Crushing On You: Travis and Gabriella (An Emerald Falls Romance, Book One)

by Christine Kersey

  What was there to think about? This was exactly what he’d wanted from the beginning. He shook his head.

  “Sounds great,” Mitch said. “Give me a call when you’ve decided.” He laughed. “And don’t take too long.”

  Travis forced a laugh. “Sure thing.”

  They disconnected a moment later, and as Travis climbed into bed and stared into the darkness, his mind fought with his heart over what to do.

  Chapter 28

  “I kissed Travis,” Gabby sang out to Chloe when she entered her friend’s classroom after school had let out the next afternoon.

  Chloe’s eyebrows shot up, then she stood from her desk and walked around to where Gabby had stopped. “Really?” When Gabby nodded, Chloe added, “I want all the details.”

  Gabby was more than happy to tell her what had happened the night before.

  “That’s great news,” Chloe said as she leaned against her desk. Then she grinned. “See, I told you that you could convince him to stay in Emerald Falls.”

  Gabby laughed. “Yes, you did. And you were right.”

  “Of course I was.” Chloe’s eyebrows lifted. “So you might find out tonight if he can stay on at the clinic?”

  Joy radiated through her. “Yes.”

  Chloe stepped forward and gave her a quick hug. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “Thanks. I’m just glad I didn’t give up.” Gabby’s smile grew. “I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

  All day at the clinic, whenever Travis wasn’t with a patient, his mind was on his dilemma. Though he’d told Gabriella that he would talk to Doc Martin about staying, it seemed pointless to do so until he’d decided if he could turn down the opportunity Mitch had offered him.

  He needed to talk to Gabriella about this. It was only right that she knew what had happened.

  With that in mind, he turned his focus to his job and put off thinking about anything else until he had time to talk to Gabriella that evening.

  “He’ll be here soon,” Gabby said to Sadie as she stretched on the bed beside her gray tabby. “And you need to be nicer to Buttercup.”

  Gabby had left the dog eating in the kitchen after Sadie had hissed at her when all Buttercup had done was try to get Sadie to play.

  “She just wants to be friends with you.”

  Sadie purred under Gabby’s hand, and Gabby continued to hold out hope that the two animals would get used to each other.

  “I’d better make sure I look presentable,” Gabby said as she pushed herself off of the bed, then went into the bathroom to check her hair.

  She hoped Travis would have good news.

  With no idea what Doctor Martin had decided, but optimistic that it would all work out, Gabby finished getting ready, then went into the living room to read until Travis arrived.

  Half an hour later she heard a knock on the front door. Smiling, she answered the door and invited Travis in.

  “How was your day?” she asked as he stood before her.

  “Busy, but good. How about yours?”

  Eager to get to the news he would have, she said, “It was good.” Gesturing to the couch, she asked if he wanted to sit.

  He smiled. “Yes, but first I want to do this.” Then he leaned in for a kiss.

  When his lips touched hers, Gabby wrapped her arms around his neck and his arms went around her waist. As he held her against him, she hoped it was a precursor to the news that he would be staying in Emerald Falls.

  After several moments Travis released her, then gazed at her. He needed that kiss to guide him in his decision.

  He was definitely falling for her, but he still had no idea what to do.

  He took her by the hand and led her to the couch where they sat side by side. Buttercup had come to the door when Travis arrived, and now she leaned against his legs.

  “Any luck in finding her owner?” Gabriella asked.

  Travis shook his head as he ran a hand over Buttercup’s head. “No. There’s really not a lot we can do except hope they contact the clinic looking for her.” He smiled. “How’re things with Buttercup and Sadie?”

  Gabriella grimaced. “Not much different, I’m afraid. I think Sadie’s too set in her ways.”

  Travis laughed. “Too used to being spoiled you mean.”

  She smiled. “Yes. Definitely.”

  It was time he got on with it. “I have something I need to tell you,” he said.

