After Always (Always Series Book 5) Read online

  I tilt my head toward the truck. “Let’s go then.”

  We both get in the truck and everyone is silent, well, except for Penny, who rambles on about her class turtle on the way to school. After I drop her off, I head toward the grocery store where Tilly told me she works. Pulling up to the curb, I put the truck in park.

  “Thank you, Travis. I really appreciate you helping me today.”

  I reach up into my visor and pull out one of my business cards and hand it to her. “If you need a ride home, call me. And I’ll need your keys.”

  Handing me her keys, she takes the card and smiles at me but doesn’t say anything more as she climbs down from the truck. “Thanks again. Let me know if you ever need that sugar,” she says before closing the door and walking into work.

  I let out a breath of air as I watch her. Was she flirting with me?

  Her car is at the garage by the time I get there, and I get to work right away finding the problem and trying to fix it as fast as possible for her. I’m exhausted by the time I get home, and I’m thankful that Tatum was able to get Penny from school for me today. I stayed late at work to finish Tilly’s car, so I missed dinner with the girls, but Sam followed me to bring her car home.

  I don’t want her to get the wrong idea, and I don’t want her in my truck again tomorrow. No matter how nice she is.

  Tatum is already getting our Friday night routine going, popcorn and a movie, when I walk in. I run up to take a shower before I join her.

  “Tilly dropped off some cookies again,” Tatum tells me with a knowing look when I come back down.

  I let out a groan. “It’s not like that, Tate.”

  “Maybe not for you, but that woman wants to feed you into a sugar coma so she can have her way with you,” she teases.

  “She can feed me whatever she wants, but I’m not going there.”

  “Aww… and here I thought you’d be a giver, Trav.”

  “Not as much as Ollie apparently since he got Bex to marry him,” I chuckle. “You still owe me, by the way.”

  She rolls her eyes as she fishes a twenty out of her purse. “I can’t believe she puts up with him and wants to spend the rest of her life with him. I’ve lived with him. He’s gross.”

  “Can’t be worse than me.”

  “Are you kidding? You’re like Mr. Clean compared to him.”

  “I’m glad he finally got his head out of his ass and was honest with her and himself.”

  “Yeah,” she sighs, “they are happy together. And I do like her. She’s not at all like some of the other girls he used to bring around. I hated that one girl. What was her name? Oh! Sara! She was like a walking STD.”

  I try to ignore her, but either I give myself away or she remembers me hanging with Sara in high school.

  “Ew! Please tell me you never slept with her.”

  “I never slept with her…”

  “Travis!” she scolds me. “Did my mom know about that? Did you get tested after? Ew. Just gross.”

  I can’t help but laugh at her dramatics. “I took her to prom to make your mom jealous and after I asked her, she gave me head.”

  “What?! That doesn’t even make sense!”

  I shrug like it was normal and no big deal. “It was after I had told your mom how I felt about her. She kept pushing me away, but I knew she felt something too. I tried the immature approach to make her jealous.”

  “Did it work?” she asks, looking stunned.

  “Fuck no,” I laugh. “I accepted the blowjob to try to get Josie out of my head, but it didn’t work. That’s as far as we ever went. Sara and I hung out a few times, but nothing more ever happened.”

  “Boys are gross,” she scoffs at me, grabbing another handful of popcorn as we get ready to watch a movie.

  “I’m not denying that.”

  “I can’t wait for Penny to start dating. You’re going to shit a brick when she brings home a boy for the first time.”

  “Well, Penny is never dating and will live at home until she is ninety-seven.”

  “Good luck with that, Trav.”

  I open my eyes and sit straight up in a panic.

  How did I do that? How could I do that?

  I didn’t think about Josie at all yesterday.

  It was a busy day at Pretty Girl, and now that Tatum is gone working, it makes things at the garage a little more hectic. But how could I not think of my girl once throughout the day?

  Her fucking nickname is on my shirt and everywhere where I work, yet I didn’t give her a second of my thoughts.

