Inspire (8 page)

“Gotcha!” he said as he went over to greet my parents: kissing my mom’s cheek and shaking my Dad’s hand. I took the opportunity to check out his body in his low rise ripped jeans and his black t-shirt. His hair was still a little damp so it was more shaggy than spiked, but he looked good!

A car pulled into the drive moments later and Barney hopped out with a couple boxes of pizza. “Dinner is served,” he called as he made his way to the table. He greeted us all and then took a seat with my dad by the fire while Lucille and my mom finished putting out the salads and dressings.

“Hospitable, huh?” Travis said, coming to my side to chat obviously having overheard my comment to his mom.

“Yep, you made sure that everyone had their ice cream,” I giggled.

“Yeah, I was also the cause of you getting drenched. Sorry about that. Ashley can be a pain sometimes.” His comment about Ashley lacked any endearment, which left me curious. I was desperate to find out whether he was dating her or not, but didn’t want to seem too forward by asking.

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t think she likes me though.” I failed in my attempt to come across unscathed by her treatment, and regretted my comment right away.

“She doesn’t like the fact that you’re drop dead gorgeous.” Travis’s tone was so matter of fact, but it was the sweetest compliment I had ever received.

“You kids ready to eat?” Barney asked, coming up behind us and putting his arms on our shoulders.

“Yep, I’m starved,” Travis said, then turned to give me a wink and a smile. As we headed toward the table, I felt his hand press on the small of my back as he guided me to my seat.

“Thanks,” I said as he sat down across from me. The soft contact left me wanting more and I worried whether I was developing feelings for someone that was untouchable.

We spent most of the dinner talking about Travis and me heading to Columbia in the fall. Our dads were discussing our educational tracks and giving us scheduling recommendations, while our moms were running over all of their worries and concerns for us being on our own for the first time. It was clear that Lucille was having just as difficult a time adjusting to the fact that her only son was going off to college and leaving the nest. I was happy that our moms would have this summer to help each other face the reality.

Travis and I sat interjecting and answering everyone’s questions. Throughout the meal, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him. Every time I would look over, I found his eyes on me and every time, he smiled a crooked little grin like he had been caught with his hand in the candy jar. It was adorable and made the butterflies buzz around in my stomach.

It was obvious that our parents had really connected because they were already laughing at inside jokes and had so much to talk about. “So Paige, your parents told us about Pri*Tee Pixies today. Impressive is an understatement. It’s amazing what someone your age has been able to accomplish. You should be so proud of yourself,” Barney stated and Lucille nodded in agreement. The comment broke through our silent ogling, and my cheeks burned with embarrassment realizing that Travis and I had been locked in a stare.

“Thanks, I just feel fortunate to be able to do it and for all of the support the community has provided,” I said and then looked back to see Travis’s confused expression.

“Travis,” Lucille said, gaining his attention, “has Paige told you that she started an organization a few years ago in order to support needy and starving families? She puts together dance performance events to raise money for the charity and has managed to raise over a few million dollars.” Lucille’s brief explanation captured the gist of my organization, so now Travis would be clued into my life as a Pixie.

“Wow, Paige that’s incredible. So is that what the dance is for?” he asked and looked to be putting it all together.

“Yes, we are hosting our next event on Labor Day. It’s usually one of our largest turnouts. So, I need to work on the dance while I’m here this summer,” I answered and met his eyes. He looked to be deep in thought and I wished I knew what he was thinking.

“Do you have other dancers Paige?” Lucille inquired, pulling my attention towards the adults.

“Yes, my best friend Tracey and I are usually the leads, but then we have a group of ten guys and girls that we pull from for different numbers,” I replied and glanced back at Travis.

“So how will you prepare for the dance while you’re here Paige?” Lucille seemed really interested and wanted to learn the details.

“Well, I usually write down all of the moves and then make a video of the entire dance. Tracey is back home and will teach it to the group, and then all of them will be able to view the video online to practice.”

“Wow, modern technology,” Barney said, shaking his head in awe.