  Her face became serious. “What is it? Did you talk to Doctor Martin?”

  Worried how she was going to react to his news, he shook his head. “No.”

  Why hadn’t he talked to Doctor Martin? Had he changed his mind already? Disappointment, sharp and bitter, swelled within Gabby. Better to find out sooner. Before she’d fallen for him head over heels.

  “I didn’t talk to him,” Travis began, “because I got a phone call last night that…well, it’s something I need to discuss with you.”

  With her worry meter ratcheted up, Gabby stared at him, her body tense.

  “A buddy of mine from vet school called me. He and another buddy want me to join them in opening our own clinic. In Sacramento.”

  What a great opportunity. He should take it. Wait! That meant he would leave. But she couldn’t be the one to hold him back from what he wanted in his career. He would for sure resent her. But the thought of him leaving broke her heart and he hadn’t even said he was going to leave. Still, this was something he had to decide on his own.

  Travis could see the wheels in Gabriella’s mind spinning. Desperate to know what she was thinking, he waited for her to speak.

  Finally, she asked, “What are you going to do?”

  He ran his hands through his hair. “I don’t know. I’m torn beyond belief.” Because he didn’t want to lose her, but he also didn’t want to lose this opportunity.

  Taking her hands in his, he said, “If things between us were to…progress…is there any way you’d consider moving?”

  Gabby didn’t know what to say. First off, she was thrilled to hear that he wanted things to progress between them. She did too. So much. But Emerald Falls was her home now. She already loved it here—she’d made a life for herself, she had her cottage, she didn’t want to move. The feeling of home was too strong. But what if her relationship with Travis became serious? Would she be willing to uproot herself for him?

  “I don’t know,” she said after several moments. “I like it here in Emerald Falls.” She smiled. “Actually, I love it here. The pace of life is slower, more relaxed. I love the children in my class, I love this little cottage. I love everything about Emerald Falls.” She paused as warmth spread throughout her chest. “My heart is here now. This is my home.”

  Travis didn’t want to be the one to take her away from the place she obviously wanted to be. Especially for his own selfish aspirations.

  Then he reconsidered. His aspirations weren’t selfish. This was something he’d worked towards for a long time. Did he really want to pass it up so easily? No, he didn’t. In fact, he desperately wanted Gabriella to be flexible so that he could have everything he wanted.

  Chapter 29

  Gabby could tell by the look on Travis’s face that her answer was not the one he wanted to hear. It was in that moment that she made a decision.

  Softly inhaling, she gathered her nerve, then she said, “I think you should do it.” The words were almost painful to say.

  Travis cocked his head. “Do what?”

  “Open the clinic with your friends.” A knot had formed in her throat, but she ignored it.

  His forehead furrowed. “You’re okay with me leaving Emerald Falls?”

  No! A million times no! But she refused to hold him back. She forced a smile onto her face. “I can tell you really want to do this. So you should. It’s what will make you happy.”

  “What about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “What will make you happy?”

  She laughed, but it had a ring of despair. “
Just last night you said I’m not responsible for your happiness. Well, you’re not responsible for mine. We have to make our own happiness. And I think you taking this opportunity will make you happy.”

  The words she was saying were tearing her apart. Still, encouraging him to follow his dream was the right thing to do.

  Travis couldn’t believe what she was telling him. She was okay with him leaving? Maybe she didn’t care for him quite as much as she thought.

  “Are you sure about this?” Travis asked, completely unsure of it himself.

  She seemed to hesitate, but then she smiled brightly and nodded. “Yes.”

  With her endorsement, Travis became excited about the future. His own clinic! Running it with Mitch and Derrick. He was super-stoked.

  He couldn’t hide his enthusiasm as he looked at Gabriella. But then his eyebrows bunched. He was going to have to leave her behind. She didn’t want to leave Emerald Falls.

