Page 43 of Willow Vale

“What does she want now?”

I gave him a wry smile. “What do you think?”

“Did you?” I knew what he was asking.

“I didn’t, and even if I did, I wouldn’t give her a single penny when I can barely survive as it is. Not that she’d care about any of that.” I couldn’t hide the frustration in my voice if I tried. Travis noticed it too.

“It’s not your responsibility to help her, Delilah. It never has been,” he murmured, turning to face me fully. Staring me down again. Unravelling me. Pulling me in. Making the bustling world around us along with the twang of the guitar playing a rendition of a Waylon Jennings song, disappear among the warm lights casting a glow in the room.

“I know that, but it doesn’t make it easy. She’s still my mother, isn’t she?” I finally said, breathing the words out.

His eyes shuttered and for a second, I thought I saw sadness flash across them. I watched with bated breath as his lips parted to speak when two hands with bright pink manicured nails slapped the counter, startling me out of my bones. Travis didn’t even flinch. He only looked incredibly annoyed as he slowly tore his eyes away from me before directing a flat look toward the beautiful woman who came in with the pink cowgirl group taking shots, leaning over the counter with a bright smile.

He greeted her. “Amanda.”

“Travis, I’ve been looking everywhere for you! I thought you were partaking in the roping like the other guys. You could have at least called me so we could meet up here if you were working.” Amanda pouted, twirling a long strand of her hair with her fingers, playing with the ends that looked to have been styled into loose curls. Her cheeks were tinged pink, and her eyes were surrounded by pink and blue glitter. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Travis said something I didn’t catch because I was too stunned by the fact that he leaned a little closer, meeting her halfway as he gave her his undivided attention. I was vaguely aware that he was lecturing her on bringing her friends from the city into town to cause trouble. All I could focus on was the way he was talking to her. As if he’d known her for a long time.

Amanda giggled, bright and airy, as she reached a finger out and ran it down his chest, tracing patterns across his black t-shirt.

My throat dried, nearly choking me. Travis wasn’t flirting back or smiling, but he wasn’t shying away from her touch either. Almost as if he was used to the way she ran her handover his chest. As if she’d done it a dozen times. And she’d admitted that she waslookingfor him.

Because they were together? Dating?

Why do you care? It’s not like you’re together.

“Can we get another round of shots at the table? Then Ipromisewe’ll be out of your hair before any of us decide we want to take you home for the night.” Amanda winks and my lip curled.

“If that’s a promise you’re intending to keep, then fine. Drinks are on me.” He said dryly before he tapped the counter and turned around, going to the shelves and reaching for the tequila bottle when he spotted me standing there like a deer caught in headlights.

I tried to blink away the jumbled-up emotions I was currently feeling before he could decipher what they meant. There was also this bitter feeling in the pit of my stomach that made me feel sick.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I gingerly turned away, giving him my back as I hurried to Saul just as he waved me over, and got him and his buddies a couple of beers. Behind me, I could hear Amanda’s airy laugh at whatever Travis must have said. It was as if he suddenly became the funniest man to walk the earth.

Yeah, right.

“Funny, my ass,” I grumbled as I popped the cap off a beer bottle, making it bounce across the counter.

“What’d you say, Lila girl?” Saul asked me, his bald head shimmering beneath the light shining down on him. Based on the confused look he was giving me I was relieved he hadn’t heard what I’d said.

“N-nothing!” I said before turning around in time to spot Jake coming around the corner. “Switch with me?” I asked—okay,demanded—startling him with my sudden outburst.Desi appeared next with a tub of clean glasses, frowning at me curiously.

Jake arched a brow. “Uh…sure? But?—”

“Thanks.” I swiped the tray from his hand and hurried out onto the floor to wait on tables. I ignored Travis and Amanda as I shouldered my way around him.

“Lila? You okay?” Desi asked as she followed me, stopping me with a hand on my shoulder.

“Yep! Great, I’m so great,” I rambled with a smile plastered on my face.

Desi cringed. “Yeah…you have to work on your poker face, babe.”

If only she knew how hard I was trying to do just that.

The bitter feeling in my chest only amplified the longer my shift went on. Putting distance between me and Travis did little to brighten my mood, which only bothered me more. I couldn’t even bring myself to genuinely smile at Wren when she came in to hang out with her brother at the pool table.

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