39Seven Years Ago
They had finally graduated from high school.
Travis Jamison sat on the edge of the bleachers, staring at the thick, leather-bound folder in his hand, and didn't know what to feel. Three years ago, he was a street rat on probation for drug possession, with 'friends' that were all too willing to rat him out.
Now he had just graduated from one of the most prestigious private schools in the country, with honors, and with a full-ride scholarship to Princeton. The dark blue robes that hung on his shoulders felt like weights on his shoulders.
He smiled to himself. He didn't mind the weight.
"You look awfully happy."
Travis looked up to see Emily. His girlfriend of three years was grinning, somehow managing to look beautiful in the cheesy robes. He knew that underneath them, she was wearing a sundress that was the same color as her blue eyes. Her blond hair was long and hung low around her waist.
"I am."
Emily walked forward and kissed the top of his head. When he sat, his head stopped at her mid-chest. Looking up into her eyes, he grinned, and found himself completely content. He saw Nora approaching him out of the corner of his eye, and patted Emily's shoulder as he stood.
Nora wrapped her arms around him. He had grown like a weed, and was almost as tall as Jack now. She had to rest her head on the edge of his shoulder.
"Congratulations," she smiled, "You really earned this, Travis," Nora touched her hands to his face, "You did good."
He smiled, nodding his head. Nora Bartlett was like a mother to him, although she had told him not to call her that. Someday he would and see what her reaction would be. She already treated him like he was her own, both her and Jack.
"How's the munchkin?" he asked.
They both glanced over at Jack and Chris. Christian Bartlett was eight years old, and already starting to look a lot like his father. Travis figured the boy would end up doing great things, he had no doubt about it. Their attentions, however, were fixed on the bundle of blankets that was currently sleeping in Jack's arms.
Lily Bartlett was two and a half weeks old. They had been worried at first that she would be born late, and over Travis' graduation. Nora had been determined to see him graduate, even if she had the baby in the stands. Fortunately, Lily came a week early.
Dillon Austin had come as well, and stood with Jack. Beside him was Susan, Dillon's wife. Travis liked the spunky woman. She was a nurse at the hospital that Dillon worked at, and had a good hand at keeping him in line.
"Lily was quiet the whole time. I was really happy," Nora sighed, "Then again, she's always really quiet."
"You look beautiful."
She whacked him in the arm, giggled like a schoolgirl, and told him he was a suck-up. Travis glanced back at Emily, who was chatting with her family. Alex waved at him, and Travis waved back. They had become such close friends since the trial that they were like brothers, and the Sykes family had unofficially made Travis one of their own.
"So," Nora smirked, seeing him stare at Emily again, "What are your plans?"
"I'm going to hang out with Alex. Probably won't be back until tomorrow."
That was code for 'I'm going to a party', and Nora frowned for a moment. Usually, she put up a big fuss. She knew the school's senior get-together was that night, and if he didn't go to that, it didn't surprise her that he would spend time with the Sykes siblings. Soon Alex would be off to Harvard, Emily would be going to California State University, and Travis was bound for Princeton. They would be spread out and it would be difficult to see one another.
"Okay," Nora smiled.
He seemed a little surprised at first that she would agree so quickly, "But-"
"You're all grown up now," she smoothed out the collar of his suit, "I trust you, Travis."
Nodding once more to her, Nora stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. Hearing Lily start to cry, she went over to go see what the problem was. He watched his family stand off to the side, and smiled to himself. That's exactly who they were. His family.
As he walked over, he felt a part of his had changed after the graduation. He wasn't sure what it was, but everything was different.
Travis made it his duty to loose himself in the party that night. Lacy Winters, some rich girl who had graduated the same year as himself, was known for having crazy parties. They were generally harmless, with the exception with maybe a little underage drinking that no one ever admitted too, but it seemed like half of the class was there that night.
He let himself move to the music, Emily cradled in his arms. He lost count of how long they had been dancing. His hand ran over the side of her hip, and a thought suddenly occurred to him.
They were eighteen years old, out of high school, and it would probably be a long time since they would see each other again.