  Travis gazed at her. How did he really feel about her? They hadn’t been dating that long. He wasn’t ready to give up this opportunity for her. Was he?

  “Have you eaten?” Gabriella asked as she stood. “Let me fix you a sandwich or something.”

  Before he could reply, she hurried away.

  Gabby couldn’t stand to look at him any longer. Not when she knew that she would end things that night. Stopping in front of the sink, she stared into the peaceful backyard.

  There was no point in dragging things out. Now that there was no doubt that he would be leaving Emerald Falls, she wasn’t going to torture herself any longer.

  “Do you need any help?” Travis asked as he entered the kitchen.

  Squeezing her eyes closed while she gathered herself, Gabby drew in a slow breath, then released it and opened her eyes. A moment later she turned to face him, a smile plastered on her mouth. “Do you like ham?”

  His eyebrows briefly pulled together. “Yeah, sure.”

  Busying herself with putting together a sandwich, Gabby tried not to think about the way her heart was breaking in two.

  “Here you go,” she said as she held out a plate.

  He smiled. “This looks delicious.”

  Needing some fresh air, she said, “We can go out back while you eat.”

  “Okay.”

  Gabby led the way with Travis and Buttercup following behind her. Not wanting to sit beside Travis on the porch swing, Gabby sat on one of the lounge chairs.

  Travis immediately noticed that Gabriella hadn’t sat on the swing as she had all the other times they’d sat in her backyard.

  What was she trying to tell him?

  Trying not to over-analyze, he sat in the lounge chair near Gabriella’s and began eating the sandwich. “Aren’t you going to have one?”

  She shook her head. “I ate earlier.” Then one side of her mouth quirked up. “I guess I should have waited for you.”

  “That’s okay.” He took another bite, chewed and swallowed, then, “What are you doing Saturday? Do you want to do something together?”

  Her face seemed to pale and she looked at Buttercup then back at him. “Uh, I don’t think so.”

  From the tone of her voice, he suspected what she was trying to tell him. “Are you saying you don’t think you want to do something on Saturday, or…ever?”

  Her lips pinched together, then tears filled her eyes.

  Oh man. Not tears. He could never take a woman’s tears.

  “Sorry,” she muttered as she blinked a few times and seemed to get her emotions under control. “It’s just that, if I know you’re leaving Emerald Falls, I can’t…that is, I think it would be best if we stopped seeing each other.”

  It was as if he’d been hit in the chest with a two by four. The sensation startled him—he had no idea her statement would affect him like that. Yet it did. Nevertheless, he wasn’t ready to say no to the opportunity to open his own clinic. Not yet.

  “I’m disappointed to hear that,” he said. Disappointed? Was that all? How about deep sadness? Or crushing dismay?

  Half-expecting Travis to tell her that of course he would stay in Emerald Falls—why would he leave when he cared about her so much?—Gabby didn’t know how to respond to his statement. He’s disappointed? I’d hoped he’d feel a little more than that.

  The gap between what he said and how she was feeling was too great for her to bridge. She’d grown to care about him a lot more than he cared about her. Which just proved that she was doing the right thing.

  Satisfied that she’d made the right call, though also deeply upset that she’d had to make it, Gabby just wanted Travis to finish his sandwich and go so she could have a pity party all by herself.

  “If we’re not…,” Travis began. He found he didn’t want to say the words, but he had to face the fact that he couldn’t have everything he wanted. That’s not how life worked. “If we’re not going to see each other anymore…” He frowned. “What do you want to do about Buttercup?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I assume you don’t want me to come over and check on her.” Maybe she would relent on that and then he could still see her.

  “Right.”

  Gabriella’s flat statement stung. “Okay. I’ll have Emily call you to schedule a follow-up appointment with Doctor Martin.”

  The stabbing pain in Travis’s heart was unexpected, but he bore it in silence.

  Gabby had to use all of her willpower to hold back the tears that threatened. Go! Just, go! Please.