  Am I losing her? Am I losing my memory of her?

  No. I can’t. I won’t. Not ever.

  Jumping up from the bed, I bring my box back and open it, pulling out the letter I needed today. I didn’t think I’d ever read it. “You Didn’t Think of Me Today?” I actually laughed when I saw it in here, yet here I am.

  Deep breath, Travis. It’s OK, baby. In fact, I’m glad. It means that life is going on. It means that you aren’t dwelling on me anymore.

  I want you to be able to move on and move forward. Don’t hold yourself back because of me. I don’t want that for you. I want you to keep going and living your life to the fullest. You have so much to offer. More people should be blessed to be able to see that and experience your greatness.

  I know you’ll never fully forget me. But it’s OK to have days that are busy and happy and full without me with you. Don’t feel guilty about it.

  Live. It’s my greatest wish for you.

  Always,

  Josie

  Chapter 5

  Travis

  Four years after Josie

  “Penny!” I yell out the back door for her to come inside for dinner. Normally she listens and comes running, but it’s the third time I’ve called her and nothing.

  Walking outside, I scan the field behind our house for her mass of red hair. “Penny!” I yell again, jogging around outside in search of her.

  I walk to the front of the house, and that’s where I find her, hiding behind a tree. “Penelope Gellar! I’ve been looking for you, yelling your name. You scared the shit out of me.”

  “Look,” she says through a laugh, pointing her finger toward Tilly’s house.

  I follow her finger to see a boy banging on the front door, kicking it and yelling at her to open the door. “What is going on?”

  “Tilly told me the other day her nep-hew was coming to live with her. That must be him,” she tells me, covering her mouth to smother more laughter.

  “You mean her nephew? Is Tilly alright?” I ask, a little concerned with what I’m seeing.

  “Yes. She pushed me out the door and told him he could come back in when he showed her respect,” she tells me, mimicking Tilly’s stern tone and making me bite back my own laughter.

  I had no idea Tilly had a nephew or that he was going to live with her for that matter. Guess I should check in with her to see if she needs anything.

  Since Tilly moved in next door, we’ve been cordial but have kept our distance. It’s just her who lives there and she works in the bakery at the local grocery store, but that’s about all I know about her and her life. I like it that way.

  “Come on. Dinner is ready. Go in and get cleaned up. I’m going to go to the back door and check on Tilly real quick, OK?”

  Penny nods her head while walking in the front door to get ready for dinner. “If only he’d say sorry,” she mutters as she goes.

  Walking to the back and looking in the glass door, I see Tilly sitting at her kitchen table with her head in her hands. She jumps when she hears me knock. I offer a small grin and wave at her. Standing, she opens the door for me with tears in her eyes.

  “Hey, Penny told me what was going on,” I say, lifting my eyes to her front door on the other side of the house. “You alright? You need anything?”

  “I don’t know what in the hell I’m doing, Travis,” she groans, exasperated, as she sits back down.

  “He’s going to be livi
ng with you?”

  She nods her head, biting her lip. “He’s my nephew, Jesse. He’s ten and angry.”

  “Why is he living with you? If you don’t mind me asking.”

  “His parents, my sister and her husband, died in a car accident a few days ago. They left me as guardian. Although I have no idea why!” she adds, throwing her hand up. “My parents kicked me out after high school and disowned me years ago, and I haven’t talked to my sister in almost as long. When their lawyer called me, I about fell off my chair. My dad died ten years ago, and my mom has MS and lives in an assisted living home. Joe, my sister Jill’s husband, didn’t have family. So, I’m it apparently!” She swings her arms out. “I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. This is a mess! He hates me, and yet I’m his only option.”

  I listen to her and soak in everything she just told me. “He’ll be alright. He just needs time. I was an angry fucker when I was younger. Just be there for him and show him that you aren’t going anywhere. He’ll come around.”

  “I hope so,” she sighs.

  “If you need anything, to kick his ass or to teach him where his testicles are, I’m just next door.” Why did I say that?!

