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  “Travis…” her pleading tone was enough to make him rethink his decision, but there was no other way.

  “Abigail, please go.” He looked at her and there were tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry;” he whispered. He opened her door and couldn’t look at her.

  “Me too;” she disappeared in her room and he slowly closed the door. His heart was heavy in his chest as he stared at the closed door.

  He hit the wall and groaned in agony as he thought about what he did. He knew the only thing stopping him was Todd’s reaction and he hated the fact that if he was to pursue his feelings for Abigail he would lose his friendship. Yet, he worried that if he didn’t pursue something with Abigail he would never feel true happiness. He didn’t know if he was willing to risk that chance. He knocked on her door and took a deep breath. When she opened the door, neither one said a word. He wiped the tears from her eyes and moved closer to her. “I love you Abigail and you are the girl for me.” He moved closer to her and moved away a piece of her hair that had fallen across her eyes. “I am scared, because everything points to the fact that I always have loved you.”

  “What? What about what you said?”

  “I am taking a chance; I don’t want to lose Todd as a friend, but I have to think about my happiness. You are…that happiness, but…do you love me?”

  She slowly nodded. “I love you Travis.”

  He pulled her head closer to him as he kissed her. The passion was even stronger that before as he kicked the door closed and then picked her up into his arms. They continued to kiss as he lowered her onto the bed. They each frantically tore at each other’s clothes.

  She parted and he heard her ragged breathing. “Do you have protection?”

  He pulled away to grab it out of his wallet. Her eyes got big and he shrugged. “I told you, I’m always prepared.” He was glad that he had stopped at the drug store earlier in the day. He leaned down and kissed her. They had the whole night ahead of them and he was going to take it nice and slow. He was finally where he always wanted them to be.

  Chapter 15

  Abigail smiled at Travis. He squinted as he opened his eyes. “It wasn’t a dream?”

  She laughed. “It wasn’t a dream.” She kissed him as he ran his hand along the back of her neck. “Hm…” she pulled away. “This is how I always want to wake up.”

  “So, you don’t regret it?”

  She smiled as she rolled on top of him. “My only regret is that it didn’t happen sooner.” She leaned down and covered her mouth over his. Their kiss was deepening when there was a knock on the door. She looked up and held a finger to her mouth. “They’ll go away.” She kissed him again, but then heard another knock.

  “Abigail, are you in there?”

  She jumped off of him. “What’s he doing here?” She grabbed Travis’s clothes and threw them at him. He took this cue and disappeared into his room. Abigail knew if she wanted a chance to get Todd to change his mind, he couldn’t find them in bed together. “Coming;” she threw on a robe and straightened the bed. When she opened the door she tried to sound natural. “Good morning; what are you doing here?”

  “You and Travis were supposed to meet us for breakfast an hour ago. I was just making sure everything was alright.”

  “Oh;” Abigail looked at her watch. “I didn’t realize it was so late.”

  “I’ll be honest; I saw you leaving with Travis and I wanted to make sure you didn’t need help to hide a dead body.”

  Abigail laughed. “No dead body here; I…”

  “What’s that?”

  Abigail turned to where he was looking. She spotted the tie and winced. “I don’t know where that came from.”

  He entered the room and grabbed the tie that was peeking from underneath the bed. “This is the tie that my men wore. Could you explain why you have Travis’s tie underneath your bed? You didn’t sleep with him; did you?”

  “What makes you think it’s Travis’s?”

  “Well, unless you had Carolyn’s 15 year old brother in here, I think that it’s a pretty good assumption.”

  “Maybe he just took it off; remember you said you saw us leaving together.”

  “Okay; that’s fair, I’ll ask him.” He pounded on Travis’s door. “Travis, open the door.”

  When Travis opened the door Todd looked from him to her. Abigail couldn’t look at him; which was probably her giveaway. “Todd…”

  “Wow; need say no more. Abigail, get dressed.”

  “Todd, let me explain.”

  Abigail saw the anger in his eyes as he looked at Travis. “You say nothing; Abigail, get dressed…NOW!” She wanted to object as she grabbed a change of clothes, but seeing the fire in Todd’s expression she knew it wasn’t wise. The dream had come to an end.

  ***

  Travis looked over at Todd; he was worried about saying anything for fear that Todd would hit him. As Todd continued to tap his foot and look towards the bathroom when Abigail had disappeared, he knew he had to do something. “Todd, I know what a shock this is to find out this way.”

  “Ya think?” He never turned towards him.

  “You wanted us to start getting along.”

  There was silence for a moment as Todd faced him. “I wanted you to get along; I didn’t expect you would sleep with her. You’re my best friend; that should have been clear.”

  “I didn’t expect this to happen, but I realized that I needed this; I love her Todd.”

  Todd raised his eyebrows and started to chuckle. “Sure you do; just like you loved Josephine? Or maybe, she’s like Christina, Bethany, or Sondra? How about that one night you spent with Deidre and you were hammered? Travis you have told me countless times that you were sure it was love. Yet, you’re still single; why is that?”

