As soon as Paul and Travis finished playing, Paul gave him a tour of the house. Travis was genuinely impressed, especially when they reached the pool. He hadn't seen one in quite some time, and the thought of swimming there excited him.
'I'm gonna enjoy swimming here one day. Oh well, time to forge a relationship with this beautiful woman,' he thought, preparing himself mentally.
He found Gabriella having a conversation with Katie, the topic clearly centered around Paul given Katie's awkward expression. It was obvious she was trying her best to remain polite.
Travis walked over, a charming smile on his face, and took a seat near them. "Good thing I came, otherwise she would have gone insane," he remarked, his eyes lingering on Gabriella. "By the way, Mrs. Sanchaz, how do you keep yourself in shape?"
Gabriella smiled, pleased by his interest. "Oh, I like it when people ask me that question. Well, we have a gym, but I mostly do calisthenics. Other than that, I'm committed to keeping myself in tiptop shape all the time."
Travis leaned in slightly, his voice smooth as he complimented her. "That's pretty impressive. I've honestly been doing that as well. It's kinda hard to stay disciplined and stick to my schedule."
Gabriella's smile deepened as she noticed his subtle admiration. "That's very normal. You just have to understand, when you're not working out, the progress you've built up gets lost, and you have to restart. But I'm not saying you shouldn't take breaks, though."
"Hmmm, never thought about it that way," Travis responded, his voice casual yet suggestive. "I'll try being more consistent. Oh, why don't we work out together. Not now though. Later on. When we both have time.?"
There was a brief pause before Gabriella responded, her gaze locking with his. She could sense the underlying intent in his words but chose to play along. "Work out together? That sounds like a great idea. I'd love to see what you can do."
Travis's internal grin grew wider as he saw his plan moving smoothly. "Perfect, Mrs. Sanchaz. And don't worry, I'll be ready for anything you throw my way."
Katie, observing the exchange, felt a slight unease. She could see the sparks between them, even if they were well-hidden beneath the polite conversation. However, she kept her thoughts to herself, knowing better than to intervene. This was a game she didn't want to get involved in.
As Gabriella stood up, she turned to Katie with a warm smile. "I better start making dinner. Katie, care to help?"
Katie nodded, quickly getting up to follow her mother into the kitchen. Travis watched them leave, a satisfied smile creeping onto his face as his thoughts wandered.
'Now I have to create an even stronger bond tonight,' he mused. 'I'll have to hope something happens that'll allow us to be alone. Everyone wants to be close with their best friend's mom. Is my excuse of course '
He leaned back, casually observing the flow of the household, plotting his next move.
.....
As the evening wore on, the table was filled with the sounds of clinking cutlery and light conversation. Katie and Gabriella remained absorbed in their own discussion, talking about everything from Katie's school to Gabriella's fitness routines. Across the table, Travis and Paul were deep into a conversation about gaming, exchanging tips and talking about the latest updates.
Travis, however, had more on his mind than just the meal or the conversation. As much as he enjoyed talking with Paul, his thoughts kept drifting back to Gabriella. He hoped for an opportunity to connect with her on a more personal level, but as dinner continued without any notable incident, his anticipation began to turn into frustration.
Suddenly he felt Katie's foot landing on his lap, Travis raised his gaze towards her. She didn't even look towards him, she continued to talk to Gabriella as if everything was normal.
' She's pretty bold. I'm impressed I guess. But I'll deal with her tonight. Let's hope the walls are sound proof' he thought.
"Travis, I hear you're studying IT. How is that going?" Gabriella asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity, catching Travis a bit off guard.
'Thank you, Katie. You're a goddess,' Travis thought as he composed himself, grateful for the shift in conversation.
"It's been going pretty well, honestly. Nothing major to complain about, though the hardest part is waking up every day and dragging myself to class," he replied with a small grin, hoping to keep the tone light.
Gabriella chuckled softly, her warm smile making him feel at ease. "I can relate to that. I've been there myself. But trust me, it'll all be worth it in the end. Do you have any plans for what you'd like to do after you graduate?"
Travis paused for a moment, thoughtfully chewing his food before answering. "Not sure, really. Right now, I'm just focusing on getting through this. Whatever comes after, I'll deal with it when it gets here. I guess I'm not too concerned about the future at the moment," he admitted, his tone casual but reflective.
