Chapter 1

Chapter One

TRAVIS

" Y ou're doing great, Hailey. Keep going. That's it, just a little more." My eyes flicked up to my patient's face. Sweat beaded across her brow and her lips were pinched together so tight the skin around them had turned white. Hands gripping the bars on either side of her, she slowly inched forward, one foot at a time. My assistant, Kara followed along behind with her hands out, ready to catch her if she started to fall.

"You're doing it, baby. You're almost to the end." Hailey's husband, Matt, walked alongside recording her progress with his phone, and his voice cracked with emotion.

Hailey reached the end of the bars and lifted her head. She looked exhausted, but she was smiling from ear to ear. "I did it." Her voice was a mixture of elation and disbelief.

I beamed back at her. "You sure did."

Matt grabbed her in a fierce embrace as the room erupted in cheers. Everyone working there knew about the terrible car accident that had left the young woman's body twisted and broken. After six months in the hospital and countless surgeries, the doctors had warned her that she may never gain full mobility of her legs, but Hailey was a fighter, and she refused to give up.

The first time I'd met her, I'd asked her the same question I asked all new patients. What outcome do you hope to achieve through physical therapy? She'd looked me dead in the eye and said, "Oh, it's more than a hope. I'm here because I am going to walk again."

I was still grinning as Matt began kissing the tears that were streaming down Hailey's cheeks but turned away when they began whispering words too low for the rest of us to hear. They'd more than earned their right to a private moment. Matt had come with her to every appointment, a constant support to his wife through months of grueling exercises which had tested the limits of her endurance and often left her in tears from pain and exhaustion. But all her hard work had finally paid off as evidenced by the victory she'd just claimed.

I began jotting down notes in my tablet while Kara grabbed Hailey's wheelchair. When she was settled in, I turned to face her. "How are you feeling?"

Hailey's smile remained bright despite the weariness in her eyes. "Like I can do anything."

"You can." Matt squeezed her shoulder as he gazed down at her adoringly.

"I agree. Your determination and drive are what's gotten you to this point and we're going to need that fighting spirit as we continue. Today was a definite victory, but it doesn't mean I'm going to take it easy on you now. I'm not stopping until you're able to walk out of those doors on your own," I said, hitching my thumb over my shoulder in the direction of the parking lot.

She raised her chin, a stubborn glint in her eyes. "I don't want easy. I want whatever gets me back to living my life the way I was before the accident."

"That's what I like to hear. I'll see you on Monday then."

"Thanks, Travis." We grinned at each other for a moment before a yawn overtook her.

"Let's get you home so you can rest." Hailey nodded tiredly at her husband's suggestion.

Matt shook my hand, thanking me for everything before taking hold of his wife's wheelchair and pushing her outside. I watched them through the window as Matt helped her into the car then knelt beside her. He brushed a loose tendril of hair behind her ear then leaned in and kissed her. When he pulled away, he said something that made her laugh. I winced as an unusual ache settled in my chest.

"Are you okay?" Startled at the voice beside me, I looked over to see Justin, my front desk manager, staring at me with a look of concern.

I followed his gaze, surprised to see I'd been rubbing my chest with my hand. I let my arm drop. "Yeah, just a bit of heartburn, I guess."

He nodded his understanding. "I've got antacids in my desk drawer if you need some."

I glanced back at the window in time to see Matt and Hailey driving away. Shaking off the peculiar feeling, I shifted my focus back on my office manager. Justin was the face of my business. He was the first person clients saw when they came in for therapy and the last person they saw before they left. I couldn't think of anyone better suited for the job. Not only was he friendly and polite, but he kept the office running smoothly and efficiently.

He was also cute as hell, but I made it a rule to never dip my pen in the company ink, so to speak. If I'd met him anywhere else, I'm sure I would have already tried to sleep with him, but the fact that he worked for me put him strictly in the "off limits" zone.

"I'll be fine. Thanks though. What's next on the schedule?"

"Nothing. Your last appointment needed to be rescheduled, so that's it. You're free."

I peered at my watch. I couldn't remember the last time I'd finished work before dark. A couple of months ago, I'd signed an exclusive contract with the Chicago Cubs to be their team PT. The move was huge for my business, officially putting us on the map as the number one physical therapy clinic in the city, but it had left my team stretched thin which was why I'd recently hired a new physical therapist to help carry the caseload. "Well, in that case, I guess I'll head into my office and catch up on some paperwo?—"

"Don't even think about it!" Justin said, shaking his head at me. Grabbing my arm, he steered me down the hallway as he continued. "You've been working your butt off for months now. You finally get a chance to leave early and I'm not going to let you waste it stuck in an office. We'll finish cleaning up here. You go out, have some fun. Call your friends and see what they're up to or heck, go to bed early if that's what you want to do. Just enjoy your weekend."

"But I have stuff?—"

"And all that stuff will still be here Monday. Plus, the new PT you hired starts then, doesn't he?"