  “You have a past too; don’t act like Carolyn is the first person you’ve been with. This is different. Abigail sees me in ways that I have never seen myself. I do love her and I don’t expect you to understand that, or even accept that.”

  “You’re right; I don’t understand that. I don’t get how you can say you love her when I have countless recollections of you telling me how lucky you were to be an only child and that Abigail has ruined my social life, because I had to babysit her and she was always hanging around.”

  “You said that?”

  Travis turned towards the bathroom and saw Abigail staring at him. “Abigail, it’s not like that.”

  “Then, what is it like? Last night you told me that you felt like you have always had these feelings. Was that just to get me into bed?”

  “No! Abigail we’ve said it before, both of said a lot of things to each other and behind each other’s backs that we shouldn’t have. We were moving on from that. I meant every word I said to you; every word. I love you Abigail.”

  He waited until she looked at him; the tears in the corner of her eyes made him worry that she had stopped believing him. “I never said the world would be a better place if you weren’t around.”

  “Abigail, I didn’t say that.”

  “I wanted to believe that this could be real, but I was only living in a fantasy. We’re two stupid people that couldn’t control what happened. I can’t go back, but I can control what happens now. Have a good life Travis. I’ll get another ride home.”

  She left the room, leaving him helpless and confused. “Are you happy? Is that what you wanted?” Travis turned to Todd and had to fight not to punch him.

  “I didn’t want any of this to happen, but it’s not my fault. You brought it on yourself. The truth hurts, but if it’s that painful then it obviously isn’t true love.”

  “Yeah; whatever.”

  “Travis, I don’t want this to affect our friendship. As long as Abigail is stopping this silly charade then there’s no reason we can’t just put it behind us.”

  “Now, I know you have gone mad. I can think of several reasons why a friendship has been lost. The most important one being that you don’t think I’m good enough for
your sister. The past is the past and I wanted to break free from it. I was hoping Abigail was the one to help me do that. However, you ruined that chance. Please leave.”

  “Someday you’ll thank me.”

  “Somehow I doubt that.” Todd left his room and Travis sunk down to the bed. It was all unfathomable of how that one amazing night had ended.

  ***

  Abigail stared at her cold eggs. She couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation she walked in on. She didn’t know why she was so hurt. It wasn’t like she didn’t already know about their turbulent past. Just hearing the words out loud from Todd’s mouth, right after an amazing night of love-making, put a whole new pain in the mix.

  When Todd sat down at her table she quickly brushed away the remaining teardrops. “How are you feeling?”

  “Do you really care? How do you think?”

  “Abigail, I only want what's best for you.”

  She snickered. “It doesn’t look that way.”

  “Did you honestly think his intentions were noble?”

  Abigail sadly nodded. “I did, but what’s worse is I still do. You know better than anyone the problems we have gone through. Yet, when it’s just the two of us…”

  “I don’t want to hear anymore. It’s too much being shared. I want you Abigail, but…”

  “If you really feel that way, then you have to accept the consequences. You said that he’s a good guy, but the minutes I started to have feelings for you him you switched. Which is it?”

  “He’s a good guy, but he has had experience and I’m worried that his past will be too much for you to deal with.”

  “Todd, we all have a past.”

  “Do you love him?”

  “Now, that is the question you should have asked me earlier.” She nodded. “I personally would have laughed hysterically if someone would have said that one day I would feel this way, but I do. I love him Todd and I don’t care about his past. He gets me in ways that I don’t even get myself.”

  He chuckled. “That’s what he said about you.”

  “He did?”

  He nodded. “Yep and as much as I still worry about you, you’re not a baby anymore.”

  She smiled. “That’s the first time I have heard you say that.”

  “It takes time for me to realize when I’m wrong and in this case…I suppose I am.”

  “Do you mean that?”

  “As much as it pains me to say; there is only one thing for you to do.”

  Abigail smiled at Todd. They stood up and hugged. “Thank you!”

  “Tell him that if he hurts you, he answers to me.”

  “I will;” Abigail rushed off; she never thought the elevator would open. When she got to his room she pounded on his door. When he didn’t answer she pounded again. “Travis, are you in there?” Still there was no answer. She looked down the hall and spotted the maid exiting a room. “Excuse me? Have you seen the man in this room?”

  “Yes, I have; are you Abigail?”

  “I am.”

  The maid handed her a note on hotel stationery. “He asked me to give you this.”

  “Thank you!”

  She went back to her duties as Abigail read the note:

  Dear Abigail-

  I am sorry for the trouble that I have caused you and your brother. I never wanted to hurt anyone. My parents have been begging me to visit them in Florida and I think that I am going to take them up on it. I have some vacation saved up, so this is the perfect time. I will not contact you, because you need to take this time to repair the rift I’ve caused with you and your brother. Take care Abigail!

  Love,

  Travis

  Chapter 16

  One Month Later

  Abigail washed water over her face and stared at herself in the mirror. She didn’t remember the last time she felt so sick. She exited the bathroom and let out a breath. As she was climbing back into bed she heard her phone ringing. “Hello?”

