Page 64 of Breakaway

“And you still owe me $5.12.” Morgan’s voice startled him. She was standing in the doorway of the living room with her arms folded across her chest.

“How long have you been standing there?” His face burned all the way to his ears, for the first time in his life.

Morgan shrugged nonchalantly. “Long enough.”

Forgetting Sam was still sitting in the living room, Travis stood up and hurried to Morgan. “I’m sorry for everything. I tried to explain so many times. I swear, you are the only girl for me.”

She tilted her head, her face still hiding any emotion. “Are you done?”

“Not even close. Morgan, I am not the guy you saw in those posts. I let the guys believe that I was into partying like them. Sure, for a while, when I was single, maybe I did party too much. All the guys had stuff like that posted about them. But that was a long time ago, and it is so far from who I really am. I am the guy I was with you. And that’s the guy I want to be all the time.”

“Travis?”

“No, please let me explain. The photos you saw the other week were just me being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The women approached me. I wasn’t into it so I got rid of them immediately, but too late, someone’s snapped a photo. I swear to you that I wasn’t there to flirt, not to pick up women, not to get drunk. I actually left early and went home to call you. You can ask Ben, he knows me better than any of the other guys. I can’t help it if people post photos and tag me, but I hope my new Instagram reflects the real me now, and not the image that was portrayed.”

“It does. But it’s probably going to cost you the puck bunnies,” she teased.

“Don’t joke, please. I don’t care about puck bunnies. As a matter of a fact, I don’t care about anyone but you. Before I met you, I never imagined that I could feel the way I do. The first moment that I saw you, I felt it. I just knew you were the only girl for me.”

“You don’t have to do this” she said, but she couldn’t help the big smile that spread across her face. “I think your singing in front of the whole team, and posting it on your social media, said all I needed to know.”

“That was just a small gesture. I’ll spend every day I have with you, proving to you that you are the only girl for me. I know we haven’t known each other long, but I want to learn everything about you. Morgan, I love you.”

Morgan wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Travis. I love you too.”

“I am sorry for this whole mess.”

“Shh.” Morgan smiled and put her finger to his lips. “This is where you kiss me.”

“And this is where I exit!” Sam said loudly, jumping up from his chair. “Keep it PG you two, the kids are still awake and could bust in at any second.” Sam winked and hurried out of the room.

“I think he was almost smiling at me,” Travis mused. As soon as he was sure Sam was gone, he grinned. “Now, where were we?”

Morgan closed the space between them. “You were just about to kiss me. And tell me that you love me again.”

“You’re absolutely right, but I’m curious about something. Did you actually turn down your ideal job in Wilkes Barre because of me?”

She shrugged. “That was part of it. It’s true that I had no intention of moving to Wilkes Barre for a job while I thought, well, what I thought about you. But my family is here in Pittsburgh, and after everything I’d been through, staying here seemed like the better thing to do for me. So to answer your question, yes, I wasn’t going to move all the way to Wilkes Barre if we were no longer together. I’ve had enough starting over to last me a while. Especially when I could find the same opportunity here. It just may take a little longer.”

“But now I’m here.”

She tilted her head as she stared at him. “You are. Why are you here? Did you travel four hours just to talk to my uncle?”

Travis ran his thumb over her jawline, gazing into her brilliant eyes. “I would drive four hours in a heartbeat, if it meant you gave me a chance to explain. But as a bonus, I was called back up to the Renegades. So for at least the time being, I am back. And I intend to prove my worth and have them begging me to stay.” He couldn’t help but smirk.

If, by some chance, he did get sent back down to the Falcons, he had every intention of making a long distance relationship work, and visiting Pittsburgh every chance he had.

“Well, in that case, I think you were just about to kiss me.” Her eyes sparkled as she spoke.

Travis kissed her as though his life depended on it. His heart raced at her touch. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.”

“I love you, Morgan Benson.” He grinned, going in for another kiss. “Maybe we should take this back to my hotel room. Did I mention that I have a private room this time?” He was still waiting to hear the magic words “Get a place,” but he was positive he’d hear them soon enough.

“Keep it PG, Anderson!” Sam called from Willow’s room. “And dinner will be ready at five-thirty. I assume you are both staying?”

“I’m not pushing my luck with your uncle today,” Travis joked. “Shall we stay for dinner and then retire to my hotel room?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Travis took her face in his hands. “You really are the only woman for me. I hope you know that.”

“I do now. Not many guys are willing to come face to face with the wrath of my uncle for me.”

“And I’d do it again.” He grinned. “I’d do anything for you.”

“I love you, Travis.”

“I love you too, Morgan.”