Not a Chance(95)

"Sure you can. Look at Emma."

"If she's so great, why'd you break up with her?"

Dustin slammed his mouth shut.

Travis chuckled. "She scared you off with all her independence and selflessness."

"You don't know anything about it."

Travis sighed. "You're right. Look, I think I'm going to fall back asleep. Wake me when the baby gets here, okay?"

"Sure thing."

Travis closed his eyes. He was so grateful for the pain in his stomach and the overwhelming weariness. If not for those things, he'd have to think about Arden. And thinking about Arden would surely break his heart.



Travis had been home from the hospital for two days. He hadn't gone to Arden nor had she come to him. His abdomen still hurt if he did anything stupid like lift heavy things or roughhouse with his brothers. But other than that he was healing well. He'd poured all of his energy into working at the shop and taking care of Emily. Sometimes Emily would sleep, though, and he would be forced to feel that tightness in his chest, that heartbreak. He'd find himself staring at her and wishing Arden were with him to enjoy her.

Finally he'd decided it was time to confront Arden. He called her house and found out she was at her classroom. On his lunch hour, he climbed in the tow truck and drove to the school. He sat in the truck for a few moments just thinking. The lot was dotted with a few cars. He was parked next to Arden's. He wondered if he could just leave her a note. She probably wouldn't care. But he needed to do this the right way.

He got out, pulling his coat tighter around him. He found her classroom easily enough. Arden sat behind a desk. She wore a black pencil skirt and white blouse. Her hair was pulled back in a low bun. She had glasses on. Travis smiled. He'd never seen her in glasses. This must have been deliberate on her part, because when she looked up and saw him, she snatched the glasses off and shoved them into her top desk drawer.

"Leave 'em on," Travis said. "I'll lock the door and we can do it on your desk. I always did think glasses were sexy."

She smiled and stood. "I've missed you," she said. "Did you want to have lunch?"

He wanted to ask her if she was crazy, but he refrained. Instead he looked around. "I had Mrs. Steiner in this classroom."

Arden furrowed her brow. "I don't see how that's possible. She's your age. If not younger."

Travis grinned. "That's not what I meant."

Arden stared at him for a moment. Slowly she figured it out and then rolled her eyes in disgust. "You make me sick."

Travis grinned and lifted his brows.

"And she's married, Travis."

Travis felt his smile fade. "Yeah. Wasn't one of my proudest moments. Anyway, if you ever see Jess Steiner spit and snarl in my general direction, that's why."

"She told him?"

Travis nodded. He'd lost interest in the conversation now. He was touching her face with his fingertips and remembering how good she made him feel. A silence dragged out between them that Travis wished would never end because then they could just stay like this forever. In limbo. No good feelings. No bad feelings.

But Arden was catching on. "I guess you want to talk," she said. "About why I didn't come see you in the hospital."

"Oh, so you did hear about that?"

She got that superior expression on her face. "Travis, please. If you want to talk, let's go somewhere and talk."

He dropped his hands from her face. "I didn't come to talk. I came to break up with you, Princess."

"What?" she took a step back.

"Don't act surprised, Arden. It's probably what you wanted anyway."

"It's not," she said. She seemed mildly disappointed, but that was all. "I thought we were having a good time."

"Yeah? And I thought you loved me."

She looked at him, her eyes cold. "I never said I loved you."

It felt worse than being stabbed. At least after being stabbed he went into shock. This he actually had to feel right now. He swallowed and felt his muscles tense. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Now that I think about it, I never did hear you say you love me."

She nodded.

He shrugged and looked at his feet.

"You don't even want to talk about this?" she asked. "Hear my side of the story?"

He met her eyes. She'd erected this colossal invisible wall to prevent herself from being hurt. "That won't be necessary," Travis said. "I think I know why you didn't come see me. Bottom line, it doesn't matter. I can't be with you after this."

Arden shrugged and turned back to her desk. "I'm sorry it ended this way. It was nice of you to come and tell me face to face." She picked up a pencil and wrote something on a piece of paper.