  “Hey Abby; it’s Chelsea.”

  “Hey Chels;” she slid under the covers and groaned.

  “Is everything alright?”

  “Yeah; I think that I have a flu bug. I’ve been sick for the past couple of days.”

  “That’s too bad. I was just calling to see how you’ve been since the fallout after the wedding.” Abigail had told Chelsea everything that had happened, from Todd’s wedding night she spent with Travis to Todd finding them. Then ending with the fact that Travis had taken off; “have you talked to Travis?”

  “No, but Todd has. They patched things up shortly after Travis went to Florida. I’ve tried calling him, but he seems to be ignoring my calls. It’s for the best; he must have had a change of heart.”

  “He hasn’t even called after they made up?”

  Abigail shook her head and chuckled realizing she couldn’t see her head movement. “Nope; he got back into town a few days ago.”

  “Have you tried going to his house? Maybe he doesn’t know how you still feel.”

  “I considered that, but I’ve been so sick that I haven’t felt like seeing anybody. The funny thing is, I don’t have a fever and I have no other symptoms of the flu. I’m just so nauseous.”

  “You don’t think…nah, nevermind.”

  “Think what?”

  “Is it possible that you’re pregnant?”

  Abigail felt her stomach drop. She never really thought about that. “No, no; that’s impossible.”

  “You used protection?”

  As the realization hit her she covered her mouth. “I gotta go!” She ran to the bathroom and made it just in time. “Oh my gosh;” she moaned as she thought about it. She was late, but too preoccupied to even consider it. It was more than a possibility; it was the only thing that pulled everything together.

  ***

  Travis looked around the living room at the half empty boxes. He had contemplated moving to Florida, but thoughts always went back to Abigail. If he moved to Florida, he knew that it was like running away from his problems. He stared at the phone in his hand and put it back on the table. He wanted to call her, but he was nervous that the time apart had changed her heart and mind.

  He went back to the unpacking the boxes and when was finished it dawned on him. It didn’t matter if her heart was changed. Todd calling him and telling him that he had his blessing was everything he had prayed for. It was easier just knowing.

  He still loved her, more than he could ever imagine. He didn’t want to mess that up. He grabbed his keys and hurried to the door. When he opened it he nearly knocked her over. They stared at each other until he laughed quietly. “When you came back to town this is how we first saw each other. I almost knocked you down.” She smiled and he pulled her into his arms. The soft embrace was everything he had been missing. “You look great.”

  They pulled away and let out a slow breath. “Thank you; so do you.”

  “I thought about calling you, but I was afraid.”

  “Yeah, me too;” she looked as nervous as he felt. “Were you going somewhere?”

  He nodded. “I was coming to see you.”

  “You were?” She looked around him. “May I come in?”

  “Of course; I’m sorry for making you stand on the porch. Abigail, I am so happy to see you.”

  He closed the door and the awkward situation ensued. “How have you been?” She looked around and he watched as she looked at the various boxes in his living room. “Are you moving?”

  “I thought of moving, but I realized that I couldn’t do that.” He closed his eyes and thought of all the adjectives he could use for how he was doing. “I could say that I’ve been doing well, happy, and wonderful. It wouldn’t be the truth.” He moved closer to her; when he grabbed her hand their fingers intertwined. “I’ve been miserable, unhappy, and lonesome. How about you?”

  “That pretty much sums it up.” He smiled as he moved into kiss her; before their lips touched she opened her mouth. “We have to talk.”

  He pull
ed away in surprise as she took a seat and patted the cushion next to her. “Okay;” he took a seat beside her and he immediately felt her fears. “What’s up?”

  “Which story was the truth? Did you really mean that? Do you believe that you were falling in love when we were younger?”

  “I meant every word. I remember perfectly when it happened too.”

  “You do?”

  “It was your 16 Birthday. That’s when I really started to notice you changing, but I was 21 and in college. It would have been perceived as wrong.”

  “You could have something when I turned 18.”

  “Abigail, when you turned 18 you were off to school and the last time we spoke we weren’t exactly on good terms.”

  “That’s for sure.”

  “We now know that we love each other; you do still love me, right?”

  “I do love you Travis; I tried to fight it, but now…” she paused and pulled something from her purse and placed it on the coffee table.

  He stared at the applicator in front of him, the plus sign was evident. “Is this for real?”

  “This is my 3 test; it took me a week to come to you. They all had the same answer.”

  “We…we used protection.”

  “Not the first time.” His jaw dropped and he looked at her. “Oh my gosh! You’re really pregnant?”

  “I know that this doesn’t fall in any plans that you might have, but…” before she could finish he pulled her close to him and kissed her. “Are you happy?” She asked between kisses.

  “Abigail, I love you and that’s all that matters. You’re going to have my baby. I couldn’t be happier.” He got down on a knee and stared into her eyes. “I know that I don’t have a ring, but I will get you one. Will you marry me?”

  “Travis Jessup, I want to wake up in your arms every morning, until death do us part. I love you and I would be honored to marry you.” They kissed long and hard. He smiled when they parted.