Arden tried not to glare at her, but when Jenny's smile dropped, she realized she'd failed. She sighed and turned back to the dishwashing. "Yeah. He's great."
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know. I just thought...I thought no one would like him. I mean, he's a hick mechanic with a deadbeat dad and a deadbeat brother and a whole train wreck of a life. I'm just surprised that he's getting along with everyone so easily."
Jenny furrowed her brow. "Aren't you happy about that? He seems to be fitting in nicely. I would think that would be a relief."
Arden shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe it was just too soon to bring him here. Maybe I'm just not ready for this."
"Well, you did only break up with Nick last week."
Arden shook her head. "This is nothing to do with him. I was over him years ago. I only stayed with him because it seemed the sensible thing to do."
"And being with Travis isn't sensible?"
Arden smiled, then, her hands pausing their work. "No. Not sensible at all."
"Why be with him, then?"
Arden stared into the space in front of her. "He's a good man. He makes me laugh. We could just talk and talk forever. He's amazing in bed." Arden stopped and cringed. "Sorry, mom," she said over her shoulder.
"That's okay, dear. I didn't hear anything."
Arden knew that she had, but that was okay.
"I think all of those things sound very sensible, Arden," Jenny said. "It sounds like you're in love with him."
Arden shook her head. "It's too soon to talk about that."
"Arden?"
She turned to see Travis standing in the entryway between the kitchen and dining room. "Yes?" she asked.
"Could I have a moment of your time?"
"Sure." She dried her hands and then walked in the opposite direction out into the hallway and then into the den. She turned, knowing Travis would be there.
He stared into her eyes for a moment, frowning.
She laughed. "Why so serious?"
He swallowed like he was nervous. "Arden...is this...is this the end for us? Already?"
"What? No!" she grabbed him and pulled him into an embrace.
He clutched her to him tightly and she felt every nerve ending in her body awaken. "You don't want to break up with me?" he asked.
"No! God, no, Travis! Why would you think that?"
He laughed and pushed her away, holding her at arms length. "Because back there you pretty much seemed to hate me."
She shook her head. "I don't hate you. I just don't understand why my family seems to love you so much."
He dropped his hands and looked away, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable," he said.
She stood straighter. "What? How have I offended you this time."
He laughed and shoved his hand through his hair. "You're just in this for the sex, aren't you? I mean, not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just, I thought we had a lot more potential than that."
"I am not just in this for the sex. You don't know me at all. Besides, the sex isn't that great," she lied.
He laughed for a split second before all traces of humor vanished. "What?" he said.
"You heard me." She lifted her chin.
"You lie. You're not that good of an actress."
She tried not to grin, but couldn't stop herself.
He smiled, clearly relieved. "Don't scare me like that, okay?"
She shook her head and looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry. The sex is awesome. You're amazing."
She felt his arms go around her. He kissed the top of her head. She wrapped her arms around his waist and splayed her hands over his strong back. She loved the feel of him pressed against her, his body so powerful. She nuzzled her cheek against his chest and inhaled deeply the clean, musky scent of him.
"Arden," he said softly. She stepped back and looked up at him. "Don't ever treat me like that again. Like you did with your family earlier today."
She swallowed. It galled her to be given orders like this, but she knew she'd done wrong. She nodded. "I'm sorry," she said.
"You don't respect me, Arden."
"I treat you with respect..."
"That's not what I'm talking about. And by the way, no, you don't. But I'm saying, you don't have any respect for where I come from or what I do for a living or even just who I am. You were embarrassed to even be seen with me today and the fact that your family didn't treat me like the servant class upset you."
"I don't know what you're talking about..."
"I realize there's an adjustment period in any relationship. And God knows I'd forgive worse sins than this just because I love you and want you so much. But nothing for us will last unless you get this worked out. So please, please get through this. Because I want us to be forever."