“Yeah, it makes things easier that’s for sure,” I agreed.

After dinner was all cleaned up, we sat around the fire to roast marshmallows for dessert. Travis showed off his technique for getting a perfectly roasted marshmallow.

“This one’s for you! Perfectly golden brown,” he said, handing it over to me. I took a bite and immediately nodded my approval. Travis then continued making them for me. I tried to return the favor, and ended up handing him a fully charred marshmallow.

“Wow, that looks delicious,” he teased, looking at it from every angle.

“Aren’t you going to at least try it, you wouldn’t want to insult the chef,” I needled. He popped it in his mouth and then my mom started laughing.

“Sorry Travis, I only have myself to blame. She inherited her cooking skills from me!”

We all laughed and joked around and I couldn’t believe how comfortable it was with him and with his family. It was as if we had known each other for years. Finally, it got to the point where I needed to use the bathroom because I had drunk so much lemonade. Barney was in the RV taking his time, so I excused myself from the group to go over to the main building.

“I’ll walk you over,” Travis said, grabbing a flashlight to show the way.

“Thanks,” I said, thrilled by his offer. The entire night I had been flustered by butterflies and tingles from all of his flirtations, but I still had yet to learn whether he was taken. Boys have a tendency to flirt no matter what, so I wasn’t reading anything into it.

“So is that why your dad calls you Pixie, because of your organization?” Travis asked as we walked in the dark.

“No, it’s the other way around. My dad has always called me his little pixie because he said that when I came into his life I sprinkled magic all around. It is what I wanted to do with the charity, sprinkle magic all around to help people, so it just worked,” I clarified. I’d never told anyone other than Tracey my reason for the name before.

“We are the Pri*Tee Pixies, because we used our initials from Paige Rice and Tracey Eemer. Not because we were trying to be vain,” I added so he wouldn’t think we were just two obnoxious girls thinking we were all that.

“Well, it suits. You are pretty Paige,” Travis complimented my looks for the second time in the evening and I blushed. Thankfully, it was too dark for him to see though.

Travis waited for me outside of the restroom, so we could walk back together which I thought was really considerate. “Did Ashley give you your cover up back?” he asked, surprising me by his question as I exited the bathroom.

“No, did she find it?” I tried playing ignorant so that he wouldn’t find out about her secret.

“I know what happened Paige, and that you gave it to her. I just wondered whether she returned it.”

I didn’t understand how Travis could know unless Ashley had told him, and I doubt she would tell anyone other than her best friend or a boyfriend.
That proves he’s her boyfriend
, I thought and the confirmation left me more than disappointed. I wasn’t all that surprised that he was taken because he really was an incredible guy.

“Don’t embarrass your girlfriend, it was humiliating enough. She can keep the cover up,” I said, making sure he didn’t get mad at her for not returning it. Travis then halted right in front of me.

“Ashley is NOT my girlfriend Paige,” Travis’s voice became serious and it seemed as though he was adamantly trying to get that point across.

“Oh, so how did you know?” I asked.

“I overheard you two in the bathroom. When I saw her go in, I wanted to make sure that she wasn’t going to pull any more of her stunts. So I listened outside the back window.” His admission made me melt and I was thrilled to know that he was looking out for me.

“Oh,” I said, that being the only thing I could muster up. “Well, don’t say anything all right? She’ll give it back, and if she doesn’t I’m not worried.”

“You’re sweet Paige.”

Travis leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek. The sensation sent tingles throughout my body, it was so innocent and yet the look on his face caused me to overheat. Now that I knew he was single, I was hoping that all of his actions throughout the evening meant that he was interested in me. I decided in that moment that I would have to step up my flirtations now that I knew I wasn’t infringing on anyone’s territory, and see what happened.

We made our way back to his place and our parents were already saying their goodnights. Travis and I did the rounds as well with each other’s parents and then he came back to my side. “So are you going to be around tomorrow or are you going out with your parents?” he asked, standing with his hands in his pockets giving me the most adorable grin.

