My Cover Model (A Love Like That #1) - R.L. Kenderson Page 0,51

over an hour, telling her about the weekend and she telling me about hers. It was time to head to bed.

I grabbed my phone from my coffee table and headed upstairs.

I scanned through my notifications, as I always did before bed. I saw Facebook notifications that reminded me that I had meant to message Vanessa.

I pulled up my Messenger app because that was the way the two of us always communicated with each other. I didn’t even have her phone number, and I’d never given her mine.

Me: Hey, Vanessa. It was really good to see you again. Sorry we didn’t get to hang out much yesterday. I hope you made it home safely.

The three dots appeared, telling me she was typing.

Vanessa: We made it back safe and sound. Do not fret about us not seeing each other much yesterday. I know how busy it gets.

Me: Keep me posted on your next book signing. Hopefully, we’ll get to meet up again.

Vanessa: Will do! Have a good night.

Me: Night!

I reached my room and bit my lip.

I really wanted to message Travis, but I didn’t want to come across as needy.

I set my phone down on my nightstand but picked it back up again. Maleficent followed me into the bedroom and jumped on my bed. I stared at her feline face and thought about what she would do if she were a human. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t hesitate to send a message. I should just do it and not worry about it so much.

I found his name.

Me: Heading to bed, and I just wanted to thank you again for taking the time out of your busy life to come with me this weekend. I really did have fun. I hope you’re having a good night, and have a great week, too.

I hit Send before I reread what I had written a million times. I set my phone down again and walked away from it to get ready for bed.

I finished my nightly routine and turned on the TV as I walked past to get into bed. As soon as I slid under the covers, I picked up my phone to see no return messages.

I couldn’t help the disappointment, and rather than focusing on what to watch on television, I opened up Instagram. On top of my feed, I saw that Travis had new stories to share.

The first story was a video he had taken of me sleeping in the car on our drive home. It was hard to see my face, but I knew it was me.

I could hear the sound of the road, and Travis said, “This is my travel buddy. She fell asleep ten minutes after we left, leaving me to stay up all on my own.” He quickly turned the camera around to face himself and grinned before sticking his tongue out.

I was embarrassed but happy that he’d shared the video of me even if he called me his buddy.

The story was a picture of him in front of his house with the caption, It’s good to be home.

But the next video was of Travis scanning the room of what looked like a restaurant or bar and grill of some sort. There was a bar area, but there was also a table in front of the camera with food on it. The next video, someone had tagged him and the group he was sitting with. There were at least six of them, and Travis was laughing at the camera, but he was leaning toward a woman with red hair.

And that was the last story.

Emotions bombarded me. I felt left out that he had gone out tonight without me even though, rationally, I knew that we weren’t that close, I wasn’t part of his friend group, and he’d probably had these plans before this weekend. I was still sad.

And, of course, I was jealous of whoever the redheaded woman was. Even though there were no signs they were romantic, I couldn’t help how I felt. And I knew I had no right to feel that way. He was not my boyfriend, and he’d made no indication he wanted to start a relationship.

Maleficent came over and curled up at my side, and I sank my hands in her fur.

I sure did regret sending him the message that I was going to bed. He probably thought I was a loser. Or maybe I just wasn’t in my twenties anymore, and I’d lost a lot of my desire to party like