Page 120 of Rare Blend
I don’t have to wait long because less than five minutes later he’s walking in, looking as nervous as I feel. Travis has always been the kind of guy that wears every emotion on his face.
He drops his head low and holds my stare for a beat, his jaw twitching. His throat clears loudly. “Thanks for agreeing to see me.”
I’m silent for a stretch, watching him sweat bullets as he awkwardly stands in the middle of my office with his hands tucked in his pockets.
“You didn’t give me much of a choice, showing up here unannounced.”
He approaches slowly, like a timid animal. “Mind if I sit?”
My head nods slightly. “Sure.”
He breathes a strained sigh and sinks down in the seat across from me. “You’re probably wondering why I’m here.”
I regard him with a flat expression. “I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“Laura and I called it quits.”
Some of the rigidness in my spine dissolves, either from shock or maybe it’s…empathy.
“Oh.” My head nods in slow motion. “Sorry to hear that.”
He scoffs with the shake of his head, a dull smile resting on his face. “I bet you are.”
“I’m serious.”
His jaw tightens, face twisting in disbelief. “Why do you always have to be so goddamn mature, taking the high road? Fucking hit me, man. Scream at me. I deserve it.”
“I’m not going to do that. Maybe if this shit happened in high school, but we’re not stupid teenagers.”
He groans and then leans forward to rest his elbows on his thighs while his head hangs heavy. “Everything is so fucked up right now. I don’t know why I came here. I guess I thought it’d feel better to add some physical pain to this nightmare, but you won’t even do me a solid and punch me.” He looks up at me, and the corner of his lip quirks.
I smile back, and for a brief moment, it feels like we’re friends again, just like we used to be. But the moment is fleeting. Too much has changed for us to go back. I don’t hate him, and I don’t wish him any ill will, but I can’t trust him either. There’s no place in my life for that kind of relationship anymore, even if I once thought of him as family.
“You’ll be fine. My fist in your face isn’t going to dull that pain. You have to deal with it and move on.”
He nods and stands to leave. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for what we did—what I did. There’s no excuse. She was just the first person, besides you and your family, that looked at me like I was worth something, and I let it get to me, let it turn me into someone I hardly recognize. If I could take it back, I would.”
With that, he steps out, and a pressure that’s been weighing on me eases. I wait for Tawny to come barging in and badger meabout why he came by, but for once in her life, she minds her business.
“How goes it, son?” my dad calls to me as I’m walking to the parking lot.
“You do realize it’s almost freezing, right?” I ask, barely containing my laughter at his ridiculous outfit consisting of a Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts.
As he walks closer, his arms open wide, gesturing at his clothes. “I overdid it with buying Hawaiian shirts when we were on vacation and told your mother I wouldn’t let them go to waste.” His shoulders lift in a shrug. “Besides, I think she kind of likes them.” He waggles his brows, and I scrunch my face at what he’s implying.
Trying to change the subject, I let out a sigh. “Did you need something?”
Ever since he retired, he’s been pretty checked out in terms of the business. There wasn’t a transition of any kind, and when I do ask questions, his answers are vague. He’s always happy to talk about the business side of things, but never in any way that’s helpful.
“I was coming by to see you, but it’s clear you’re heading out. I can come by another day.”
I’m dying to get home to Marisa, but this is the first time my dad has randomly dropped by, and I have to know the reason.
“I have time now.”
We head back in, settling in the tasting room since it’s closed and vacant.
“What did you want to talk about?”
