10 Chapter 10: Threat or Bluff

Travis kissed me again, not quite as deeply but just as sweetly. My head was swimming with everything he just said to me. Most alarming and breathtaking was how easily and matter-of-factly he admitted to being in love with me. Even hearing him use that name didn’t sound as indecent as it normally did. For once, it sounded sweet. All these years I thought it was just a fun game for him.

“I don’t think you’re no good—”

“Trust me,” he said before I could finish. “You don’t know half the shit and the kinds of people I’m involved with. But that’s all gonna change. I’d already decided I was gonna start cleaning my shit up, distancing myself from all that stuff—that crowd—for the sake of my brothers. This just adds to the incentive.”

I didn’t say anything more as we walked the short distance to his room. “Tomorrow you call the cops, Cherry. You can’t let this guy get away with this, okay? I’ll be there when you tell your dad if you want me to, but just promise me you’ll do it.”

He looked me square in the eyes with an unyielding stare. It was more than a suggestion. He’d be angry if I didn’t. I’d known him long enough to know when he was being deadly serious. I’d been witness to the arguments he’d had a few times with his mom. Like tonight with Chaz, he could be brutal even with just words. Not that I thought for even a second that he’d ever hurt me or anything. I just didn’t want him to be angry with me, so I nodded, still stunned over everything that happened tonight. He kissed me one final time then closed and locked his bedroom door. “Now take off your shorts and get on the bed.”

Once again, I did as I was told, and my body was already quivering.

I was still lying in Travis’s bed long after he’d brought me to another moaning climax. He’d lain there with me for a while, and we continued to make out, even after I’d come. The way he stared into my eyes now with each sweet kiss spoke volumes. His words about loving me and me being worth the wait were absolutely genuine. There was no denying how much he felt for me now.

After several hours of our just holding each other and kissing so incredibly tenderly, he’d left to sleep on the sofa because we didn’t want his mom to walk in on us. I still couldn’t get over or stop thinking about everything that had happened tonight between Travis and me. It even clouded one of the most horrific experiences I’d ever had. Then I remembered the time and that my dad was probably wondering if I was spending the night or not. So, I checked my messages.

My heart jumped to my throat when I saw I had messages from Chaz. I was afraid to open them and almost considered going out and telling Travis about them, but something told me I shouldn’t. I hit the first one.

~~Don’t do or say anything about tonight until I talk to you on Monday at school. Unless you want to talk now or tomorrow.~~

No way. There was no way I was calling or even texting him now. I didn’t dare, not with Travis in the other room. I didn’t want to call or text him again ever. But I did click on the next one.

~~If you care about Travis, or if he’s your friend and you don’t want anything to happen to him, TRUST ME. You do not want to make a big thing about tonight. This isn’t a bluff and it’s nothing I plan on doing to him personally, but it is in his best interest that you not do anything at least until we’ve talked. Do yourself that favor. I’m serious, Remi.~~

He had to be bluffing. Why would it be in Travis’s best interest? Remembering my dad again, I checked for texts from him since those were the only ones from Chaz. I responded to my dad’s text, letting him know I was spending the night, then sat and pondered everything but mostly Chaz’s texts, and I reread them.

I refused to call or text him ever again, but Travis was adamant I call the police tomorrow. What if Chaz wasn’t bluffing? What if he planned on doing something to Travis? Chaz’s parents were loaded, and Chaz was their pride and joy, honor-roll student, and football star, so they kept him happy. He got whatever he wanted, including a hefty allowance. Not something I would do to him personally. Was he implying he’d pay someone to hurt Travis?

I closed my eyes, remembering the heart-melting way Travis gazed at me tonight and his amazing tongue that I was still twitching over. He’d been in love with me for years. That was when it hit me. I’d always considered what I felt for Travis to be just a secret crush. He mesmerized me in a way I’d never understood. But now that I’d seen his soft side, the side that wanted to change—for me—I could easily fall in love with him. Hell, I think I may’ve fallen a little in love with him just hearing him say he’d been dreaming of kissing me for years.

I couldn’t risk it. I could wait a day. Tomorrow was Sunday at my grandmother’s anyway. I wouldn’t be home all day, and if Travis called, I’d just ignore him. Jesus, just the thought hurt my heart. Okay, maybe I could just respond to say I’d be at my grandma’s all day and wouldn’t get a chance to talk to my dad alone until later. Travis might not even text or call. He’d only ever done so a handful of times in all the years he’d had my number. Those were all for reasons regarding the whole babysitting thing. It was never anything personal. But after tonight, something told me that’d all be changing.