Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars(48)

“I’ve been thinking about our situation and it seems to me the best option for everyone may be if I move in with you and Charlie. At least for the duration of my stay,” he said, and from the red hue of her face he could tell she was about to explode.

“You can’t be serious. You can’t live with us. It’s just going to make things worse with everyone in town and confuse Charlie,” Gemma said.

“We are married, and everyone in town will know it by tonight, so that’s a weak point. As for Charlie, I thought you were going to tell him about our marriage anyway?”

Or were you going to try to hide that, too?

“I did, and he was so excited, even though I told him it was only temporary. It’ll break his heart if you move in and we get his hopes up. Why don’t we—”

Travis cut her off. “This is how it’s going to be. You had your way for ten years, but for the next two weeks, we’re doing things my way. Or I can call my lawyer and start custody proceedings today.”

Her flushed face paled. “You don’t have to do that. I’ll give you as much time as you want with Charlie, but that doesn’t mean you have to move in.”

Knowing he was being cruel, he said, “Forgive me if your word isn’t enough.”

The quiet in the shop was deafening. Travis thought she was gearing up for a new argument, but she surprised him when she said, “You’ll sleep in the guest bedroom downstairs.”

“That’s perfect. Trust me, sex with you is the last thing I want.” He saw her wince and almost apologized, but part of him wanted her to feel bad, even though he was lying through his teeth. She was beautiful, and he couldn’t stop his reaction to her every time she was near, but if making her think he wasn’t interested would get him what he wanted, then so be it.

“Where is Charlie, by the way?” Travis asked, looking toward the back of the store.

“He’s at his friend Evan’s. I’m picking him up after work.”

“I could do it,” Travis said, pulling his keys out of his pocket. “I told him I would spend the day with him anyway, and the day is half gone.”

“Oh, that’s okay, I—”

“Gemma,” he said, trying to sound patient, “I don’t want to disappoint him.”

Her face fell, and before he could stop himself, he reached out to squeeze her hand. “It will be okay.”

She sighed and pulled her hand from his. “I’ll call them, and give you the address.”



TRAVIS WENT AND checked out of the motel, tossed his duffel bag in the back, and drove to Charlie’s friend Evan’s house. He shook hands with his parents as Charlie bounced around like a rubber ball, clearly excited to see him. They climbed up into the truck, and Charlie hadn’t stopped talking the whole way to Gemma’s house.

“Did you get into a fight?” Charlie asked, studying the left side of his face, where Wayne had gotten in a lucky shot. The kid didn’t even give him a chance to answer before he added, “I got into a fight yesterday. Teddy Hook kept picking on a couple of kids at camp, and when I told him to leave them alone, he punched me. So I hit him back, and that’s why Mom had to come get me.”

Travis had noticed his son’s shiner but had been too wrapped up in other things to mention it. Not a sign of excellent parenting skills. Shit, how was he going to be a dad to a nine-year-old kid when he’d never even known his own father?

“How come you got in trouble for fighting back?” Travis asked.

“’Cause the counselor said I should have just gotten an adult. No tolerance for violence, she said.”

Travis thought that was a stupid reason for sending a kid home from summer camp, especially when he was just trying to do the right thing, but kept his mouth shut. He’d had experienced very few truly good role models and had no right to criticize the camp director.

Still, a little glimmer of pride spread through his chest as he considered Charlie. Eric was right that Gemma had raised him well. It took a special person of any age to stand up for others.

They pulled up outside Gemma’s house, and Charlie hopped out of the truck. When Travis went to grab his duffel bag out of the back, he turned to find his son staring at him with wide eyes.

“Are you staying here?”

Travis wanted to kick his own ass. He had assumed Gemma had told him. “Yeah. Is that okay with you? I’m just going to bunk in the guest room while I’m here, so you and I can get to know each other.”

“Awesome!” Charlie whooped and raced inside. When Travis finally caught up to him, Charlie asked, “Wanna see my room?”

“Sure, buddy, lead the way,” Travis said, dropping his bag in the doorway and following Charlie up the stairs and past the first door.

“That’s Mom’s room. She has her own bathroom with this huge claw-foot tub she spends hours in. I don’t know how anyone could take a bath for that long; it weirds me out when my fingers get pruney,” Charlie said, opening up the next door and pointing inside. “And this is my bathroom. Mom let me decorate it with Avengers stuff.”

Travis looked around at the shower curtain and toothbrush holder with a smile. “Awesome. I love Iron Man myself.”

Charlie made a face. “Really? I like Thor. He’s a god.”