After dancing one last song, Emily spotted her friend Tessa, and led him off the dance floor. Tessa Moore came from a wealthy family, lived only a few house from Emily, and her parents had given her everything while grown up. However, they weren't home enough to really give her the only things she needed.
Attention.
Tessa had been raised by an elder governess, like something from eighteenth-century England, and was the most socially awkward person he had ever met. She was short, pale, and always had her brown hair braided and knotted onto the back of her head. She always wore long skirts that looked two sizes too big, and shirts that hung on her small frame.
She was a nice girl, very kind to both him and Emily, and for that he considered Tessa a friend. When they found her huddled into some corner by a large teenage boy that Travis recognized from the football team, he grabbed the back of the guy's shirt.
"Beat it."
No one argued with Travis Jamison. He was a mean son of a bitch when he wanted to be. The guy hurried off without another word.
Emily was currently trying to calm Tessa, who nodded frantically when asked if she wanted to go home. With a pleading look at Travis, Emily held her friend in her arms, "Is it okay, Travis? Can we take her home?"
"Sure, I'll just go let Alex know we're heading out."
"So, Travis what are your plans?" Tessa asked as he walked the girls down the street.
"Corporate management," he said, "I'm going to study business."
It had come as a surprise to everyone. He was such a math whiz, they had expected him to be some sort of engineer. In the end, Travis had discovered he had a talent for starting businesses and running them, as well as making them successful. Jack was still wary about the choice, but everyone in the family supported Travis wholeheartedly.
"I don't know what I'll do," Tessa sighed, "I'm overly organized and that's about it."
"I'm sure you'll think of something," Emily grinned, "No need to choose now."
They neared the Moore estate, and Tessa let them in the house. It wasn't uncommon for them to visit the house, with Alex as well, and stay the night. Travis watched as the butler greeted them, guiding them towards the usual rooms.
Tessa thanked them for walking her back, and told them to make themselves at home. There was nothing out of the ordinary. He found himself in the same room that he had shared with Emily numerous times. Tessa knew it was their regular room, and had even told the staff to stock the wardrobe and the bathroom.
Nothing was different. Emily got ready for bed while he disappeared into the bathroom.
He showered, and came out to see Emily was sitting on the edge of the bed. Her hair was loose, and she was wearing one of his shirts. She always did that when they shared a room together, and told him that the point of dating was so she could steal her boyfriend's clothes. Honestly, it looked better on her than himself.
She looked up at him, and Travis found that he had been wrong. Something was different this time. His brown hair was wet from the shower, and all he wore other than his boxers was a black tank. It should have been like any other old time he hung out with Emily, but it wasn't.
Emily just sat on the bed and stared.
Walking towards her from the bathroom, Travis stop to look down at her. There was a contemplative look on her face.
"What?" he asked.
She shuffled so that she stood in front of him. Emily's eyes bore into his, and he willed himself to stay still.
"I haven't forgotten what you said, you know," she whispered, "At the night of the winter formal. I haven't forgotten what you said to me."
I would never find someone that I would feel the same way about, like the way I feel about you.
He was so nervous that for a moment, he wished that the floor would crack and swallow him up.
"Travis?" she asked.
"Yeah?" he replied a little too quickly.
Travis mulled the choices over in his head. He knew something like this was bound to happen eventually, it was only a matter of time. She was right. He had promised that when they were eighteen, maybe they would go further than just a hot make-out session on the couch.
Just thinking about it made his blood boil.
"Travis," she whispered, touching her lips to his chin, than his jawline.
She was trembling, and he knew that she wasn't the only one. His hands shook when they caught the sides of her face.
"I don't know what to do," he admitted, "I don't know anything."
"I don't either."
"I don't know if I'll do everything right, I'll probably mess it all up," Travis leaned over and kissed her jawline. She was smiling, tilting her head to the side to let him kiss her.
"You won't."
She was only wearing one of his old shirts. Emily wrapped her arms around him and lost herself in him while he kissed her. He took his time exploring, knowing that they had all night to themselves. Tessa wouldn't bother them, no one would.
It started out like it always did. Her body pressed closer to his, he could feel the warmth of her skin and the curves of her body through the thin t-shirt. Her hands skimmed under the tank he wore, his fingers dove in her hair, letting it drift over her shoulders. Emily pulled the shirt over his head, and let it slide from her fingers to the floor. Her eyes fell on his chest, resting on the scar that she had first seen the year they met.
