Read Online Reason and Romance (River Valley Book 1) by Jenn Young - Free Book Online
Authors: Jenn Young
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friend.” Sniffling, she wiped at her eyes. “He slept with her before I left Chicago. Can you believe it?”
Travis hopped inside the car with her, his left leg dangling outside. As always, a sweet aroma clung to him, but this time, it was actually a comfort. At least you knew what you were getting with Travis Cates.
“That’s just not cool,” he said.
Her voice was a strangled sob. “No, it’s not. No one talks to me. My dad’s so busy with his new, stupid fiancée that he doesn’t have time for me. My sister’s hanging around Alex like a starry-eyed groupie. My other sister’s getting in fights. Alex treats me like dirt, and his brothers avoid me. The teachers hate me …”
The world narrowed down to the pain in her chest. “I hate it here! I hate Arizona! I fucking hate the desert and the stupid cacti. I want to go back home, but Jason’s in Chicago. I loved him—”
“Loved or love?” Travis cut in.
What a stupid question. Or was it? Things hadn’t been right between her and Jason for a long time, but every couple always went through a rough patch or two.
She shrugged it off. “I don’t have any friends here.”
“But you have me.”
“What?”
“Dude, we’re friends,” Travis said as if it were obvious. “Anybody who’s on Melbourne’s shit list is gold with me. And you always smell good.” From the way he said it, he considered it a princely compliment. “Is that passion fruit shampoo?”
Adrian got her first real laugh in days. “Oh, Travis.”
Now he looked hurt. “You don’t think we’re friends?”
“No, we are,” she reassured him hastily. She hadn’t thought of him as a friend, but she wasn’t about to turn him down. “It’s just … I don’t know what to do.”
“Life blows. Want some?”
It took her a few seconds to figure out he was offering up some of his pot. “No, that’s okay. You can keep it.”
Clearly worried, Travis shook his head. “Want some breakfast?” he said, gnawing on his lower lip. “Bet you didn’t eat anything.”
He’d hit the mark because she’d lost her appetite. She usually forced down some food during lunch time because people’s eyes were on her, but she’d skipped dinner last night. She’d also skipped breakfast this morning.
“I’m not hungry,” she said. “Really, I’ll be fine.”
He chewed harder on his lip. “Um. I can write a fake pass, so you don’t have to go to your classes today, if you don’t want to. I got a stack of ‘em,” he said, patting a pocket somewhere low on his body. “Fake passes, I mean. You know, those slips you can give—”
“Yeah, yeah, give me one,” she said. It was a good offer because she’d just caught a glimpse of her tear-stained, makeup-smeared reflection. She couldn’t walk into class without everyone knowing she’d spent the last hour crying. Better that they thought she was a cold bitch. It was the only thing she had left.
“Okay.” Travis fumbled with his pocket and pulled out a pass. “It’ll work. I haven’t been caught yet. I can drop it off for you,” he said, swinging his legs out. “I’m going back to school anyway.”
Her smile became genuine. “That’s decent of you. Thanks.” She could go home early and crawl into bed, then return when she felt better.
He stopped suddenly. “Hey, hey, hey! Dude, I’m so stupid. I didn’t even think about it. Want to go with me?”
“Go where?”
“To the party tonight. It’s gonna be big and awesome. Might even get arrested.” Travis shifted his weight. “Everybody’s gonna be there. I can introduce you around.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Dude, no, you have to come. It’ll make you feel better.” He flashed a winsome smile. “Your ex-boyfriend’s fucking another girl, right? So fuck that fucker. Move the fuck on with your life, yeah? He’s moved on. Now you move on.”
It wasn’t the most imaginative speech she’d heard, but it made her catch her breath. That
Travis hopped inside the car with her, his left leg dangling outside. As always, a sweet aroma clung to him, but this time, it was actually a comfort. At least you knew what you were getting with Travis Cates.
“That’s just not cool,” he said.
Her voice was a strangled sob. “No, it’s not. No one talks to me. My dad’s so busy with his new, stupid fiancée that he doesn’t have time for me. My sister’s hanging around Alex like a starry-eyed groupie. My other sister’s getting in fights. Alex treats me like dirt, and his brothers avoid me. The teachers hate me …”
The world narrowed down to the pain in her chest. “I hate it here! I hate Arizona! I fucking hate the desert and the stupid cacti. I want to go back home, but Jason’s in Chicago. I loved him—”
“Loved or love?” Travis cut in.
What a stupid question. Or was it? Things hadn’t been right between her and Jason for a long time, but every couple always went through a rough patch or two.
She shrugged it off. “I don’t have any friends here.”
“But you have me.”
“What?”
“Dude, we’re friends,” Travis said as if it were obvious. “Anybody who’s on Melbourne’s shit list is gold with me. And you always smell good.” From the way he said it, he considered it a princely compliment. “Is that passion fruit shampoo?”
Adrian got her first real laugh in days. “Oh, Travis.”
Now he looked hurt. “You don’t think we’re friends?”
“No, we are,” she reassured him hastily. She hadn’t thought of him as a friend, but she wasn’t about to turn him down. “It’s just … I don’t know what to do.”
“Life blows. Want some?”
It took her a few seconds to figure out he was offering up some of his pot. “No, that’s okay. You can keep it.”
Clearly worried, Travis shook his head. “Want some breakfast?” he said, gnawing on his lower lip. “Bet you didn’t eat anything.”
He’d hit the mark because she’d lost her appetite. She usually forced down some food during lunch time because people’s eyes were on her, but she’d skipped dinner last night. She’d also skipped breakfast this morning.
“I’m not hungry,” she said. “Really, I’ll be fine.”
He chewed harder on his lip. “Um. I can write a fake pass, so you don’t have to go to your classes today, if you don’t want to. I got a stack of ‘em,” he said, patting a pocket somewhere low on his body. “Fake passes, I mean. You know, those slips you can give—”
“Yeah, yeah, give me one,” she said. It was a good offer because she’d just caught a glimpse of her tear-stained, makeup-smeared reflection. She couldn’t walk into class without everyone knowing she’d spent the last hour crying. Better that they thought she was a cold bitch. It was the only thing she had left.
“Okay.” Travis fumbled with his pocket and pulled out a pass. “It’ll work. I haven’t been caught yet. I can drop it off for you,” he said, swinging his legs out. “I’m going back to school anyway.”
Her smile became genuine. “That’s decent of you. Thanks.” She could go home early and crawl into bed, then return when she felt better.
He stopped suddenly. “Hey, hey, hey! Dude, I’m so stupid. I didn’t even think about it. Want to go with me?”
“Go where?”
“To the party tonight. It’s gonna be big and awesome. Might even get arrested.” Travis shifted his weight. “Everybody’s gonna be there. I can introduce you around.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Dude, no, you have to come. It’ll make you feel better.” He flashed a winsome smile. “Your ex-boyfriend’s fucking another girl, right? So fuck that fucker. Move the fuck on with your life, yeah? He’s moved on. Now you move on.”
It wasn’t the most imaginative speech she’d heard, but it made her catch her breath. That
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