The Bet (The Bet #1)(63)

She hurried down the stairs and out the front door and ran directly into Grandma.

“Grandma,” she blurted, suddenly feeling ashamed and guilty.

“Honey, where you off to? Where’s Travis?”

Kacey fought hard to keep the tears from falling down her cheeks, but the minute Grandma reached out and touched her, she shattered into a million pieces.

“He doesn’t love me,” she wailed on Grandma’s shoulder.

“Yes, he does,” Grandma said simply.

Kacey shook her head and tried to clear her throat. “No, he doesn’t. It was just like Jake and then…”

“What?” Grandma peeled Kacey from her shoulder and held her head between her hands. “What happened with Jake, honey girl?”

“We slept together, in college, my first time.” She hiccupped. “The night my parents died. And he f-froze. He just sat there afterwards. I was so vulnerable and he just sat there, and then he left w-without saying goodbye.” Tears freely flowed down her cheeks. It was as if everything that had happened so many years ago was finally coming to the surface. All the hurt, the anger, the betrayal.

“And Travis, you and he?” Grandma asked softly.

Kacey nodded and continued, “And he just sat there! He called himself an idiot and went into the bathroom!”

Grandma put her hands on her hips. “I may be old, but that is no way to leave your bed partner.”

“Grandma,” Kacey said, managing a tiny smile. “It doesn’t matter. I’m leaving.”

“You can’t!” Grandma grasped her hands tight within hers. “You need to talk to him. He loves you. I know him, he does! He’s just scared!”

“And I’m not?” Kacey yelled. “I’m terrified!”

Grandma gave her a peculiar look. “Does Travis know how Jake reacted that night?”

Kacey slowly shook her head, feeling a little guilty for allowing her hurt heart to put them in the same category.

“Go,” Grandma said, surprising her. ”Get on your plane. I’ll take care of this.”

Kacey shook her head. “There’s nothing to do but pick up the broken pieces.”

“There’s always something to do.” Grandma handed her the keys to the BMW. “Just leave it at the airport, and I’ll have Wescott take me down there to retrieve it tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Grandma. I love you.”

“I love you too, honey.” Grandma kissed her cheek and walked quite briskly into the house. The last thing Kacey heard before she started the car was Grandma yelling at the top of her lungs at Travis.

Kacey pulled out of the driveway feeling completely raw as she left the house, full of memories for the second time in her life, knowing with certainty that it was not in her future.

“Sorry, Mom, Dad.” Kacey wiped the tears from her eyes. “I guess I’m just not good enough.”





Chapter Thirty




Travis stared at the running water in the sink for what felt like hours. Really, it was probably thirty minutes, but he needed to get his speech perfect. Words often failed him, but he was going to try to convey the raw emotional need he had to be with Kacey, and not just for one night.

But forever.

“Travis!” Grandma’s voice echoed into his room. What the heck was she doing back?

“Coming.” He ran into his room and put on a pair of jeans just in time for Grandma to come bursting through the door.

“You are officially my least favorite grandson.”

Travis smirked. “So I was your favorite before?”

“You are a jackass.”

“Grandma, I hardly think swearing is appropriate—”

“She’s gone.”

Travis felt his world tilting. He sat on the bed and put his hands over his face. “What do you mean she’s gone? She was just here.”

“She left.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re a jackass.”

His heart constricted. “What did I do? I mean, I didn’t say I love you back, but I was so ashamed of myself for not having said it first, for taking her to bed and not telling her how much…” His voice went hoarse and then silent.

“Well, she thinks you’re ashamed of her.”

“What?” Travis bolted from the bed. “That’s impossible! I didn’t say anything hurtful!”

“I know.” Grandma sighed. “That’s the problem. You didn’t say anything at all.”

“What?”

“Just like Jake.”

“Pardon?” He clenched his fist and began to sweat.

“He and Kacey… She never told you?”

Travis shook his head. “I know they slept together, but…”

“When all was said and done, Jake grabbed his stuff, said he was sorry and walked out of her life.”

“But…”

Grandma patted his hand. “You, my dear boy, had the exact reaction. Your motives were different. I know this and you know this. Kacey, however, feels like you think you made a mistake, and now she’s at the airport.”

“You let her go!” he roared, ashamed that he was yelling at his grandmother.