cool, because this was getting old fast.
Although Travis had apologized and sought Gage’s help in keeping his violent need to find the woman who had kidnapped their daughter in check, it was clear Gage still didn’t trust him. Two weeks ago, Travis had broken down, and he’d thought they’d moved on from that.
Clearly he was the only one who had, because ever since then, he saw the way Gage watched his every move. As though he expected Travis to snap at any second.
“I’m not doin’ this with you,” Travis hissed, getting to his feet. “If you don’t trust me, just say so. Otherwise, stop treatin’ me like a child.”
Realizing his outburst had drawn Maddox’s attention, Travis forced a smile at the baby. “Sorry, little man. Keep watchin’ Frozen. It’s all good. The daddies are just talkin’.”
Or they had been, because once Maddox turned back to the television, Travis left the room.
A second later, he left the house altogether.
He needed a beer.
*
Gage heard the front door slam shut, the sound making him flinch.
He’d done it again. He’d gone and pissed Travis off.
Seemed to be par for the course these days. Almost as though Travis was looking for a reason to get angry.
Gage actually understood that part. He had a feeling he was looking for a reason, too. If he could maintain his anger and frustration, continue to worry about Travis, he didn’t have to dwell on the thoughts that plagued him. Ironically, they were the same thoughts he gave Travis shit about.
“Did Daddy-O leave?”
Turning his head, Gage saw Kate standing in the doorway, wet hair tangled, her eyes filled with concern as she watched him.
“He had to go out for a bit.” Gage patted his thighs, spreading his feet apart. “Come sit down so I can brush your hair, then you can grab a blanket. We’re watchin’ Frozen.”
“You know we’ve watched this like fifteen times this week,” Kate said haughtily, a new thing she’d started recently.
“Yet it’s still your favorite,” he reminded her.
Kate grabbed a throw blanket and dragged it behind her as she headed over, dropping to her knees in front of him, her eyes already glued to the television screen. He took his time combing her hair, detangling it without making her mad, a skill he’d acquired long ago. When he was finished, she curled up on the couch with her blanket, head on a pillow, her feet poking into Gage’s thigh.
This had become their nightly routine as of late. After baths, the kids would congregate in the living room for a bit. Then one by one, they would take them to their rooms. Only in the past few days had Kate started exerting more independence, coming out of her shell after her horrible ordeal. She was still having nightmares of the days she’d spent with Juliet Prince, the woman who had kidnapped her during a field trip to the state capitol, but he had to believe they were making progress.
Although the therapist they were seeing said it was normal for her to continue to have these feelings, Gage wondered. Then again, he wasn’t trained to know what was right or wrong in this situation—or whether anyone really was—so he had to take the woman’s word for it.
And perhaps that was the reason he continued to keep an eye on Travis. Gage didn’t have to hide his feelings there. He didn’t have to pretend he wasn’t worried about Travis the way he had to pretend with Kate. Kylie continued to remind him their only goal with Kate was to show her support and love, to make sure she knew she was safe.
So that was what Gage did. And when he wasn’t plastering on a fake smile, he was projecting all his emotions on Travis.
While the kids watched the movie, Gage continued to watch the door, expecting Travis to return at any moment. Every so often, another kid would join him until all five were scattered around the living room. Kate was still on the couch, Kade had taken up his position in Travis’s recliner. Avery was lying on the floor, head on her hands as she intently focused on her absolute all-time favorite movie. Haden had been the last to join, his thumb in his mouth while he sat on the floor between Gage’s feet. And Maddox was still where he’d started, only he was now lying down, his eyelids getting heavy.
When he heard footsteps on the stairs, Gage glanced over, saw Kylie coming down.
“Where’d Travis go?” she asked,