She watched as Travis slowly got to his feet, staring at his twin’s somber face, his expression uncertain. It took Kade less than a second to wrap his older brother into one of the fiercest bear hugs Ally had ever seen.
“I love you, you ass**le,” Kade said ferociously, hugging Travis tightly in his beefy arms. “And you could never be like our father. You’re the glue that held this family together every single time we needed it. I don’t give a shit if you couldn’t tell me about the accident. I wouldn’t be with the woman I love more than life if it hadn’t happened. Sometimes our pain in life is worth it.”
Ally watched, tears rolling down her cheeks as Travis slowly responded, and she saw his big body shudder as he hugged Kade in return, the two of them locked together in a brotherly embrace. She didn’t need to be told that it was the first time Kade had ever felt free to really express how much he cared about Travis because Travis had always kept everyone at a distance in the past.
“I love you, too, little brother,” Travis answered quietly, slapping Kade on the back as they separated.
Ally’s heart clenched as she watched Kade’s face turn into a happy grin as Mia came right up behind him and threw herself into Travis’s arms, her face wet with tears. “I’m so sorry, Travis. So sorry for everything. If I hadn’t gotten myself into trouble, you and Kade wouldn’t have been so distant with each other while I was hiding out in Montana. Max and Kade had each other. You didn’t have anybody,” she choked out on a sob, clinging to her older brother like a lifeline.
“I did, Mia,” Travis crooned, holding his sister and rocking her. “I had you. At least I knew you were alive. I didn’t have to deal with the hell that I put Kade and Max through because they thought you were dead.”
“I would have been if you hadn’t hidden me and kept quiet,” Mia answered, finally pulling back and kissing Travis on the cheek. “Max, Kade, and I would all be dead. You already know I love you, but I don’t think you’ll ever know how much. I’ve caused you the most problems, yet I still know you care.” Mia swiped at her tears as she stepped back, looking her brother in the face.
“I love you, Mia. I always have. And I’m your big brother. It’s my job to keep you out of trouble,” Travis told her almost arrogantly, but he was smiling.
Asha was the next to get her hugs and kisses in with Travis, and Max came forward and shook Travis’s hand and slapped him on the back in a brief hug. Stepping back from Travis, Max said remorsefully, “I owe you an apology, Travis. I hate myself for this, but I’ve resented you since I learned you hid Mia away from me.”
Max returned to take his seat by Mia, and Travis sat back down. Ally reached out her hand and Travis clasped it, bringing her palm to his lips and kissing it tenderly before bringing their joined hands to rest on the arm of the chair.
“I know you did, Max. And I knew to this day you were still resentful. But I never blamed you,” Travis answered honestly.
“I’m not anymore, Travis. I am so damn grateful, and I don’t know how to say thanks for saving every one of us,” Max answered thoughtfully.
“I can’t believe you all just accept this, that you believe me,” Travis said hoarsely.
Ally squeezed his hand, knowing that his family’s unconditional acceptance meant everything to him.
“Why wouldn’t we?” Asha asked curiously. “When Tate rescued me, he told me that you texted him. How did you know I needed him?”
“I had a vague dream the night before,” Travis admitted. “And I wasn’t feeling good about the whole situation.” He shrugged. “It happens that way sometimes.”
“You have an incredible gift, Travis. I think there are many spiritual things that we don’t understand, but it doesn’t mean that they don’t exist,” Asha murmured. “I’m more grateful than you’ll ever know that you texted Tate that day. I wouldn’t have made it even a few minutes longer without his help.”
Ally wanted to hug her friend for reassuring Travis, for trying to make him more comfortable with himself. “He saved Tate, too.”
Mia leaned forward, a look of awe on her face. “Tell us.”
“He told you?” Travis asked, looking up at her with a frown.
“He did. When my house was destroyed, he told me his story because I told him I thought you knew it was going to happen.”
Ally quickly explained what had happened with Tate to the rest of the family. Travis had already told them about his recurring dreams about Ally, and why he’d taken her to Colorado.
“Holy shit, Trav. That’s amazing,” Kade exclaimed, gaping at Travis.
“It’s peculiar. And so am I,” Travis rumbled awkwardly, but not very emphatically.
Ally sighed, knowing it would take time for Travis to completely accept who he was, but having his family know about it and validate him was an important step.
“You’re gifted,” Asha argued.
“Special,” Mia said with a nod.
“I never wanted to be gifted or special,” Travis rasped. “After our crazy childhood and our insane father, I just wanted to be normal.”
“You’ve never been normal,” Kade said with a grin. “You’ve always been an ass**le. And what happened to the brother who told me he hadn’t met a woman who was worth losing his common sense over? Did you see the picture of you in the paper grabbing Ally’s butt and kissing her like you’d lost it in the middle of a formal ball?”
“Yep. I framed it and it’s on my desk at work,” he admitted non-apologetically. “I’ve joined the psycho men club. In fact, I might have to become the damn president of the organization.”
“Still want to get rid of that desk?” Kade asked with a smirk.
“Hell, no. Not anymore. It’s become my favorite damn piece of furniture in the whole building,” he answered emphatically.
Ally flushed, knowing exactly why Travis used to hate that desk. But they’d had a few more adventures in the office on that particular wood surface, and now he swore he’d keep it forever, even if it did distract him sometimes. But she knew he’d be cursing it again if she wasn’t around.
The men bantered a little longer, the women throwing in their own comments.
Ally looked down at Travis, finally breathing a sigh of relief. Today had been a big hurdle for him, and she knew he hadn’t really wanted to deal with it. But she had enough faith in his family to know that they’d always accepted Travis unconditionally, and she wanted him to know that, to believe that. So she had pushed him, encouraged him, hoping nothing would go wrong. Someday he’d be more comfortable with his special and unique traits, but he’d lived with his gift alone for so long that it wouldn’t happen overnight.