Page 125 of Last Light

I smile at him again. “I’m fine. What happened to the dog?”

“He jumped up a little while ago when someone opened the door. Probably had to go out.”

I sit up and look around. Some people are still sleeping, but others are starting to stand up and get dressed. A small group in one corner appears to be preparing food.

Maybe this will be my world now.

Surrounded by all these people.

Travis sits up too, and his features twist as he swings his head back over to face me. “I shoulda got up earlier.”

“Why?”

“People lookin’. Wonderin’ what I’m doin’ sleepin’ with you.”

I glance around and realize he’s right. Most people aren’t outright staring, but I catch quite a few covert observations.

It’s inevitable.

We’re new to the group.

And Travis and I are not supposed to be together.

Travis is clearly very uncomfortable about it. He mutters, “They’re all thinkin’ I’m some sort of perv.”

“I’m sure they’re not thinking that.” I think it’s more likely they’re judging me—some silly girl trying to take a good man away from a woman who needs him—but I don’t say so. I just give Travis a rueful smile as he stands up and stretches.

He doesn’t hang around talking to me, and I can hardly blame him. He doesn’t want everyone to think we’re a couple.

I’ve got to do better today.

I’m not going to be clingy or needy.

Travis isn’t mine, so I have to make sure not to act like he is.

***

PACKING UP AND GETTINGready to leave is slow going with so many people. I find the whole thing rather frustrating, but patience has never been my strongest virtue.

I pass the time by making sure I’m not in Travis’s vicinity so he won’t think I’m lurking around him, hoping for attention. It’s actually harder than I expected since he always seems to end up nearby me.

But I do my best, and I make a point of chatting with everyone I can except him.

I’m waiting outside with some of the others, trying not to make faces about how long it’s taking to get on the road, when Mack comes over to talk to me.

I smile and greet him pleasantly. He, Anna, and the others are going to be traveling with us for at least a day until our routes diverge. I haven’t yet made a decision on whether or not I should go with them when they part ways from the larger group.

Mack frowns at me. “What’s the deal with giving a man the cold shoulder?”

I’m so surprised by the question that I gape for a moment. “Have I been giving you the cold shoulder?”

“Not me.” Mack nods over his shoulder, where I know Travis is fiddling with the engine of the Jeep. “Him.”

“I’m not giving him the cold shoulder!”

“Could’ve fooled me. Haven’t you been avoiding him all morning?”

“I’m not avoiding him!” I’m half laughing and half outraged since I’m not really sure if Mack is teasing or not. I don’t know him well enough yet to tell the difference.

---