  “Oh, my gosh! I didn’t even think of that stuff!” Her head hits her table with a thud, making me chuckle.

  She sits up then with a small smile. “Did I just hear you laugh?”

  I grit my teeth. “Nope.” I walk out her back door and head home to have dinner with Penny, trying my best to forget about the fact that I was in Tilly’s kitchen talking about testicles.

  Two hours later and the damn kid is still outside yelling and banging on the door. I’ll hand it to both him and Tilly; they are both stubborn as fuck.

  I can’t take it anymore though, so I go out the front door and head in his direction.

  “Hey!” I yell, but he doesn’t know I’m talking to him until I’m right behind him. “Hey, you little shit!” I yell right in his ear.

  He jumps a little but stops to turn. His eyes widen when he sees me and the look of annoyance on my face. “Look, kid, you have to stop. Tell her you’re sorry. Kiss her ass and show your appreciation. Then, if she accepts and lets you in, you can make it up to me by mowing my lawn tomorrow. Got it?”

  “What if she doesn’t take my apology?” he asks with his chin lifted. Little fucker has balls.

  “She’s a good woman. Treat her that way and you’ll be fine. But no more banging on that damn door, you hear me?”

  He shakes his head and then the door opens behind him. He looks to me for a second before turning around. Eyes on the ground, he speaks to Tilly. “Sorry, Aunt Tilly,” he grumbles. Not exactly heartfelt, but it’s a start.

  “Jesse, I want us to work together. We aren’t enemies here, OK?”

  He nods his head, and Tilly opens the door for him to enter. “There’s some food on the table for you.”

  “Thanks,” we hear from somewhere inside.

  She looks back at me and smiles. “And thank you.”

  I shrug my shoulder. “No big deal. He just needed someone to put him in his place. And apparently being a stubborn ass is a family trait.”

  “Suppose so,” she chuckles.

  “Alright, then. Night.”

  “Goodnight, Travis.”

  “I can’t believe my sister is having a baby,” Ollie says, still in shock. He came over to get away from his house where Bex and Tate were busy talking babies. We’re sitting out back enjoying the night sky.

  “I can’t believe your girlfriend sucked you off to try to soften the blow—no pun intended,” I laugh. taking a swig of my beer.

  “Fiancée,” he corrects.

  “My bad.”

  “But seriously, I can’t believe it. She’s so young, dude. What is she going to do? And she doesn’t want to tell the guy so he can focus. What the hell is up with that?”

  “She young, but your mom was younger when she had you, and you turned out not to kill people. She’ll be fine.”

  “I save lives, motherfucker.”

  “And with so much class.”

  “I am elegance,” he says, sitting up a little straighter. “Hey, you got any cookies from your neighbor?”

  “Nah, she hasn’t brought any over for a while. I think the kid is keeping her busy.”

  “Man, I don’t know what Tatum is going to do,” he says on a sigh, sinking back into his chair.

  “She can stay with us again.” I shrug. It’d be nice to have her around. “She’s always a huge help at Pretty Girl too. I’ll gladly give her back her old job if she wants it.”

  I don’t know if she’ll work things out with this guy, the father of her baby, or not; but I’ll gladly help be a stepping stone for her while she figures things out. Tate has helped me tremendously through the years with Penny, convincing me not give up when I wanted to and shit got hard. I’ll always give her a place to stay or work any time she needs it.

  “Yeah, you’re pretty OK, Gellar.”

  “Aw, shucks. Don’t make me blush.”

  The last months have been great but crazy. This family has just about gone insane in the past year. Between Ollie and Bex and their fast-paced romance to Tatum and Benton getting ready to have a baby and working things out. All of them got engaged somewhere in there too. It’s hard to keep track of it all.

  It has been nice having Tatum back to help at the garage and run the business side of things, but I fear it won’t last. She’s going to want to travel with Benton during race season and be a family. I’ll never begrudge that. I really should hire someone else to come in and help, but it’ll never be the same as her bossy ass running the office.

