He groaned. “Christ. Why is Sid always out of town when this shit happens? You’re so going to barf later.”
“Am not,” she protested, before she seemed to consider the possibility. “Or, maybe I will.” She shrugged.
Travis groaned.
“I hope that’s not the case for you.” Caden leaned down to murmur in Danny’s ear. “I have plans for you.” He pulled her closer and delivered a soft kiss to her lips.
For the first time in a long time, I found myself yearning for someone to hold me. To kiss me.
The guys hopped in the front, leaving the three of us to chatter away in the back the entire drive to my house.
“Em, we are so doing this again!” Sam cried as we pulled up in front. May’s house was dark, though knowing what a night owl she was, I suspected she’d only turned in recently.
“I’d really like that,” I agreed with a grin, opening the door, surprised when Travis did the same.
“I’ll walk you in,” he informed me.
I looked up at him, wide-eyed. “Um, you don’t have to. I can manage,” I stammered.
“I’ll walk you in,” he reiterated.
The prospect of time alone with him, even if it was only a few moments, was enough for me to lose my damn composure. And I’d been doing so well, too.
Well, aside from almost face-planting on the sidewalk.
He followed me around the side of the house into the dark backyard. “Where are we going?” he asked turning the flashlight on his phone on, lighting our way.
“My cottage is just back here.” I pointed toward the dark patch of trees in the distance.
“You should keep a flashlight with you,” he replied gruffly.
“Yeah well, I’m usually home before dark.” I winced.
Way to broadcast how pathetic I was.
To make matters worse, I tripped over a root, nearly falling on my face in front of him for the second time that night.
“Careful,” he clipped, grabbing my upper arm to steady me.
“You’re very growly,” I commented absently.
“Growly?” he demanded, but I could swear he fought a smile.
“Growly,” I affirmed. “That’s okay, though. You have soft insides,” I added, clapping a hand over my mouth a second later. “Sorry, I don’t usually drink much. My filter seems to have deserted me.” I groaned.
He looked over at me, lifting a brow. “Your filter?”
“You know, the part of your brain that tells you to shut the hell up,” I explained.
He chuckled. “Ah yes, the filter.” He nodded. “What do you mean by soft insides?” he asked as my cottage came into view.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure you’re super tough,” I assured him, receiving another deep chuckle. “But the way you look at Hudson….” I shrugged. “Your eyes get all soft, and it’s like he lights up your world. And now that I seem like a total creep… I’m just going to stop talking.” I bit my lip.
“You don’t seem like a creep,” he assured me as I put my key in the lock and opened the door, unleashing the exuberance that was Able.
He bounded around our legs excitedly.
Travis bent down to grab his scruff and my heart melted that much more watching him give my dog some love. He looked up at me. “What’s his name?”