Travis's Gift (Riley's Pride #3)- Sandra R Neeley Page 0,63
Sebastian's back to keep him asleep. “Yeah, I think even I’d defer to Delilah.”
Travis turned his phone toward himself and read Delilah’s text again. “I am happy for you, Tiger. Do not screw it up, else you may be referred to as Tigress ever after. I expect an invitation to the celebration as I helped you fix it. Be happy, Tiger.”
“I’m back,” Riley said, walking up to Maia, pushing the stroller in front of himself.
“You know… looking at your phone, reminds me of Roman’s phone. I’ve been trying to call him all day. He’s here, isn’t he?” Maia asked Travis.
“Yeah, he is. He’s off helping customers with their trees. Ya’ll must have missed each other coming and going. You need him?” Travis asked.
“No, I wanted to talk to him since I haven’t in a few days,” Maia answered. “Is he doing okay? Do you know if he’s spoken to Talie?”
“I’m not sure about Talie, other than a text asking him to give her a little time because she had to take care of something. But he seems like he’s adjusting. He shows up here and offers to help with whatever we need every single day,” Travis explained.
“I hate to see him hurting. He’s so kind hearted, so good. He deserves to be happy,” Maia said.
“I agree,” Travis said.
“Here we are!” Lucas called out from the netting station.
“I picked out this one, too, Doddy!” Cristie said, running from the netting station where Lucas worked on placing the plastic netting around the tree, to where Maia and Riley stood talking with Travis.
“Then it must be the absolute best one left out there,” Riley said.
Lucas walked over with the tree for the diner and held out the tag so Travis could add the trees up.
“Sixty, even,” Travis said.
“That’s it?” Riley asked, hesitating to peel off the bills until he was sure he didn’t owe more.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” Travis said.
“But we painted and everything,” Riley said.
“It’s all paid for. Only thing you owe is for the trees,” Travis said.
“Okay, if you say so,” Riley answered, handing Travis three twenties. Then he turned to Lucas and handed him a twenty.
“What’s this?” Lucas asked.
“A tip, for carrying the trees and helping us find them,” Riley said.
“You don’t have to do…” Lucas said.
“Just keep it. Besides, Maia expects you to get a tree before you leave here. Use it for that if nothing else,” Riley said.
“Alright,” Lucas said.
“That’s right, I want everyone to have a tree,” Maia announced.
“Here,” Riley said, counting off more money and handing it to Travis. “A tree for everybody in the Pride. Richie, Lucas, Roman, and Lazarus. One for Constance, too.”
“Richie already paid for his. It’s in the back of the truck,” Travis said, indicating Richie who sat at the fire pit roasting marshmallows with Yvette.
“Keep it,” Riley said, waving away the money Travis tried to give him back. “At some point I’m sure we’ll be back for more Christmas fun,” he said.
“Can we come back tomorrow, Doddy?! I want to make a wreath. And if it snows, we have to come back! They have stuff to make snowmans!” Cristie said excitedly.
Riley smiled at Travis without looking down at Cristie. “See?” he said simply.
Travis chuckled, putting the money away.
“Can you put these two trees in the back of the work truck with Richie’s?” Maia asked Lucas.
“Sure, I’ll take care of it. And I’ll let him know the two extra trees are for your house and the diner,” Lucas answered, hoisting one tree over his shoulder, and dragging the other behind himself he headed off toward the truck Richie had driven.
“Thank you, Lucas,” Maia said. As he walked away, Maia noticed Constance and Moe walking toward the netting station from the tree line with Roman following them with their tree. “Hey! Ya’ll found one!” Maia called out.
“We did!” Constance said. “It’s not huge, but it’s perfect for my living room.”
“Good. Our treat, we already paid,” Maia said, walking over to them. As she got closer, it was clear that her intent was to corner Roman. “Hey. I’ve been calling you,” Maia said, coming to a stop directly beside Roman.
“I’m sorry, Maia. I left my phone at home,” Roman said.
“Why?” Maia asked.
“Because it’s too frustrating to keep waiting for it to ring, just to have it never ring. So I left it at home. Haven’t had it with me since yesterday,” Roman explained. “It’s sitting on my coffee table.”
“Did you ever think that other people might want to call you?” Maia asked.