Chapter 18: White Roses

Leah's POV

Travis was leaning on the hood of his car at the far end of the school lot.

He had a bouquet in one hand.

They were white roses, my least favorite flower, because he had never once asked.

I walked out to him in my nurse's cardigan with my lanyard swinging.

The principal stood on the front steps with her arms crossed.

She had her phone up, and she was not hiding it.

"Babe," Travis said.

"Don't."

"Leah. Come on." He held out the roses. "I'm trying to be the bigger person."

"You're trying to be seen."

He smiled at that, because it was true.

"Okay. Straight talk." He dropped his voice. "Mom went too far with the photographer. I told her so."

"Did you."

"I did. And the check was a mistake. You deserve more than a check."

"What do I deserve, Travis?"

"The truth." He spread his free hand. "Whitney and I are a habit."

"A habit."

"I've known her since I was seventeen, and I'm tired. You were the one I chose."

I almost laughed.

"You chose me to win a bet against a man who didn't know he was playing."

"I chose you, and it turned into more than that."

"You told me I was the trophy. I have it on my phone."

His eyes flicked to the phone in my pocket.

"Leah, listen."

"I'm listening."

"Come to the church on the twenty-first," he said gently. "Sit with my mother. Be gracious."

"And?"

"Monday morning, the forty-one thousand is in your account, with interest."

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