Not a Chance(49)

Travis led Kristen to where several couples were dancing to the music playing in the background and he danced with her, holding her close. Arden turned and stared down into her wine.

"Do you want to dance?" Nick asked, clearly not interested.

"Not really," Arden said. "I think I'm going to get something to eat."

She stood and walked toward the refreshment table. But she wasn't hungry and actually felt slightly sick. She kept on walking through the back into the kitchen. It was quiet and she was alone and so she sat on a stool and cried.



Travis held Kristen close as they danced. "You've got Brody's attention, Kris," he whispered in her ear.

"Really?" Poor thing sounded so hopeful.

Travis closed his eyes against a slight twinge in his chest. "Yeah. Is that what you want?"

She leaned back and looked up at him. "You know it is, Travis."

She felt soft and warm and lush in his arms. "Why don't you forget him and come home with me tonight."

She gazed up at him. Then she glanced back to see if Brody was watching. Which he was. Glaring and drinking a glass of wine. "If he doesn't ask me..."

"Kris, I hate to ruin this storybook romance you and me got going, but I'm getting kind of tired of being your fallback plan."

Kristen rested her cheek on his shoulder. "I know. And I've been thinking a lot about this. I'm going to give Brody one more chance. After that, I'm done."

Travis sighed and nuzzled the top of her head with his cheek. "So I get to live the rest of my life with you knowing I was your second choice?"

"Please, Travis. Don't act like this is something it isn't. Besides, am I not your second choice, too?"

He squeezed her tighter, getting that pre-break-up feeling and not wanting to go through with it. If he lost Kristen he lost everything.

"You're in love with Arden. You're feeling heartbroken and alone. When you get through that you'll feel better."

He held her and felt her put her arms around his neck. "I love you, Kristen. I always have."

"You love Arden."

"Yeah, but that's stupid love. What you and I have...that's smart love."

Kristen laughed and Travis kissed her neck, wanting her desperately right then.

"Just come home with me, Kris. Forget about him and pick me."

He felt her squeeze him tighter and he closed his eyes, waiting for the rejection.

"If I don't give him one more chance, I'll always wonder..."

He pushed her away by the shoulders and held her in front of him. "Marry me, Kristen."

"What?"

"I'm serious. Marry me. I'm proposing. Right now. Say yes right now and you never have to be heartbroken again. We'll have any kind of wedding you want. We'll go on a great honeymoon...anywhere you want. And babies...we'll have babies and we'll raise them together and grow old together and just be happy for the rest of our lives. Please, Kristen. I want this. Tell me you want it too. Tell me you'll be my wife."

Tears were spilling down her face, making her blue eyes sparkle. He held his breath and touched her cheek. She started to shake her head and he grabbed her face between both hands as though he could stop it from happening.

"Travis, you mean so much to me..."

He felt sick. "I'm not going to be waiting on the other side, Kris," Travis said. His voice quivered and he wondered if he was doing the right thing. "If you decide you have to give him one more shot...I'm not going to wait. This is my offer. Right now. Now or never."

Kristen sobbed into her hands. She looked up at him. "I'm sorry, Travis. I really do love you. But I'd rather be alone, if that's my only choice, than to live always wondering what might have been. I'm so sorry." She turned and walked away.

Travis stood there staring at the space in front of him. Then he realized he was alone in the middle of a crowded room. He looked up and saw Brody watching Kristen as she walked out the front door. Brody's gaze swung around to Travis. Travis stared at him, his fists balled up, just praying he would come over here and start a fight. But he didn't. He did the smart thing and went after Kristen.

In his mind he recited the prayer he'd been saying for years whenever he thought about taking a drink. Then he felt a feminine hand on his back. It was Shannon. He instinctively smiled. She stood on her toes and whispered in his ear. "Arden's crying in the kitchen."

Travis turned around and faced her. "Better tell her fucking fiancé, then."

Shannon pressed her lips together and arched one brow. "If that's how you choose to use the information." Then she walked away.

Travis hesitated a few moments. He looked to his right and saw that Nick was deep in conversation with some other people. So Travis turned left and went into the kitchen. He stopped in the doorway and leaned against it, his hands in his pockets.