Page 26 of Willow Vale

“As scary as it was, it was also the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Because I have River now.”

“You have River now,” Travis said softly, still leaning against the wall as a tenderness swept across his face.

I had no idea why I was suddenly pouring my heart out to him. I should have stopped. Kept it all inside. I never told anyone how those first few months really changed me. How it affected how I thought and slept. Howeverythingchanged for me.

Still smiling, I said, “My fears never really left me. Even now when he’s running around like a wild child and happier than ever, I still worry I’m going to do something to ruin it. That I’ll disappoint him.”

He shook his head. “From the moment we ran into each other, all you’ve talked about is River. And that’s not a bad thing. It’s clear to me that everything you do, you do for him. If that isn’t a good mother, then I don’t know what is. Even if you do disappoint him, River will love you no matter what, Delilah.”

A good mother.

Not sister. Not guardian.Mother.

Clearing my throat, I rushed out, “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I said all?—”

“You don’t realize how incredible you are, do you?” he asked, cutting me off.

“I…” My words caught in my throat at the intensity in his gaze. I knew he meant every word he said. My cheeks warmed at his admiration, loving and hating how honest he could be when I least expected it. “Thank you, Travis.”

I met his gaze as he murmured, still rooted to the spot while feeling a little too close. As if he were standing a breath away and not a few feet. “Thank you for sharing that story with me.”

We were both pulled out of our conversation when our phones buzzed at the same time.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and saw that Amelia responded to my text. I read her message and froze at the same time Travis murmured something under his breath about his parents always meddling. Amelia was inviting me and River for dinner on Sunday with the whole family.

The whole Adler family.

When I told Travis as much he said with a sigh, “I wouldn’t bother trying to get out of it,” then pushed off the door and walked my way. “If you thought I was stubborn, just try to tell Ameliano.The woman doesn’t know the word.”

“How could I forget? She’s the one you got that stubborn streak from. It definitely wasn’t from Desmond.”

We shared a chuckle as we walked back toward the front of the bar. My break was over before I knew it, too lost in Travis to think about looking at the time at all. Before we rounded the corner though, I placed a hand on his elbow to stop him. Travis turned and faced me with an arched brow. He let me gather the courage to find my words and when they finally bubbled up, I said what I felt deep in my heart.

“It’s good that we can be friends again, right?”

Travis’s jaw ticked but the chime of the door of The Rusty Pint swinging open interrupted whatever he was about to say. We headed out to the floor in time to spot none other than Travis’s sister walking in.

CHAPTER 12

Travis

“Wren.”The moment I spotted my little sister, I rounded the bar and pulled her into a big hug. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Hey, big brother.” Wren laughed out, patting my back as I let her go to give her a once over. Her honey blonde hair was longer than it had been the last time I saw her, and she was wearing a baby blue button up along with her Wranglers and the boots Dad bought her before she set out for Montana. “Don’t tell me you missed me that much? It’s only been a few months.”

“Long enough.” I muttered. I had to admit my little sister leaving home wasn’t a feeling I got used to. I suspected if Finn left home, I’d feel the same strange absence.

Wren said, “I stopped by to see Mom and Dad first, and they told me you’d be here terrorizing your customers, threatening them toget a drink or get the hell out.” She did a shit job at imitating my voice. “You know, the usual.”

I merely grunted in response to her teasing.

“How long are you in town for?”

“About that—” She yelped as Finn snuck up behind herand threw his arm around her shoulders. He put her in a headlock for a second before she punched him good in the ribs, making him release her with a groan. Her smile was as smug as my little brother’s when he was being a little shit disturber. When they were together they were quite the pair, and a pain in my ass. Back then I was always wrangling them into behaving. I doubted that would change no matter how old they were.

“What the hell are you doing here and why am I only finding out now?” Finn asks with a huge smile.

“I’ve got to keep you on your toes. It’s more fun that way.” Wren playfully made to punch him, and he dodged before putting his fists up. I rolled my eyes as they started this stupid habit they’ve always had when they were kids—sparring every chance they got—and it usually ended whenever Dad or I stepped in to stop them. I bet one punch from either of the Adler twins now would send a grown man straight to the hospital.

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