Asha was right. Travis did do everything alone. “Are you trying to tell me that Travis Harrison never gets laid?” she asked Asha curiously.
“If he does, he’s quiet about it,” Asha replied thoughtfully. “Travis likes to play the badass, but he does have a heart. He’s done some wonderful things with his charities.”
“I know,” Ally admitted. “If he wasn’t such a jackass, I’d probably worship him because he’s a brilliant businessman and humanitarian.”
“I think since he’s the oldest, he feels totally responsible for repairing the Harrison name after the scandal with his parents. The whole family was completely humiliated, and hounded unmercifully by the press. Their life was a living hell for a very long time.”
Although Ally hadn’t known Travis at that time, she knew about the Harrison scandal; she knew that the siblings’ father had killed their mother and then took his own life. “It had to have been horrible for all of them,” Ally admitted, her heart bleeding for a younger and more vulnerable Travis.
Asha nodded. “It was. And Kade says Travis always got the worst of it from his father because he was always trying to protect them. ” Asha visibly shuddered. “The man was completely insane, and I can only imagine the kind of abuse Travis suffered. I know what Kade went through, but he swears that Travis took most of it.”
Ally’s heart squeezed in her chest. The thought of a very young Travis taking abuse from his father made her clench her fist in indignation. She’d had a chaotic upbringing and a humiliating one, but she suspected her sad childhood with her alcoholic mother had probably been nothing compared to what Travis had suffered at the hands of a madman. “What about their mother?”
Asha hesitated for moment before answering. “I don’t know, but from what Kade has told me, I’m not sure she was all there either. She was terrified of her husband, and did nothing to protect the kids.”
“So they were all completely screwed,” Ally mused aloud.
“Speaking of getting screwed, how are you holding up after what happened with your lowlife fiancé?” Asha asked in a hushed tone. “Are you really okay, Ally?”
Ally nodded at Asha as she toyed with her pasta. “I am. I have some things to clear up, but I’ll survive.”
“I hope karma bites him in the ass,” Asha said venomously. “You’d tell me if you needed anything, right?”
Ally probably wouldn’t, because she rarely asked for anything from anyone, but to make Asha feel better, she answered, “Yes. I’m okay. I just need to clean up the mess and move on. Some of it’s my fault. I was so blinded by my plans and what I wanted for our future that I never saw the signs that he was a snake.”
“I’m so sorry you were hurt, Ally. But I’m glad you didn’t marry him. Since you’re on vacation next week, do you want to meet up with Maddie, Mia, Kara and me? We do lunch once a week. It’s a lot of fun. We all complain about what protective pain in the asses our husbands are, and then we sigh over the sweet things they do.” Asha laughed softly. “But we could focus more on the man-bashing for you.”
Ally laughed. “I’d like that. I haven’t had much time for friends in the last few years.” She hadn’t had any time, but she wanted to. Although she wasn’t as well acquainted with the other women, she liked them all. Sliding out of her seat, she grabbed up her purse to take out some money for her lunch. “I suppose I should get back to the office so Travis can give me his daily lecture and hire me back again.”
Asha got to her feet and grasped Ally’s wrist. “My treat. It’s your birthday.” Asha handed the waiter the small folder filled with cash.
“Thanks, Asha. And thank Kade for the flowers in case I don’t see him today. They’re beautiful.” She hugged the slender Indian woman, grateful that the two of them had become friends.
“I have no doubt you can handle Travis. You always do. I think you’re the only one who can,” Asha replied, squeezing Ally before letting her go.
Ally wanted to tell Asha that her skills at handling Travis were a little off lately, ever since he’d thrown her off-balance with his odd behavior and panty-melting kisses. But she simply bade her friend good-bye, agreeing to call her about lunch the following week, and drove back to the Harrison building.
She breathed a sigh of relief as she entered the office and found Travis gone, apparently out at meetings for the rest of the day according to the brief note he’d left for her. She was grateful for the reprieve, and tried to deny to herself that she was also slightly disappointed. How sick was that? She actually missed getting one of his lectures?