  Finally, mercifully, Travis stood. Gabby watched as he went into the house and set his plate on the kitchen counter before walking towards the front door. Half-wanting to go after him and beg him to stay in Emerald Falls, even if it was just for her, she stayed on the back patio until she heard the front door open and close, then heard the sound of an engine starting up.

  When the sound of the engine had faded, she allowed herself to burst into tears. Buttercup came to her side and nudged her leg with her nose.

  Kneeling beside the yellow lab, Gabby stroked her fur and murmured, “It’s going to be okay. Everything’s going to be okay.”

  Chapter 30

  “Anything new and exciting to report with you and Travis?” Chloe asked Gabby after school the next day.

  Gabby looked up from the papers she was grading and held back the sudden urge to cry. “We’re not seeing each other any more.”

  Chloe sat in a small chair at the front of the classroom. “What? Why not?”

  Gabby explained what had happened. “I can’t do it, Chloe. I can’t keep seeing him knowing full well that he’s leaving.”

  “And leaving Emerald Falls isn’t an option for you?”

  Truth be told, Gabby had considered that—all night long. But at this point in her life, it wasn’t something she was willing to do. “No.”

  “Okay. Then I don’t see how you could do anything but what you did.”

  Hearing Chloe validate what she’d done helped. “Thanks.”

  They chatted about other things then said their good-byes.

  Later that evening, Gabby heard a knock on her front door. Her first thought was that it was Travis coming to tell her he’d changed his mind, so it was with a bright hope that she opened the door. Instead, she found Chloe, Amethyst, and Ashleigh standing on her front porch.

  Surprised, yet pleased to see them, she invited them in. “What are you guys doing here?”

  They settled on the couch and in chairs in the living room.

  “We’ve come to take you on a girls’ night out,” Amethyst said with a big smile.

  “That’s so sweet of you guys.” Gabby wasn’t sure she wanted to go out. Moping around seemed more appealing at the moment. “Thank you for thinking of me, but—”

  “Uh-uh,” Amethyst said with a wag of her finger. “No ‘buts’. You’re coming with us, and you’re going to have fun whether you like it or not.”

  Gabby couldn’t help but laugh. “Fine. You win.”

  “Good. Get your
purse and let’s get out of here.”

  Travis had yet to call Mitch and tell him he wanted in on the new clinic. The idea brought him inexpressible excitement, but what he would lose in the process—the chance to be with Gabriella—brought him inexpressible despair.

  Sacramento wasn’t that far. Maybe they could make things work.

  But that wouldn’t fly. Gabriella had made it clear if he didn’t stay in Emerald Falls, she wasn’t interested.

  Why couldn’t she be flexible?

  He half-frowned.

  What he meant was, why couldn’t she do what he wanted?

  With a shake of his head, he channel-surfed and wished he could see Gabriella.

  “I knew I shouldn’t have started dating him,” Gabby said as she and her friends sat at a table having drinks.

  “You had to try,” Amethyst said. “But now the ball’s in his court. He’s going to have to decide what’s most important to him.”

  Certain what that was, Gabby shook her head. “He already decided.”

  “He could change his mind,” Ashleigh said with a soft smile.

  “She’s right,” Chloe added. “Don’t give up hope.”

  Gabby laughed, but the sound held no humor. “We haven’t even dated that long. Why would he want to give up this opportunity for me?”

  With a tilt of her head, Amethyst raised her eyebrows. “You’ve fallen for him pretty hard in that short period of time. Why couldn’t he feel the same?”

  “You forget,” Gabby said. “I’ve had a crush on him for ten years. He didn’t know I existed until just a few weeks ago.”

  Amethyst nodded. “True, but from what I saw, he couldn’t keep his eyes off of you.”

  That made her feel better, although knowing that didn’t do any good under the circumstances. Finally, Gabby squared her shoulders before saying, “Okay. Enough about me and my failed love life. What about you guys?”