Page 29 of Slide
“Yes, sir.” Travis wasn’t sure what to make—or how to get out—of this conversation. He felt a little uncomfortable discussing her with people. He liked her. Was getting to know her, in and out of bed. She was kind and smart and those smiles that were all for him? Yeah, he could get used to those.
“Treat her right, son. And fair. She’s been through enough. I know your family lost some money, same as most everyone else in town. Wasn’t her fault.”
“I’m sure she’d like to know you and Mrs. Norman aren’t put out with her.”
“Oh she knows. She bought some of that jam earlier this week. We talked a little. She tried to apologize for things she didn’t do. Poor thing. Could use a couple more friends.”
Travis agreed and if he didn’t know better, he’d swear Mr. Norman was trying to give him some sort of blessing for either befriending Bella … or something. He wasn’t sure. He nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Well, you go on back to work and I’ll be seein’ you in the morning.”
“How long will you and Mrs. Norman be gone?” Travis asked.
“No time limit. Gregory will be working the stand.” Gregory was the Normans’ son. He worked the main farm, located several miles outside town.
“Great. I haven’t seen him in a few weeks.” Travis waved and hurried back to the garage, still trying to puzzle out the conversation.
“You get anything good?” Miles asked when Travis entered the bay.
“Jam and I think, permission to date Bella.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yeah, it was weird.” Confusing was more like it. “I’m glad to be back over here.”
“Is that something you want, Travis?”
Travis sighed, mentally kicking himself. “Don’t start, Miles. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“Naw, man, I’m serious. No bullshit, no fighting. Do you want to do more than, you know …?”
Did he? When he was with her, he’d sell his left nut to stay with her every day forever. When they were apart, he still had that feeling, but he had doubts as well. Not about her, specifically, but doubts about wanting to deal with the shit they’d have to put up with from Miles, customers. Hell, he didn't know how his parents would feel once they found out. For all he knew, they already had.
“Well?” Miles prompted.
“I’m not sure. Part yes, part I’m not sure.”
“But there’s not a no in there, is there? You like her, more than for the sex, don’t you? Wow, man. She want you for more?”
“I have no idea on that one. We haven’t talked about it.” He’d said their affair duration was negotiable and they’d decided on today for her car. He didn’t know exactly what that left for them to do.
“I saw her today. When I went to grab lunch, she was coming out of Mr. Landers’ office.”
“What the hell was she doing there?”
“Dunno. She was with Mrs. Cleary. They were both smiling so I guess nothing bad happened. Could be it had something to do with her brother.”
“Could be,” Travis agreed. He was curious. Same as he’d been curious about her absentmindedness yesterday when she’d started for home instead of waiting for him. Did that have something to do with being in the town lawyer’s office? He didn’t want to speculate. She could’ve walked there with Mrs. Cleary on some of her business.
“I don’t know how I’d feel about you dating her. I know, I know,” Miles said, holding up his hands in front of him when Travis shot him a warning look. “I know it’s none of my business, but I don’t trust her yet. Not sure I’ll ever trust anyone from that family again.”
“Good to know.”
“Just trying to be honest, man. I won’t dog her, but I can’t say I’ll ever like her.”
Travis grinned. “I don’t know that she’d care either way what you thought, except for how it affected you and me.”
Miles grinned back. “She probably wouldn’t.”
