Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 92777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
I considered what she’d said, remembering that Haven had asked about that. At the time, it’d seemed to come out of nowhere. But sitting there, I realized she’d brought it up right after she’d mentioned that a couple people at the club had been discussing me. Had they also mentioned Phoebe’s aspirations on my behalf? That seemed to fit. And it sounded like Phoebe, planning for things that met her needs but not sharing them with me.
I sighed, scrubbing my hand down my face. “You never asked me. You never even asked if I wanted that.”
She bit at her lip. “I just figured…I could persuade you eventually.”
God. It would have been a lifetime of being maneuvered, the same way I’d always felt when I was under the control of my mother and even beyond that. I’d let her continue to do it because it had been habit by that point. Familiar. I didn’t want to be maneuvered or manipulated anymore. I wanted to be asked what I wanted for my life.
The way Haven had done.
And then I wanted to be listened to and supported in those dreams.
And I wanted to do the same for someone else.
But that would never be Phoebe. And deep inside, I had felt that. I hadn’t seen a future with us. Not really. The truth of the matter was that I had never even really known her because I hadn’t wanted to.
I leaned forward, placing my elbows on my knees. “You wouldn’t have persuaded me. So you wouldn’t have been happy. Or if you had, I wouldn’t have been happy, and things would have crumbled.” I gave her a small smile. “In a funny way, you saved us both a helluva lot more misery.”
She breathed out a smile, but the pain was still in her eyes. “Is there any chance you and me—”
“No.” I paused. “But I wish you happiness. I mean that.”
Tears pricked at her eyes and she nodded, giving me a small, sad smile. “Thank you, Travis. I wish you happiness too. And I hope…maybe someday you can forgive me.”
I tilted my head, realizing the truth. “I already do, Phoebe. And you should forgive yourself.” Learn from your mistakes, and I’ll learn from mine.
She nodded, a soft smile tilting her lips. She hesitated for a moment but there was nothing left to say and we both knew it.
I stood, and she did too. We both glanced toward the doorway where half a feline face had appeared, singular eye narrowed as it watched Phoebe with cold malice. Phoebe shrunk away, backing toward the other door that led to the foyer. “I’ll, uh, let myself out.”
I nodded. A pipe rattled overhead, the sound of footsteps coming from the back of the upstairs hallway. The Yellow Trellis Inn was waking up.
Phoebe turned and walked to the foyer and a moment later, I heard the door close behind her.
I inhaled deeply as Clawdia limped into the room, rubbing against my legs. I picked her up and set her on the couch and then headed upstairs. I knocked on Haven’s door but there was no answer. I thought I heard the shower running from inside and so I turned and headed to my own room. I had to start getting ready for work anyway.
As I stepped under my own shower spray, washing my body, I felt cleansed in a different way too. I hadn’t thought talking to Phoebe was necessary. But I was glad to get the sense of closure. And I’d meant what I said. I hoped she’d go on to find her own happiness too, whatever that might mean for her.
Dressed in my uniform, I stopped by Haven’s room, but again, there was no answer, and when I walked out the front door, I saw that her car was already gone.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Travis
I stepped out of my truck, unbuttoning the top button of my uniform shirt as I shut the door behind me. The windows of the Yellow Trellis Inn were open, music wafting from inside, the curtains swaying in the breeze, and I smiled as I walked toward it.
Haven.
I suddenly felt a burst of energy. It’d been another long day in a very long week. But it was finally over. There’d been a multicar pileup on the highway just outside town and two boating accidents out on the lake. Thankfully, no one had been gravely injured, but it’d taken most of my shift before both situations were resolved. Spencer and another officer had gone out on the lake, while I’d managed the highway wreck. In other places, the chief of police might be a desk job, but in a small town like Pelion, that wasn’t the case. Frankly I was glad of it, as it kept me active, and every day was just a little bit different.
I’d wanted to call Haven all day but I hadn’t had the chance. She’d been working too though, so I was sure she’d been just as occupied. I’d see if she wanted to go to dinner…come back to the inn and engage in…other enjoyments. I was off all weekend. No work. Just her. Anticipation made me break out in a smile.