17

Travis POV

Viv leaves the bar with me. I can tell she is upset about Ozzy, but she is doing what is best for her, and I adore that about her. Even with a broken heart, she is putting her well-being first. I know this is a hard decision for her. I want to comfort her without overstepping the boundaries between us.
I do care a lot about her. She has no idea just how special she really is to me. She is a fantastic person, and she has no idea. I want to show her who she is and be there for her in whatever capacity she will allow me to be in her life.
I open the car door for her, and she gets into my car. I close the door and go around to the driver's side. I get into the car and take her hand.
"Everything will be okay, I promise you," I say to her.
"I know, it is really hard, that is all," Viv says.
I know he broke her heart. I wish I would have met her before he came into her life and messed her up. I cannot stand what his selfishness has done to this precious creature.
I drive Viv back to my place. It is almost three in the morning when we get out of the car and head into my house. I take her hand as we walk up to the front door.
"I thought you lived in an apartment?" Viv asks.
"No, this was my grandparent's house. I inherited it a few months ago," I answer her.
"I am sorry to hear they passed," she says so sweetly.
"They died several years ago, but my sister lived here for a while. I was still in California, so it was fine with me for her to stay here," I say.
"I see," she says.
I open the door to the house and hold the door for her to walk into the house. I turn on the lights, and she is immediately captivated by the lights.
"Wow!" Viv exclaims.
She walks toward the wall of herbs growing and climbing around the lights. She looks back at me and smiles.
"You are a witch," Viv says.
"Yes, I am," I answer her.
Her hands slide over the herbs in the pots, and some growing freely across the wall. She walks around touching each of them. Her heart is complete; I can tell she needed this.
"I would love to have something like this, but as you know, I live in an apartment, and I do not want people to know what I am," Viv says.
"Why do you hide?" I ask her.
Viv shrugs her shoulders. She continues to explore the house. I watch her as this beautiful being strolls through my home, looking at everything. She stops at a bookshelf and runs her fingers over the books on the shelf.
"This is so much bigger than my collection," she says.
I walk toward her and pull a book down.
"This was my great-grandmothers. I have almost all of my family grimoires except a few my sister took," I say.
"I have nothing of my family. My father did not want us to practice the craft. He was very adamant about it. My mother did teach us anyway, but after she died, he destroyed everything that made us witches," Viv says.
"Well, I am sorry. You are more than welcome to go through all of my books. You can borrow anything you like," I say to her.
Viv looks up at me. She smiles this amazing smile at me. I care about her so much. I want to kiss her, but I know she is not ready for that. I do not want her to run out of here or use me as a way to get over Ozzy and his betrayal.
"Why are you so kind to me, Travis?" Viv asks me.
I take her hand and look into her beautiful eyes. "I want to be kind to you. You deserve kindness, Viv," I say.
She looks down. Did I overstep with her? I do not want her to leave.
"You know, I am supposed to cook you dinner. Let us go into the kitchen and see what I have. Bring a book. You can read while I am cooking," I say.
I need to change the subject and get her mind somewhere else. I know what she is thinking. She thinks I am like Ozzy and that I will use her, fuck her and then abandon her. I have no intentions of doing her that way. I want to get to know her, be her friend, and then possibly more.
Viv grabs a couple of books off of the shelf and brings them with her to the kitchen. She sits down at the bar, and I begin to look for something to cook for her.
"Chicken and vegetables?" I ask her.
"Sounds perfect," she says.
I get everything I need from the refrigerator and begin slicing and dicing as she reads.
"I usually cook every night when I come home. I find it relaxing," I say to her.
She looks up and smiles. She bites her bottom lip when I look back at her. Damn, do not do that to me. I am trying to be a gentleman. Fuck it, I am going to kiss her tonight, but nothing else. I want her to come to me when she is ready.
I finish cooking and plate the meal. I take her plate to her and sit it in front of her. I hand her a fork and pour her a glass of tea. This is it. I make my move. I lean into her and kiss her lips. Our lips touch for a moment. She does not push back or says no. She allows me to kiss her.
"I have wanted to do that all night," I whisper as I move to kiss her forehead.
"I have been waiting," Viv says.
I sit beside her at the bar and eat. She looks over one of the books as she eats. Occasionally she will touch my leg. Oh, Viv, you are so unique, and you have no idea.