Travis took another drink, his face set in stone. The burn in his chest was sharp and restless, prickling under his skin. He set his glass back on the table, a little too hard.
“She asked me, if she were the one in trouble, would I trade Leila to save her.”
Mateo blinked, caught off guard. “Man, that’s a killer question. What did you say?”
Travis didn’t answer.
“You’re joking, right?” Mateo pressed. “You didn’t say anything? You couldn’t even lie or give her some comfort?”
Travis shot him a glare, his eyes cold and intense. “Why do you assume I’d have to lie? Do you think I wouldn’t do it either?”
Mateo gave a sheepish laugh, realizing he’d said too much. Deep down, he believed Travis wouldn’t trade Leila for anyone. He could tell that Amanda meant something to Travis, maybe more than before, but it still wasn’t enough to compete with Leila’s place in his life.
Travis closed his eyes and leaned back on the sofa, rubbing his temples. Frustration etched every line of his handsome face.
“I wanted to tell her I would. But when I tried to say the words, I just… couldn’t,” he muttered.
And in that awkward, heavy silence, Travis finally admitted it to himself—he wouldn’t do it. He couldn’t trade Leila for Amanda.
Mateo just sighed. “Amanda already knows you wouldn’t, you know.”

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