It was faded, but still ugly. Tears threatened to burn through her eyes as she leaned forward to touch her lips to his shoulder. He flinched slightly, and it was not missed by her.
"Does it still hurt?" she whispered, her arms banding around his waist.
Travis let his eyes close, feeling her soft lips on his skin, "Sometimes."
He allowed the little interlude for a moment. It helped to relax both of them. Travis then felt a smile quirk at the end of his lips as he leaned over, and scooped her up in his arms. He may have scars, but he was in no-way weak because of them.
Emily giggled as he carried her to the bed, laying her down on the top. She watched as he lay down beside her. His hands explored her, touching her arms, face, moving over her thighs. It hypnotized her at how throughout he was. Nothing was left untouched, touched by either his fingers or lips. She realized it was for her pleasure as much as his own. His fingers inched under the shirt, and his eyes raised to search hers. She made no move to stop him, but fixed her stare back at him. Travis slipped the t-shirt from her, and his lungs lost all ability to breathe.
She wore absolutely nothing underneath the shirt. He had not quite prepared himself enough, and gazed absently at her. Emily then smiled at him from her spot on the pillows, her hair fanned around her like a halo.
"Are you still with me, there?" she asked.
Yes. No. He didn't really know. Travis rolled over, and gently eased his weight onto her. She cradled him in her legs, sighing softly at the feel of his skin pressing over hers. He groaned, dropping his lips to her neck, trailing his teeth and tongue over her collar bone. Her fingers brushed over his back as he touched his mouth to her breast. She was drowning in sensations, her mind not really knowing how to sort them out. Their breathing mingled together, and when he knew he couldn't take anymore, he pulled the sheets over them.
"I'm going to try and be gentle," he whispered as he wiggled out of his shorts. He thanked the heavens he had already prepared himself for the whole experience, reaching over to the side table as he kissed her.
"It's okay," she whispered to him, drawing in a deep breath as he held her hands tight. He was braced on his elbows over her, "Do you know why?"
Travis stared down at her. She was a beautiful creature that he still didn't think he deserved. It still boggled his mind that he was here, with her. Feeling her legs clasp around his waist, he shuddered, and realized that he was scared to death, "Why?"
Emily smiled brightly at him, "Because I love you."
No one had ever really said it to him before. He knew people loved and cared about him, but never really said anything to him flat out. As far as he could remember, it was the only time someone had spoke the words to his face.
"Oh, Em," he whispered, he willed himself not to break in front of her, "I love you too."
She felt him ease into her, slowly so she could get used to it. He moved further, occasionally leaning over to kiss her lips, until he reached the last barrier. Her eyes were fixed straight on his as he moved forward with a jerk.
Her fingers dug into his back, and he whispered to her, trying to calm her. They both breathed quickly, their chests brushing, his fingers threaded with hers. As she relaxed, he began to move, slowly, not gathering speed but taking his time. When he grew move confident, he reached down and pulled one of her legs upwards to wrap around his waist.
She felt his hips rock, her arms around him, and began to feel something build up as the pain vanished. Travis glanced down at her and felt them both rise and fall together, his hands still clinging to hers like a lifeline.
After sleeping for a short while, Emily lay in Travis' arms and figured that she discovered why her parents had so many children.
It was glorious. He was wonderful, she felt fantastic despite the slight soreness. Emily buried her face in his skin and enjoyed simply being able to do so. Maybe the next time around would be even better. She grinned unrepentantly at the thought.
He kissed her forehead, whispered that he loved her, and fell asleep with his arms banded around her. Emily was exhausted and knew that she would fall asleep soon, but took a second to stare at him, and knew that she was looking at the man that she would spend the rest of her life with.
She fell asleep with a content smile on her face.
Three Years Ago
Travis felt a wide mix of emotions as he stood in front of the Sykes house, wondering if he should really be standing there.
He was nervous and scared as hell. Will Sykes was intimidating, and one of the few people other that Nora that Travis gave authority too. At that moment, Will had the power to make Travis' life either a complete happy ending, or turning it into hell. Ringing the doorbell, he stood and waited.
