#cardswearedealt

[bootyshortsjacob]

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE HACKEARNEY FIC. Definitely need to reread it 😩😩

“Did you want to leave?”

The table goes stunningly silent after he asks and Travis – while having had no wine – looks at the bottle as if it’s responsible for him asking that question. Right after it leaves his lips, he looks as if he wishes he’d never asked. As if it’s…shameful to have asked.

But Laura doesn’t think of it that way. If anything, it makes her see the young Travis still at the heart of him. The sweet, kind one who was always so awkward and shy and wanting, desperately wanting, someone to care about him. It makes her heart ache as she admits the truth, “No, Travis. I didn’t.”

He looks down and she gets the impression that he’s doing his very best not to show any emotion at her confession. But she sees right through it. Sees his relief, his pleasure, his endless hope and she pushes it one step further, “Especially not after what…what you said to me.”

Because I love you.

The words hang in the air between them. An old memory for him, a fresh one for her.

There’s nothing you can say to me that will turn me away, nothing you can do – other than that. Say you don’t love me and I’ll do the right thing. The thing I…I think you want me to do. Tell me you don’t love me and I’ll stop.

“I see. Um. Okay. Good to know.” Travis picks up his wine glass and drains it in one go. Laura licks her lips, wonders if she should say even more.

The Cards We Are Dealt, Chapter 13. From A Full Deck series