“I don’t know. We haven’t made any plans yet, but I’m not sure.” I was trying to leave it open because I really wanted to spend some time with Travis, but I was uncertain about what my parents had planned.

“Well, I’m working in the morning but hopefully I will see you around after that,” he said, biting his lower lip. The action made me want to kiss his mouth and possibly bite his lip as well. I quickly had to brush away the thoughts though because our parents were present and might not appreciate me being that forward.

“I hope so!” I said, turning to leave with my parents. I couldn’t resist glancing back once more just to give him a wink and a smile, which he returned with the same sexiness.

On our walk back to our campsite, I was feeling giddy about how things went with Travis and couldn’t help but replay all of the evening’s events in my mind.
He really is an incredible guy, and I definitely am developing a crush. A major one!
I thought, silently enjoying the night and the fresh air. My parents were rehashing the evening amongst themselves expressing how much they liked the Medlers and I couldn’t have agreed more!

Chapter 7

My parents had resumed their positions the next morning, my dad on his computer at the picnic table and my mom in the chair reading her book. They asked to have a low-key day since we had had such a late night and all of the fresh air was catching up to them. I decided it would be a good time to go work on the dance and hopefully get some moves sent over to Tracey later. I knew Travis was working, and other than my hope for seeing him, I had nothing better to do with my day.

I got dressed in my light pink bikini, put on some jean shorts with a v-neck t-shirt over it, and headed out with a bag of all the gear I needed for my morning. As I walked down the dirt road to reach the lake path, I saw Travis and his dad driving toward me in the golf cart. The back was filled with firewood, so I assumed they were out making their deliveries.

“Good morning Paige!” Barney greeted me, pulling to a stop to say hello.

“Hey!” Travis echoed, seeming happy to see me as well.

“Hi!” I said, unable to help the grin that appeared on my face from the mere sight of him.

I came to stand next to Travis in the cart and admired his rugged good looks. His morning stubble made me swoon, and everything in me wanted to reach out and touch him.

“Where are you headed to?” Barney asked. I popped my head under the top so that I could meet his eyes to answer, and found myself leaning against Travis’s leg.

“I’m going down to the beach for a little bit,” I said and then felt Travis’s hand discreetly brush against my side. The contact sent tingles throughout my body, and I longed for more. It was amazing how after one evening we had reached a new level of flirting and I felt close to him.

“Nice, well, enjoy the beautiful day,” Barney said.

“I’ll see you when I’m done,” Travis added, giving me an adorable smile that held a promise in it. Then they took off in the cart and I crossed the road to the trail while replaying every detail of the interaction in my mind. It was clear that there was a mutual attraction between Travis and I, and I was eager to see where it would lead.

I began practicing the dance moves I had come up with the day before, when I heard a loud sound on the lake coming around the wooded bend. I paused to see what it was, and after a few seconds I saw Travis driving toward the beach on a wave runner.
I thought he was working. How did he get down here so fast?
I wondered, making my way over to him.

“Hey! You wanna go for a ride?” he asked with excitement gleaming in his eyes.

“Yes! But I thought you were working?” I said, climbing onto the seat behind him.

“My dad told me he could take care of the rest of the deliveries himself so he gave me the morning off. I have to work later this evening though. So, can I take you on a tour of the lake?” It seemed as though Travis had intentionally come down to spend time with me, and I delighted in the fact.

“Absolutely!” I declared, reaching my arms around his waist to hold on. I wasn’t about to be shy, and I definitely wanted to get a feel of his body.

“Don’t let go! Okay?” he said, revving up the engine ready to take off.

“I won’t!” Letting go was actually the last thing I wanted to do.

Travis whipped us all over the water. There were hardly any other boats out, so we practically had the entire lake to ourselves and could go as fast as we wanted. He was completely showing off and I was having so much fun. It was exhilarating zipping around and feeling the air against us; I couldn’t help the goofy grin plastered on my face the entire time. I was also enjoying the feel of Travis in my arms, and didn’t want the moment to end.