It was a week after graduation. He had worked his butt off and graduated early. Travis sighed for a moment, letting the knowledge set in that he was free to do what he wanted now. Job offers were already rolling in daily, and it was only a matter of days before Travis picked something to his liking. He had a certain ability of the corporate world, and understood office politics better than most veteran businessmen.
The door opened, and the member of the staff ushered him down the hallway and knocked on the door to Will's study.
"Come in."
The elder woman gave Travis an encouraging look before opening the door. Everyone in the household staff knew why Travis was there, and they all knew the significance of the event. Travis closed the door behind him, and turned to face the father of Emily Sykes.
Will's hair was gray slightly at the temples, making him look more intimidating. He regarded Travis with an amused look, "Hello, Travis."
"Hello, sir," Travis made himself walk away from the door, although standing in the middle of the study made him feel more exposed and vulnerable.
"Have a seat."
He sat in the leather chair in front of the desk.
"So," Will leaned back in his chair, "What can I do for you today, Travis?"
Travis was silent a minute, and then said, "I'm here to ask your permission to marry Emily."
Will's eyebrows shot up in the air. He was prepared for this, but it was still a surprise. Travis Jamison was a good, honorable man, and Will liked him. There was always something rough about his personality, but Will valued the blunt honesty with it. No doubt came forward about Travis' suitability for Emily.
He was still young, however, and so was Emily. Will knew that Travis was also in high demand by multiple companies. Although it was obvious that the young man was bright and had a wide future ahead, Will still felt uneasy.
"You're twenty-two, Travis."
Travis shrugged. So what? There was nothing he could do about it, or that fact that he was madly in love with Emily.
"What would you do if I said no?"
His heart skipped a beat for a second, "The opinion of her family matters a lot to her," Travis said, "I...I suppose if you had a particular reservation, I could work on it. I don't think I could ever pull Emily away for her family, though."
Will gathered the implication of that statement. If he said no, Travis would leave. It would have broken Emily's heart, but Travis wasn't going to make her chose between himself or her family.
With a ghost of a smile on his face, Will leaned over towards the drawer of his desk, and pulled out a file.
"Have you accepted any jobs offers yet?"
"None, but I have a lot coming in," Travis frowned. What was this about?
"How are your poker skills?"
"What?"
The huge binder was stuffed with papers. It was old and frayed, some parts were taped with clear packaging tape. This particular case had been a thorn in Will's side for the better part of a decade. It was a property that had been in the family for generations.
Red Lily Casino.
"I'll make you a deal, Travis," Will said, "If you take this job, you'll be paid a salary suitable for someone of your skill, have full benefits, and be given full authority over the happenings of this place. At one time, it was one of the top-rated tourist sites in the country. With the economy and faulty management, it's slipped through the cracks. The walls are literally falling down."
Travis looked confused.
"I'll give you three years," Will continued, "Three years to make it the top casino in the country again. If you can do that, I'll give you my blessing."
Emily was still in grad school, and would be for the next three years. It would be easy for her to go to school while Travis took over the casino. Will searched the boy's face for a reaction, and when he gave none, waited for a verbal answer.
"What's the catch?" Travis asked.
Will smiled, "You'll have full access to whatever funds you need to get the casino running. Building costs, maintenance, advertising, everything. However, you must make these costs up with profits generated from the casino before the five years are up."
"Or what?"
Taking a lead from one of Travis' habits, Will simply smiled and shrugged.
Travis stared at the binder, and then back at Will's face.
"I get to hire my own staff."
The older man nodded, "Of course."
"I don't want any third parties giving me shit about how to run it."
Will chuckled, "No worries."
Travis thought another moment, and then a smirk spread across his face. He'd play the old man's game. He was young enough where there was plenty of time for Emily and himself to do what they wanted before settling down.
"It's a deal."
As he took the binder, Travis prayed he was making the right choice.
a/n: Hey all! Since I've been making so many changes from the original, I think I got all the ages right. Technically, I don't really know how long it would be to fix a casino, but I picked three years for the sake of the story :D Thank you all for being patient with me, and leave a review and tell me what you think!