i can't want you (i'm taking you anyway)

part 13

Travis' POV

"I'm sorry Travis, I'm so sorry."

"Yeah." I brushed her aside, heading for the door.

"Where the hell are you going?" Maya called after me.

"None of your damn business!" I called back. "We're done!"

I slammed the door on the way out, glaring down at the footpath as I made my way to my car. Fucking hell. I'd thought Maya and I would work out. Guess fucking not.

I wasn't even that mad about it to be honest. I didn't really care. I'd dated her for a few months; longer than most, but I didn't feel shit towards it ending. I didn't even care that she'd cheated on me. I deserved that. Years of being the bad guy, and I deserved the karma I was getting. 

I drove to work, even though I wasn't needed there tonight, I didn't feel like going home. Saturdays sometimes got busy in the bar, and I liked to keep an eye on things when I could. Patrick and I had just settled into our co-ownership of the bar in the middle of New York, and business was booming. I spent more time on sight than he did though; he had other shit going on.

"Hey Travis." The duty bar manager smiled at me when I came through the door. 

"Hey Kelly, how's tonight going?" I paused at the bar.

"Little slow, but it's only five-fifteen. It'll pick up."

"Alright, let me know if you need help."

"Will do."

There were plenty of bar staff on tonight, so they shouldn't need me, but I liked to offer anyway. I went through the bar to the back, going into the office. I'd done everything I needed to do for the week already so there wouldn't be much to do, so I contented myself with looking over any leave that any of my staff had applied for in the coming weeks. That didn't take me very long, and after fifteen minutes I sighed and pushed back from the desk. I should just go home.

The bar was a little busier when I walked back out, and my eyes caught on my newest staff member. Just turned eighteen, Ashley was only a few days into the job and still learning. She was standing at the cashier computer, gesturing with her hands as she spoke to a man that was leaning way too close, his expression way too aggressive. Ashley looked like she was about to start panicking.

"It's just the policy sir, I'm sorry." She implored.

"Fuck the policy girl come on!" The man snapped at her.

"Excuse me." I cut in, walking down to the pair. "Is there a problem here?" I saw Ashley's shoulders relax a little.

"Your girl keeps saying she can't serve me without an ID. Do I look underage to you?" The man looked up at me, pissed off.

"No sir, you do not, but unfortunately we do have to check the ID of everyone no matter how old we think they might be." I said firmly. "That is our policy. If you are unable to provide valid ID, we cannot serve you." The man grumbled something, stomping off towards the door. "Don't mind people like him." I told Ashley. "You okay?"

"Yeah." She blew out a breath. "Just...still new at this you know."

"Don't worry about it, you'll get there." I patted her shoulder, turning to leave.

Then a tinkling laugh hit my ears, and I froze. At the sound, my thoughts flipped, sending me reeling back years into the past. I turned back, my eyes searching the semi-crowded bar. There was no way, no way I'd heard that laugh. That laugh I'd recognize anywhere.

Then I found her. Walking up to a couple waiting for her, dressed in a simple white dress that clung to her body and stopped at her ankles, with a purse thrown over one shoulder. Her hair was straight, not curly, and she looked so different, but also exactly the same. I was frozen, watching as she exchanged a kiss on the cheek with the woman waiting for her and hugged the man with one arm. She laughed again, a beautiful smile spreading over her face as she nodded, gesturing at her watch and rolling her eyes. It had been two and a half years since I'd seen her, and it was like nothing had changed, but everything had changed. She was so full of life.