"Yes," I answered reluctantly. Parker Reyes was from a small town outside of Cincinnati but was in the process of moving to Chicago. His resume had proven him more than qualified for the job, but it was in speaking with him during a phone interview that I'd really been impressed. He was intelligent and well spoken, his passion for his work bleeding through over the phone. Instinct told me he'd be a good fit for our team. I just hoped my instinct was right.

Justin gave me a smug grin. "Good. Then you'll finally have the help you need. So, see? There's no reason you can't get out of here a little early."

"Who's the boss here?" I teased.

He cocked his head at me. "Technically, it's you, but I'm your office manager and I'm going to manage to get you out of here early even if it kills me, and since I'm too pretty to die, why don't you do us both a favor and get out of here."

I snorted a laugh. "Did you just come up with that?"

"I did. Aren't I brilliant?" he retorted, shooting me a dazzling smile.

I rolled my eyes as we reached my office doorway. "I refuse to answer that question. However, I will take you up on the offer to get out of here early if you're sure you don't mind closing up."

"Of course not. Now, go have fun. You've earned it."

I grabbed my keys off my desk and with a wave, headed out the door. I slid into the driver's seat of my BMW and pulled out my phone, scrolling through my contacts. I tapped on the group chat I shared with my three best friends and typed out a quick message: Hey guys, finished work early for once. Anyone up for dinner at Julio's tonight?

I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, waiting for responses. My phone buzzed almost immediately.

Jasper: Hell yeah! Maks and I are in.

I grinned, picturing Jasper's excited face. Another buzz followed shortly after.

Akio: Morgan and I can make it. He's been craving their famous lobster mac and cheese all week.

My smile widened. It would be great to catch up with everyone. As I was about to reply, one more message popped up.

Garrett: Wish we could join, but Dean and I are still in LA. His movie premiere is tomorrow night.

His words sent a pang of longing through my chest. Garrett had met Dean—known to the rest of the world as Vincent Wilder, an action movie star and Hollywood heartthrob—when they were both vacationing in Hawaii. The two of them had fallen hard and fast for each other, quickly becoming inseparable. They had a condo in Chicago and visited as much as possible, but Dean's job required him to be in LA or on location most of the time. While Akio, Jasper, and I understood and were happy for Garrett, we missed him like crazy.

Garrett: Thankfully, that means the promo tour is almost over, and things should start winding down soon. He'll have a few weeks off before he starts his next project, so we'll be heading to Chicago. I can't wait to see you guys and catch up.

A grin split my face, and my thumbs flew over my phone screen as I typed out, It's about time you get your ass home. ;)

Akio: Yeeeesss! I can't wait!!!

Jasper: That's fantastic! It'll be great to have the whole gang together.

Garrett texted three heart emojis and promised to let us know when they planned on arriving before saying he had to run. Akio, Jasper, and I finalized our dinner plans and then I tossed my phone onto the leather passenger seat.

My cheeks hurt from grinning so much. The four of us had become best friends when we met during our freshman year of college, but throughout the years, we'd become so much more than that. The three of them were my family, the brothers I would have chosen if the choice had been up to me. I would do anything for them, and I know they felt the same way about me.

Adrenaline ran through my veins as I started my car. The engine purred but it was soon drowned out as I brought up my favorite music playlist and cranked the volume. With the windows down and the breeze tousling my hair, I pulled out of the parking lot and headed home to get ready.

Painting the sky in vibrant hues of orange and pink, the sun was just beginning to set as I drove up to Julio's. I'd showered and changed, dressing casually in a white button-down with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of jeans that sat low on my hips. As I approached the entrance, I could hear lively chatter and laughter spilling out from inside. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, I was immediately enveloped by the warmth and energy of the bustling restaurant. The rich scent of sizzling steak and freshly baked rolls made my mouth water instantly.

My eyes scanned the room, searching for my friends. I spotted them sitting in a large booth near the back and began winding my way over to them. Akio was laughing at something Morgan had just said, but he jumped up when he saw me approach, throwing his arms around me in a quick hug. I wasn't at all surprised by the gesture. Akio had always been the most affectionate member of our group, having been raised by parents who lavished love and attention on him his entire life. They were wonderful people who had expanded their love to include each of us, treating us as if we were their children too.

Jasper, however, hadn't been as lucky. His parents had done nothing to defend or protect him when he'd needed it the most. The trauma of it all had left an indelible mark on him and—aside from our close circle— he'd struggled to trust anyone with his heart and his body. That was until Maks had come along.

The ex-military turned security guard may have been trained to kill a person with his bare hands, but he'd shown Jasper nothing but care and respect, proving through kindness and devotion that Jasper could depend on him. Maks had pulled my best friend out of the darkness and brought him back into the light, and for that, he had my eternal gratitude. Jasper exuded happiness now, a fact which was evidenced by the carefree grin on his face as he bumped his shoulder with mine as I slid into the booth next to him.

A server walked up to our table with a tray and began handing out ice waters followed by menus. I set mine aside, knowing I'd order my usual steak salad with ranch dressing on the side.

