My Cover Model (A Love Like That #1) - R.L. Kenderson Page 0,73
the wounded feelings at the moment, but I didn’t want to push him.
“Despite me being called your girlfriend twice this weekend, we’ve never discussed it. You can tell me when you’re ready.” I was giving him time to talk to me, but I was also letting him know that I expected him to talk to me at some point if this relationship was going to continue.
Travis picked up my hand and started playing with my fingers. “Did my sister tell you how paranoid Christy got?”
“She mentioned how Christy put something on your phone, so she could monitor you. That’s not cool.”
“Yeah. In the beginning, we were like a normal couple, but as time progressed, she started being jealous of everything. She didn’t even like my female clients.”
“But I’m guessing she had male ones?”
“Yes. But that’s different, you know,” he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. “She got so paranoid that she made me paranoid. I would keep my phone on silent and only check it when she wasn’t around because she would freak out if I talked to anyone else.” He smiled. “The morning when you saw the unsolicited pic in my message, I had a flashback of being with Christy. But then you laughed. That was like a gift, babe.”
“Aw, and I wasn’t even trying.”
He met my eyes. “That’s the best part. You don’t get jealous, you don’t spy on me, and you trust me.”
“Well, the relationship is still young.”
Travis’s eyes widened.
“I’m joking. Life’s too short for those things. If you don’t trust your partner, then why are you even with them? Although, to be fair, I think Christy might be that way with everyone. She needs to talk to someone about her insecurities. But I don’t want to lie to you. I have felt jealous before. It’s a feeling that I think everyone experiences. But it’s what a person does with it that matters.”
“What did you feel jealous about?”
“This is embarrassing, but I was jealous of your relationship with Angela.”
Travis frowned.
“I know that Christy was jealous of that, too, but I don’t feel the same way,” I quickly reassured him. “I don’t want you to stop being friends with Angela. I was just jealous that you two were close because I wanted to be friends with you, too. I hope that makes sense.”
He nodded. “It’s not a you or them thing. It’s a you also thing.”
I smiled. “Exactly. I would never stop you from being friends with someone unless I really felt like they were a threat. Like, if someone were truly trying to come between us. But I’m not worried, and I’m not going to spy on you. If I were worried, I would talk to you about it. I wouldn’t go behind your back.”
Travis scooted down on the bed, and we rolled toward each other.
“You’re too good to be true.”
I busted out laughing. “We both know that’s not true. You sometimes have to drag me to the gym with you and to do outdoor activities.”
He grinned, and his dimples showed. “I’ll reform you yet.”
I put my thumb over one of his adorable marks. “Ha. You wish.”
He put his arm around me, pulling me close. “The important thing is that I trust my girlfriend, and she trusts me.”
“So, you’re saying that I’m your girlfriend?”
“Aren’t you?”
I snuggled into him. “I’d like to think so.”
He kissed the top of my head. “Good. Just no more talking to my sister. Next time, she’ll tell you embarrassing stories of when I was a kid.”
“I don’t know if I can promise you that. Your sister and I have something in common now.”
“What’s that?”
“We both care about you.”
Travis kissed me. “I care about you, too.”
It wasn’t quite love yet, but I had no doubt that we were headed in that direction. I rested my head against his chest and enjoyed the feeling of being grateful.
Forty-Four
Sydney
Tuesday morning, I was deep in the writing zone when my phone notified me that I had a message from Travis. I had set a specific ringtone for when he messaged me. It was someone whistling. Whenever I heard it, it made me smile.
Travis: Three things.
Me: Okay.
Travis: Dan and Lilah invited the two of us to go to their place on Friday. You up for that?
Me: Yes.
Travis: I’ll let them know that my *girlfriend* and I will be there.