Gabriella's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with approval. "That's a very mature approach, Travis. I like it. If you're ever interested in learning about business, just in case you think about starting one someday, I'd be more than happy to teach you a few things."
"Really? That would be amazing. I'd definitely appreciate that," Travis replied, feeling a genuine spark of excitement at the opportunity.
As the conversation flowed naturally between them, Travis couldn't help but feel more at ease. He glanced around the table, seeing Katie and Paul engrossed in their own conversation, and for a brief moment, he felt content with how things were unfolding. But deep down, he still hoped for that chance to connect with Gabriella on a more personal level before the night was over.
She nodded and carried the dishes to the sink. Katie started to move towards her, ready to help, but Travis caught her eye and signaled that he'd take care of it instead. Katie hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod in agreement. She quietly left the kitchen, heading toward the guest room, leaving Paul alone at the table.
Travis stood next to Gabriella, feeling the warmth of her presence as he subtly caught a whiff of her sweet fragrance, a blend of floral notes that made his senses tingle. Her scent seemed to fill the small space between them, creating a moment that lingered in his mind longer than it should have.
"Let me help you, Mrs. Sanchez," he offered, his voice calm and polite as he moved closer, ready to take on the task.
Gabriella turned towards him, a soft smile playing on her lips, her eyes reflecting a gentle appreciation. "Why, thank you, Travis. You're really such a nice young man," she replied, her tone carrying a hint of admiration. "You must be very popular with the ladies as well."
Travis chuckled lightly, feeling a small blush creeping up his neck. "Oh, I don't know about that," he said with a casual shrug. "I only have a few female friends, so I sort of doubt it."
Gabriella raised an eyebrow, her smile turning playful. "Come on now, don't be modest. I mean, look at you," she teased, her gaze briefly sweeping over him. Then, with a laugh, she added, "Don't tell Paul I said this, but you're really handsome. Maybe even my type—but I'm just joking."
Travis chuckled along with her, though his thoughts swirled with curiosity. "Don't worry," he assured her with a grin. "I won't tell him. To be honest, I always doubted him when he told me you were his mother. But now that I've seen you, I guess he was telling the truth."
Gabriella laughed softly at that, shaking her head as she handed him another plate to dry. The conversation between them flowed naturally, the air light with humor and a hint of something unspoken, but neither seemed to mind. As they continued to work together, Travis couldn't help but notice how easy it was to talk to her, how comfortable the atmosphere felt.
In the back of his mind, a part of him hoped that this wouldn't be the last time they shared a moment like this.
Gabriella's thoughts were mixed with amusement and curiosity. ' Sweet-tongued. It's not surprising he's acting this way; he is very young. Well, why not play along? I'll stop when it gets too out of hand, ' she mused.
She leaned in slightly and gently nudged him with her elbow. "Oh, what made you doubt his words? Was it my face, or my body?" she asked with a playful tone.
Travis responded with a grin, "I'd say everything."
Gabriella chuckled softly and wrapped her arm around his shoulder, her touch lingering as she spoke with a teasing smile, "You're quite the flirt. Careful, I might just fall for you."
Travis chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. He slid his arm around her waist, his fingers brushing against her skin as he grasped it firmly, his slick smile never wavering.
"I don't see the problem with that," he said, his voice low and smooth.
Gabriella felt a flush of warmth spreading through her body as she met his gaze. Her heartbeat quickened, and a bead of sweat trickled down her forehead. She averted her eyes, struggling to contain the rising tide of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.
' Why am I getting aroused?' She thought.
Gabriella's mind fixated on the spot where Travis's hand rested, her waist suddenly becoming acutely sensitive. His gentle squeeze caused her to flinch involuntarily, her breath catching in her throat.
*I'm too sensitive; I should probably stop this teasing game,* she thought, trying to regain her composure.
Travis, noticing her reaction, withdrew his hand with a laugh. "Good thing we're just joking, right?" he said, his tone light and playful.
The feeling immediately vanished which caught her by surprise, but she hurriedly looked at Travis, nodding in response" Yeah, good thing"
' I think I might have found which kink I'll probably pick if they ever give me more options ' he thought.
TO BE CONTINUED