  We all just helped Tate and Benton move into their new place today. She seems so grown up, and I really wish Josie could be here to see it. Hell, to become a grandma. That’s a crazy thought right there.

  I wake to my phone ringing. Sitting up in bed, I see it’s Benton and concern hits me as I answer.

  “Benton? Everything alright?”

  “Yeah.” He sounds a little winded. “Tate is in labor. I can’t believe the little bugger is coming early.”

  “We’re on our way,” I tell him. “Need anything?”

  “No, I think we’re fine. She made sure everything was sorted long ago. You know how she is,” he laughs. “I need to go, but let me know when you arrive.”

  “Will do. Good luck, man.”

  “Thanks.”

  I smile thinking about when Josie went into labor with Penny and how insane I was. I was about to drive her to the hospital naked if she hadn’t told me I needed clothes.

  I gently wake up Penny, and we head to the hospital. It’s early morning, so traffic isn’t bad, and we make it there fairly quickly. Not much later, Ollie and Bex join us in the waiting area.

  “I was thinking about how much your mom would be freaking about being a grandma already,” I say with a chuckle.

  Ollie snorts a laugh. “She’d be what? Forty…”

  “Four,” I help him. “She’d be forty-four.”

  “Damn,” he says.

  “Dollar!” Penny yells at him with her palm out, waiting. He slaps a twenty in her palm.

  “I’m paying in advance, you little twerp.”

  “Works for me.” She shrugs making us all laugh.

  “She’d love being a grandma though. Can you imagine how much she would have spoiled this little thing?” Ollie adds, no doubt still thinking about his mom.

  “Yep.”

  “Looks like I’m just going to have to step in. It’s like my duty, right?” Bexley asks.

  “I’m oddly alright with that, Sweetness,” Ollie tells her, kissing her on the temple.

  Not much later, we’re told that Tate had the baby, and we are ushered back to see them. When we walk in her room, Tatum is crying. She tells us that she is missing her mom, a feeling I know all too well.

  While everyone gushes over the baby and passes around Princess Poppy, I give Tatum a hug. “You did good.
”

  “Thanks, Trav. For everything.”

  “I didn’t do anything. You’ve made things happen for yourself. I’m really proud of you.”

  “Gah! These tears won’t stop!” she groans, frustrated with her hormones. That I remember.

  After a couple of hours, I pry Penny away from Tatum and the baby and head home. LP talks my ear off the whole way, chattering about new baby Poppy.

  “Poppy and Penny are so close to the same, aren’t they, Daddy? I think it means we’re going to be best friends. She was so cute! I just wanted to kiss and kiss her. I can’t wait until we play together, and I can teach her how to catch lightning bugs. Oh, it’ll be so amazing!” she goes on and on with her hands clasped under her chin in excitement.

  I chuckle to myself listening to her. She’s so happy to have a baby niece. I sure hope this kid lives up to her expectations.

  Once we’re home, she takes off to tell Jesse, the boy from next door, all about her Poppy. I go inside and search for a letter that I was thinking about earlier. One of the few I haven’t read yet. “If I’m a Grandma, You’re a Grandpa” is scrolled on the envelope and brings a smile to my face.

  I’m a grandma?! Which of my babies had a baby first? I’m guessing Tatum. Am I right? Oh, I know I’m right.

  How is she? I bet she was beautiful as a pregnant woman and will be even more beautiful as a mother.

  And if I’m wrong and it’s Ollie… was it a broken condom or is he miraculously with a woman who could tame his ways? You think you two hid that crap from me? Nope! A mother always knows when her children are bed-hopping.

  Either way, I’m so happy that our family is growing. And I mean it. If I’m a grandma, you’re a grandpa! I’m sure one of the world’s youngest grandpas, but still. So, Gramps, how’s it feel? You better spoil that kid rotten!

  My babies are having babies… I still can’t fathom that. I’m happy though. So happy.

  Always,

  Josie

  Chapter 6