Page 29 of His Fractured Girl

“Baby.” Travis’s voice is at my back. I know he’s concerned, but he doesn’t need to be. I shift back, looking toward the boy I’m in love with, knowing that he’s worried.

“I’m okay.” I nod. “More than okay.”

He tips his chin, pulling me into his chest. “I’ve always got you, babe.”

I know he does, and that’s the reason I love him so much.

“I love you.” I smile up at him.

“What’d we miss?” I hear Torrin’s voice. “And why is my girl crying?” She comes rushing over.

I wipe my eyes. “Torre, I’d like you to meet Presley. Presley, this is Torrin. And the big brute behind her is her brother Lukas.” I never know whether I’m supposed to introduce them as step-siblings or not, but they’re so close, it doesn’t seem necessary. Though, I’m still pissed at what he said about my girl.

“ThePresley?” Torre looks to me, and I nod. “It’s nice to meet you. I um…” She looks nervous. “I’ve heard um…so much about you.”

“And I’ve heard so much about you guys from Willow.” Presley smiles. “This is my boyfriend, Kyler.”

Finally, I take a look at the guy who’s been standing at her back, concerned for his girl. He’s really handsome. Much better looking than Maddock. And I’m so relieved that she’s moved on. She deserved better. And it looks like she found it.

“It’s nice to meet you, Kyler.” I smile up at him. “This is my boyfriend, Travis.”

The guys greet each other, and the awkwardness slowly starts to dissipate.

“You guys want to come in? I’m just about to grill up some burgers,” Travis offers.

Everyone makes their way into the house, and while they’re busy getting acquainted, going out back to the grill, Presley and I take as seat in the living room, getting caught up on everything that’s happened since we were locked in the walls of hell. It’s crazy to think that all this time I’d assumed she was still with Maddock. It turns out she’s not friends with any of them anymore. She saw through all their bullshit and transferred schools. She wanted out too.

“Hey, babe.” I turn to the sound of Travis’s voice. “Would you mind coming with me for just a sec?”

I look to Presley, and she nods. “Go. We have all weekend to catch up. I need to go check in with Kyler, anyway.”

Travis leads me back to his room and shuts the door. He turns and wraps me right in his arms. “I just needed to make sure you were good, baby. That was a lot to take without warning, and you handled it so well. I’m proud of you, babe.”

I’m proud of me too. I didn’t succumb to the panic, and I was able to say the things I’ve wanted to say for so long.

“I can’t describe it, Travis. But I feel like that was the missing piece. I feel like I can move on with my life now and let the past go.” I’m not naïve to the fact that it will always be a part of me, the scars still imprinted in my memory, but they aren’t as dark, and the weight of it doesn’t feel so heavy anymore.

“That makes me really happy to hear, babe. Not that I would’ve let your past stand in our way, but I’m glad you got the closure you needed with her.”

I am too. Until seeing her, I never realized how much I needed it.

“I love you,” I say, looking up at my gorgeous man. If I hadn’t met him, I’d still be the broken flower, hoping for my roots to grow strong so I wouldn’t wither away in my depression. But now I’m blossoming right under his love, feeling like I can conquer the world.

“I hope you love me, because I’m going to marry you one day.”

My entire body grows warm from the impact of his words. That’s twice in one day that I’ve been hit with the feeling of elation.

“Is that so?” I raise my brow, teasing him a little. “That’s a pretty big assumption, Mr. Hunt.”

He tugs me closer. His warm eyes driving the sincerity in with every single word. “It’s not an assumption, pretty girl. It’s a promise.” And knowing that he stands on honesty, I know it’s the truth.

14

Travis

The buzzer sounds and the crowd goes wild. My heart is pounding so hard in my chest, it feels like it’s going to explode. This is the moment I’ve been working for. Winning the championship has been my dream ever since I was a kid, and now I’m going to have the ring to prove I did it. I turn toward the sea of people and start walking to the fifty-yard line where I told my girl to meet me. The cameras are chasing me down, but they won’t get their interviews until I get my girl. When I see Sophie running towards me, I pick up my pace, scooping down and sweeping her right up into my arms.

“You did it, baby! You guys won!” Her beaming smile steals the air from my lungs, adding to the high of this incredible moment. Being able to share this with her is an indescribable feeling. One I won’t ever forget.

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