Travis's Gift (Riley's Pride #3)- Sandra R Neeley Page 0,22

necessary. I just couldn’t saddle you with that responsibility. Instead of seeing that you made me stronger, I thought I made you weaker. I was so full of self-pity, self-loathing, I couldn’t see around it. And every time I let my defenses down and allowed myself to miss you, to need you, I’d start to reach out. Then I’d see you laughing with Cristie, or playing football with Riley and his Pride, having a water gun fight with Scotty, and I’d remember that there are things I can’t do, and I’d pull away again, trying to protect you from me. But I have learned that I can run, and I can fight like I used to. I can be what you need.” He looked away from her eyes briefly before looking up again. “I still don’t know if I can have kids or not. But if you want them, and I can’t, maybe we could adopt or something.”

“It is far too soon for that to even be a consideration,” Libby answered.

“I know, but I’m going for full disclosure here.”

“As of right now, I can’t see past the hurt, Travis.”

“I hurt you. I know that, and there’s no excuse.”

“You were a dick,” she said matter of factly.

“I was,” Travis agreed.

“You’re still a dick,” she said.

“Probably,” he said on a grin. “But, now I realize that I can still protect what’s mine. I can still contribute to life in almost every way I could before I was injured. And I’ve never stopped knowing that I loved you. I’ve not ever opened my eyes in the morning and not had you be the first thought in my head. You are my Mate. You’re everything, Libby. I was just too bullheaded to allow you in when I thought I wasn’t enough for you. I was afraid you’d spend your life taking care of me. I didn’t want that for you. I wanted you to have the male that you fell in love with. I wanted you to have the male that promised you forever.”

“And then snatched it away,” Libby said quietly.

“I know. I’m not denying the pain I’ve caused. There’s no excuse. I just want you to know my thought processes.”

“Your thought processes were so far off base,” Libby said. “You don’t walk away from people you love when they need you most. You don’t stop loving someone because they get injured, or get sick. And you making that decision for me was all kinds of wrong.”

“I know. And the words ‘I’m sorry’ will never be enough. But if you can forgive me, give me one little chance, you’ll see that I’ve found me again. You’ll see that I know I was wrong. My only regret is you; hurting you, not allowing you to be there for me, not following through with our plans.”

Libby shook her head slowly. “I’m afraid to trust you. What if you wake up tomorrow, or next week with the same ideas of saving me from you. I can’t take that chance, Travis.”

“It’s okay. I can be patient. You’ll see. And when you do, you won’t be afraid to trust me anymore.”

“I can’t and won’t promise you anything.”

“I can and am promising you everything.”

“I don’t want your promises,” Libby whispered.

“Too bad. They’ve already been made. I’m reclaiming my mate. I’m reclaiming our future. I will not settle for less. I love you, Libby. Always have. Even when shutting you out it was because I loved you.”

“And if I don’t agree?”

“I’ll hound you until I die. I tore apart our future, and your love for me. I won’t accept that it’s all gone. It just needs to be rebuilt. Hopefully, with time, you’ll trust me again.”

Chapter 8

Libby spent a sleepless night tossing and turning in her bed while thinking and rethinking every word Travis had said to her. There’d been a time when all she’d wanted were just a few of those very same words, but now… she simply wasn’t sure. Yes, they made her stomach flip, and lured her heart to dance at his words of love and commitment. But then her brain would join the mix and she’d start to feel nauseous, and lightheaded. The uneasy, terrified feeling that anxiety left her with rearing its ugly head. She was at odds with herself.

Giving up on sleep, Libby rose an hour early and got dressed. She waited until 5:30 A.M., knowing that even when Richie didn’t go in early, he was still up early, then she called him. She waited