Miss Me; When I'm Gone (editing)

CHAPTER 5 (Travis)

Travis

I hadn't gone to Karleah's last night. I'd gone back to the house and cleaned up the glass, then called and explained that I was exhausted. I still had sleep to catch up on.

The few hours I had gotten that morning weren't enough. When id woken up to silence this morning, I'd felt an odd sense of loss. This was odd, considering that Blair couldn't sing for shit. I didn't plan on seeing the girl again.

Even if I didn't leave on Sunday, I wouldn't be here when she got here. I had an urge to fix all her problems. This was stupid. She was doing fine without me. But something about those big eyes... and hell, who was I kidding? There wasn't a part of her body that didn't scream for attention. And I wanted to give her that attention.

A woman like that should have a man. Made no sense why she didn't. I pulled up outside Karleah's and pushed all thoughts of Blair out of my mind so I could move on from yesterday. Yes, I thought I deserved a motherfucking trophy for not kissing those plump lips, but that was over now.

The front door swung open, and Karleah came running out, grinning like a little girl. In my head, she'd always be my baby sister. I could still see her pig tails, and the gap between her two front teeth as she smiled up at me. She'd have freckles on her nose back then, too. She'd needed me for a long time, and I'd taken care of her. But Dave Peterson did that now.

"You're here!" she squealed and threw herself into my arms. I chuckled at her enthusiasm and held her in my arms as she kissed my cheek.

"Sorry I didn't make it yesterday. Long day" I said feeling guilty for not coming by last night.

"It's ok. I have a full day planned out for us. Adelia Jane is sleeping inside, and the house cleaner Dave insisted we need is cleaning upstairs. Which by the way don't get me started on that. He didn't like that I was cleaning while Adelia Jane was sleeping, he thinks I should be sleeping with her and getting more rest. He doesn't want me cleaning the house." She rolled her eyes as of he was ridiculous.

But I agreed with him. Karleah had a heart condition that had almost taken her from us. The memory of nearly losing her during child birth was still too raw. Adelia Jane had been several days old before Karleah had opened her eyes.

"He's right," I replied simply, and Karleah laughed at me.

"Come on in. I have brunch ready. I've been watching the Food Network while giving Adelia Jane her bottle in the middle of the night, so I've been into cooking lately. It started an itch."

I followed Karleah inside as she chatted happily. Hearing the joy in her voice and seeing the love shining in her eyes made me really like Dave Peterson. I wasn't sure at first, but the dude had won me over. He made my little sister happy. He adored her the way she needed to be adored.

"I'm inside, Blair. You don't have to keep an eye on Adelia Jane. I have the monitor with me. Thankyou!" Karleah called up the stairs.

just as the name "Blair" was sinking in, I looked upstairs to see those baby-blues staring down at me, all wide and surprised. Well shit. So much for not seeing her again.

"Blair, this is Travis my brother. Travis, this is Blair. She's the best house cleaner in the world. I have Owen to thank for pointing her my way."

I saw her cover her bandaged hand with her good one as she forced a tight, nervous smile. She was working with her hand like that. Dammit. Did she not listen to anything I had said? She was so fucking stubborn. Her stitches had to be burning like a motherfucker.

"She's pretty dedicated too, since she's cleaning your house with five fresh stitches in her palm. Your pain tolerance is really impressive Blair." I said.

"What?" Karleah gasped.

"OH! Blair clean's De's too?"
Karleah swung her gaze up to Blair.

"You're cleaning after slicing your hand open yesterday? Why didn't you tell me? I would have never expected you to come in today. You need to rest your hand. You could tear it back open," Karleah scolded her.

I watched as Blair straightened her shoulders and stuck her bandaged hand behind her back, as if that would make it go away.

"I'm fine, really, I am. I woke up this morning, and it didn't hurt at all. Well maybe a little, but I took my medicine and it was better. I'm almost done with the upstairs. I won't be much longer."

Karleah shook her head.
"Absolutely not. You come and have brunch with us, then Trav can drive you home. I don't want you back until next week at the earliest. You can't work with your hand like that."

I could see the frustration in Blair's face, but she wasn't going to argue with Karleah.

"Ok, let me put the folded towels in your bathroom, and then I'll be down."

Damn, woman.
"The towels are fine wherever they are; Karleah can put her towels away. Come downstairs."

It sounded like an order. But she was pushing my patience.

She nodded stiffly and came down the stairs slowly. She wasn't wearing shorts today. Instead she had on leggings that ended just below her knees. They hugged her like a glove. I wished her damn shirt wasn't so big so I could see her ass in those things.
"I'm sorry he sounds so bossy. He's always been bossy. It's this alpha male thing he has going on." Karleah said, as Blair stopped in front of us.

"Come on, let's go eat. I'm starving, and I'm serving some things I just tried for the first time. I can't wait to hear what y'all think about 'em."

I watched as Karleah walked into the kitchen and waited until she was far enough ahead before looking at Blair.

"Let me see your hand," I said softly, trying to ease her tension. It was clear I made her frustrated.

She stared to argue. I could see it in her eyes, but she relented and held out her hand to me. I un wrapped it gently and took in the pink, puckered skin. It wasn't infected, but it was abused from cleaning, she needed to put some ice and salve on it.

"I'm getting you some ice. Come on," I told her, holding her wrist and pulling her to walk in front of me.

"I really wish you wouldn't. Mrs. Peterson will feel bad that I cleaned her house today."

She was worried about Karleah. Why did this not surprise me?

"It's fine. Karleah will want you to take care of yourself."

She walked into the kitchen and over to the table, where Karleah was motioning her to sit. My relaxing visit with Karleah had just become something different altogether. I walked to the freezer and fixed a bag of ice. Karleah had sat down at the table across from Blair, but I could feel her eyes on me. My sister was reading more into this than there was.