Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Travis
I pulled up to my house feeling different.
When I'd gotten the call this morning from the news investigator, I'd had to feign surprise when the man officially informed me of Juliet Prince’s death. It hadn’t been difficult since it was the first time I'd actually heard it.
Sure, I had suspected since Brantley and his team had returned from Port Isabel without Juliet, and I had seen nothing of her arrest on the news. Yes, I'd taken that to mean she had been dealt with accordingly, but I hadn’t had confirmation.
However, my relief had not been pretend. If it made me a monster that I was glad the bitch was dead, so be it. I wouldn’t want it any other way. The woman deserved far worse than a bullet between the eyes.
I pushed the button to kill the engine. Grabbing my cell phone and the smart key, I climbed out of the SUV. If I were lucky, my phone would not ring for at least eight hours, preferably ten.
As it was, I had spent the majority of the day at the resort with Gage, taking phone calls from family and friends, all following up on what they’d heard.
I couldn’t count how many times I confirmed that she was no longer a threat.
Even though I'd repeated it, it hadn’t really sunk in until just now, as I was walking into my house.
My empty, quiet house.
Kate and Avery were at my parents’ with Ethan and Beau’s daughter, Kiera. They had promised to help Lorrie with the baby in return for chocolate chip cookies, popcorn, and another showing of Frozen.
Kade was at Kaleb’s playing with Mason, Kellan, Barrett, and Gabriel. I figured if Kaleb and Zoey were brave enough to request one more boy in their midst, who was I to deny them?
Haden was with Jessie and Braydon, spending the night with Rhett, Zachary, and Waylon. From what I'd heard, Brendon and Cheyenne would be hanging out so Remy and Thad could play, too.
And last but not least, Maddox was with Zane and V, playing with Theo and Dustin, but only because Sawyer and Kennedy had taken Zane’s two oldest, Reid and Asher, to their place. Sawyer insisted they managed better when Matthew and Brody had other kids to keep them company.
I knew it was all a ruse to give me and Gage some time alone. It wasn’t easy for any of the parents to get a break with so many kids, but we all pitched in when it was necessary to help out. And tonight, I appreciated it more than usual.
I tossed my keys into the bowl near the door, then followed the scent of garlic coming from the kitchen.
My stomach rumbled in response, a not-so-subtle reminder that I'd had a granola bar for lunch and that had long since burned off.
“What’re you makin’?” I asked when I pushed the door open to find Gage standing at the center island.
“Lasagna.”
“And garlic bread?” I asked hopefully.
He pointed to a baking pan layered with Texas toast coated in butter and garlic.
“Figured we’d have dinner, then maybe watch a movie.”
I was more than willing to do whatever he wanted to do tonight. “As long as we’re naked while we do it.”
“Which part? Dinner or movie?”
“Both?” I chuckled, moving toward him. “I don’t care.”
Unable to help myself, I cupped his face and leaned in for a kiss. It wasn’t urgent, not even sexual, really. Just a gentle press of lips to lips, a comfort I knew I would never be able to live without.
When I pulled back, I smiled. “I have somethin’ for you.”
Gage’s eyebrows lowered. “I’m not sure how energetic I’ll be until after we eat.”
I let the words sink in, then I barked a laugh. “I wasn’t talkin’ about sex.”
“Well, that’s a first.”
“Look who’s talkin’.”
Gage rolled his eyes.
I pulled a piece of paper out of my pocket, drawing his attention to it.
“What’s that?”
“A confirmation.”
“Of?”
I passed it over. “Read for yourself.”
When he took the paper and began to unfold it, I lowered to one knee before him.
“March twentieth. Three o’clock,” Gage read.
I reached up, pulled his hand down so I could look in his eyes. “Marry me, Gage. Marry me on March twentieth at three o’clock.”
He smiled as he grabbed my wrist and pulled me up. “I’ll marry you any day, anywhere, any time.”
I kissed him again, this time a bit more urgently. “Good.”
“Where’s this gonna take place?”
“At my parents’ house.”
Right by the tree Kylie had requested we plant.