chitchat of the others was lost on her–she didn’t hear anything they’d said. Her attention centered on him exclusively. When she couldn’t stand it any longer, she turned to face him.
CHAPTER 10
Travis’s voice trailed off when he caught a glimpse of Autumn at the counter with her back to him. His control nearly slipped but he quickly reined it in. His dark eyes narrowed as he watched her stand with her back to him. So she wants to be off limits, she can be just that. His expression hardened to indifference. When she turned to face him, instead of meeting her gaze, he turned first to Reggie and then Denise. “Hey lil’sis.” His kissed them both on the forehead. “Where do you want me to put this?”
“Down here.” Reggie led the way to the sunken den. “Here would be fine.” She pointed to an empty spot behind the bar. “Did you see Autumn in the other room?”
Travis didn’t answer immediately. He connected the hose to the keg before he looked up at her. “Yeah, I did. What’s up?”
“What’s up is that you’d been asking about her. Now she’s here and you didn’t even speak to her.”
Travis sighed heavily before his hands got busy once again with hooking up the keg. “Your friend wants me to stay away. That’s exactly what I plan to do. We’re going to march up that aisle together on Saturday, and we’ll each provide a notable toast, and then we don’t ever have to see each other again.” He paused to acknowledge her.
“She needs a little time, Travis. I think she likes you.”
“I’m not interested anymore, Regg, okay?” He wasn’t surprise when Reggie’s mouth dropped open and she looked at him as if he was suddenly a stranger.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes, I am. I don’t have time for the games. It’s probably better this way.”
“Okay,” Reggie’s hands dropped to her sides and she back ed away from the bar. “Maybe you’re right.”
Travis nodded at her without a word. When she turned to leave the room, he just stood there for a moment. He laid his hand on top of the bar and didn’t move. Deep in thought , he contemplated his decision. He decided to stick with his choice. If she went out of her way to avoid him, it was best if he kept his distance. Apparently she did, and he didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable.
Travis went back to finishing his chore. Michael came in just when he ran the first tab. “You’re just in time.” He handed the cold draft to his brother.
“Thanks, TK. You’re not having any?”
“Hell , nah! I had way too many last night! I still have a headache.” He nodded.
* * * *
Autumn’s senses went into overdrive. Not only did Travis ignore her, but everyone in the room knew he had. The tremble rose up past her neck and her body felt wobbly all over. She grabbed the back of a chair to keep erect. This is what happens when you leave yourself open to people. She berated herself silently. The reaction did not slip pass Trae or Reggie. Trae came to her side. Reggie led Travis into the den, but she looked back at her friend and saw the devastation on her face.
“Are you okay?” Trae whispered closed to her ear.
“Yes.” She faked a shaky smile. “I guess I should have eaten something. I’m good. Who’s your friend?” She attempted to take the attention away from her.
“Ry, come meet Reggie’s friend , Autumn. I don’t think you got to meet her when she came up to Grambling.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Any friend of Reggie must be alright?” Rykard smiled openly at Autumn and stuck out his hand.
Autumn ignore the extended hand and reached up to hug Rykard instead. “The pleasure is mine. It’s great to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“And it’s all lies!” He pulled back and smiled down into her beautiful face.
“Really, it’s been all good stuff.”
“Well, in that case, it’s all true.”
They all laughed.
Reggie reentered the
CHAPTER 10
Travis’s voice trailed off when he caught a glimpse of Autumn at the counter with her back to him. His control nearly slipped but he quickly reined it in. His dark eyes narrowed as he watched her stand with her back to him. So she wants to be off limits, she can be just that. His expression hardened to indifference. When she turned to face him, instead of meeting her gaze, he turned first to Reggie and then Denise. “Hey lil’sis.” His kissed them both on the forehead. “Where do you want me to put this?”
“Down here.” Reggie led the way to the sunken den. “Here would be fine.” She pointed to an empty spot behind the bar. “Did you see Autumn in the other room?”
Travis didn’t answer immediately. He connected the hose to the keg before he looked up at her. “Yeah, I did. What’s up?”
“What’s up is that you’d been asking about her. Now she’s here and you didn’t even speak to her.”
Travis sighed heavily before his hands got busy once again with hooking up the keg. “Your friend wants me to stay away. That’s exactly what I plan to do. We’re going to march up that aisle together on Saturday, and we’ll each provide a notable toast, and then we don’t ever have to see each other again.” He paused to acknowledge her.
“She needs a little time, Travis. I think she likes you.”
“I’m not interested anymore, Regg, okay?” He wasn’t surprise when Reggie’s mouth dropped open and she looked at him as if he was suddenly a stranger.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes, I am. I don’t have time for the games. It’s probably better this way.”
“Okay,” Reggie’s hands dropped to her sides and she back ed away from the bar. “Maybe you’re right.”
Travis nodded at her without a word. When she turned to leave the room, he just stood there for a moment. He laid his hand on top of the bar and didn’t move. Deep in thought , he contemplated his decision. He decided to stick with his choice. If she went out of her way to avoid him, it was best if he kept his distance. Apparently she did, and he didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable.
Travis went back to finishing his chore. Michael came in just when he ran the first tab. “You’re just in time.” He handed the cold draft to his brother.
“Thanks, TK. You’re not having any?”
“Hell , nah! I had way too many last night! I still have a headache.” He nodded.
* * * *
Autumn’s senses went into overdrive. Not only did Travis ignore her, but everyone in the room knew he had. The tremble rose up past her neck and her body felt wobbly all over. She grabbed the back of a chair to keep erect. This is what happens when you leave yourself open to people. She berated herself silently. The reaction did not slip pass Trae or Reggie. Trae came to her side. Reggie led Travis into the den, but she looked back at her friend and saw the devastation on her face.
“Are you okay?” Trae whispered closed to her ear.
“Yes.” She faked a shaky smile. “I guess I should have eaten something. I’m good. Who’s your friend?” She attempted to take the attention away from her.
“Ry, come meet Reggie’s friend , Autumn. I don’t think you got to meet her when she came up to Grambling.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Any friend of Reggie must be alright?” Rykard smiled openly at Autumn and stuck out his hand.
Autumn ignore the extended hand and reached up to hug Rykard instead. “The pleasure is mine. It’s great to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”
“And it’s all lies!” He pulled back and smiled down into her beautiful face.
“Really, it’s been all good stuff.”
“Well, in that case, it’s all true.”
They all laughed.
Reggie reentered the
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