass.”
“Not before I do.”
“You won’t put your hands on my brother,” I threaten.
He glares right back at me. “At least you're loyal to one of us.”
“You son of a—”
“We have the same parents.”
“You’re impossible,” I say before throwing myself onto his couch. I’m still staring at the ceiling when I feel the other side of the couch compress.
“All you had to do was apologize. You didn’t have to get my wife to set me up.”
“First of all,” I sit up and turn to face him, throwing an elbow on the back of the couch, “I didn’t do anything to apologize for. Second, I did not conspire with Alyssia or Tristan for any of this.” I wave my hand between the two of us. “Did you not just hear them say they were working together?
“Tristan had me running over here with my heart in my throat thinking something was wrong with Lucky.”
Travis’ head juts backwards. “He what?”
I explain the phone call I received that had me freaked out.
“Is that why he was recording Lucky crying last night?” he ponders, as if asking himself.
“Excuse me?”
Trav nods and tells me that Lucky was crying the night before because of his teeth while Tristan was here.
“He said he wanted to record for posterity or some nonsense,” Travis tuts.
“Such a liar.”
There’s a lull in the conversation before Travis says, “Thanks for rushing over here though.”
“You say that like you’re surprised I wouldn’t drop everything to get to any of you if I knew something was wrong.”
His face softens. “I know that,” he says softly. “Same for me.” He looks at me as if urging me to believe it.
I nod.
There’s another break in the conversation.
“Do you love him?”
I swallow back the urge to remind him that I’ve already answered that question.
“Yes.”
Travis drops his head before nodding. “I know.”
“Then why’d you ask.”
He shrugs. “Wanted to be sure. Does he love you?”
My hand goes to the key pendant without thinking. A smile touches my lips. Less than an hour ago Max was on the phone saying those three words to me.
“Yes.”
“I know that, too.” Travis sighs. “Hate to admit it, but I saw the way that basta—” he corrects when I side-eye him, “guy looked at you this weekend.”
“How was he looking at me?”
“The way I look at Alyssia. The way Dad looks at Mom.”
His words hit me like a pile of bricks. It’s one thing for me to feel and see it, but it’s another for someone else to. Especially someone as reluctant as Travis to admit it.
“He knows that I’ll break both of his arms and a leg if he hurts you, right?”
“Just three of his limbs? Is that all I’m worth?”
He shrugs. “Gotta leave something for Tristan. And that’s before Dad hears about it.” He snickers but stops when he looks over at me.
“Don’t joke about hurting Max.”
He rolls his eyes skyward. “I know. I know. Hurting him would be like hurting you.” He huffs. “I hate to break it to you, but I will hurt his feelings once I win the Driver’s Championship again this year.”
I grin. “I’ll be rooting for you.”
His brows raise.
“What?”
“You’re still going to root for me?” He blocks the pillow I throw at his face.
“Are you crazy? Of course I’m rooting for you. I’m always rooting for you.”
“Even when you’re in love with my biggest rival?”
“I’m rooting for him, too.” I rise from the couch and hold out my arms. “I want both of you to win, and yes, I know that isn’t possible, but it’s not possible for me to choose one over the other. I’ve loved you since the day I was born, and I love him enough to …”
“Enough to what?” Travis asks.
Marry him. Spend the rest of my life with him.