"How's it going?" Maks asked.

I smiled at him. "Good. How are you guys?"

Jasper leaned against his boyfriend who was on his other side, one muscled arm stretched lazily along the back of the booth. "We're great. Maks has been busy with work, but nothing that's required traveling, which is good because I kind of like having him at home."

"Kind of? You kind of like having me home?" Maks teased, leaning down to nuzzle the side of Jasper's neck.

Jasper laughed, twisting out of his ticklish grasp. "Okay, okay. I really, really love having you home!"

"That's better." Maks grinned as he pulled Jasper back into his embrace.

"Ugh! You two are sickeningly sweet," I complained, pretending to gag.

Across the table, Akio and Morgan laughed. "I can't wait to see when it happens to him," Morgan murmured.

"When what happens?" I asked, taking a sip of water.

"When you finally fall in love." Akio's answer had me choking on my drink.

I shot him an exasperated look as I grabbed a napkin and began wiping my chin. "No offense to you guys, but I'm not looking to settle down and play house with anyone."

Akio grinned smugly. "Maybe not yet, but someday you're going to meet someone who takes your breath away and you won't have any other choice but to fall."

I turned my head towards Jasper as he placed a hand on my arm. "We're not trying to pressure you in any way. We simply want you to be happy."

"I know you do, but I promise, I am happy." I gave them all a salacious grin. "Why, you should have seen just how happy I was last night when I went home with these two guys I met at Whipped. They were identical twins and hot as fuck. And let's just say, I wasn't the only one they focused their attention on," I added, waggling my eyebrows at them.

"Wait, you mean they…with…each other?" Akio asked, looking positively horrified.

"Try not to think about it," Morgan said, kissing the side of his husband's head.

"I think we all could stand to bleach our brains after that one," Maks noted with a shudder.

I struggled not to laugh as I gave them my most innocent look. "What's wrong? I thought you all wanted me to be happy."

"I changed my mind. Be miserable," Jasper joked.

"He doesn't need to be miserable," Akio added kindly, but then he darted his eyes towards me, his expression turning stern. "Maybe just keep your stories to yourself."

A laugh burst out of me, unable to hold it in any longer. "You should see your faces."

Akio's eyes narrowed. "You made all of that up?"

I shook my head. "Not all of it. I did go home with the twins, but it was a few weeks ago and they didn't do anything to each other. Although, that would have been HOT!"

"You're an ass." The harshness of Jasper's words was ruined by the twitching of his lips.

I bumped my shoulder with his. "Yeah, but I'm your ass. You guys love me and you know it."

Maks smirked. "That says a lot more about us than it does you."

Everyone laughed and I settled back in my seat, a happy smile on my face. We ordered dinner and spent the next hour and a half eating, joking around, and catching up with one another. As I listened to Morgan describe the intricacies of his latest woodworking project, I couldn't help but notice the way Akio gazed at him adoringly. Their hands were intertwined on the table, wedding bands glinting in the soft lighting of the restaurant. A familiar ache settled in my chest, one I'd been feeling more and more lately. I pushed it aside, focusing instead on the conversation and laughter around me. These were my best friends, my family. I should be happy for them, not feeling—whatever this was.

"So, Travis, how's work going?" Jasper asked, pulling me from my thoughts. "Akio mentioned you hired a new physical therapist?"

I nodded, grateful for the change in subject. "Yeah, his name's Parker Reyes. He starts on Monday. Seems like a great guy from our phone interviews. I just hope he works out; I could definitely use the extra help."

"Especially since you signed on to work with the Cubs," Morgan added.

"That's still so cool," Maks said with a grin.

"Yeah, this is huge for my business. People trust who the top athletes go to for their own injuries. We've already been flooded with calls for appointments since the news announced the contract was signed."

"That's great, man. I'm happy for you," Morgan said.

When the bill came, I insisted on paying, waving off their protests. "It's my treat, guys. I'm just glad we could all get together. But the night is still young. Who's up for some drinks at Whipped?"

Jasper shook his head. "Sorry, but Maks has an early meeting."

"We've got to get home too. We've got plans with Morgan's cousins tomorrow. Raincheck?" Akio asked hopefully.

"Yeah, sure. No problem."

We said our goodbyes outside the restaurant, exchanging hugs and promises to meet up again soon. As I watched my friends depart with their partners, that hollow feeling in my chest intensified. I stood there for a moment, hands shoved in my pockets, debating what to do next. It was still fairly early, as I'd said, but suddenly the idea of going to Whipped alone didn't hold much appeal.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. What was wrong with me lately? I used to love hitting the clubs, reveling in the pulsing music and sweaty bodies. Now the thought just left me feeling—empty.

I shook my head, trying to clear my melancholy thoughts. This wasn't like me at all. I was Travis Brooks—confident, fun-loving, always up for a good time. Yet here I was, standing alone outside a restaurant on a Friday night, feeling sorry for myself. "Get it together, man," I muttered under my breath.

I pulled out my phone, scrolling through my contacts. There had to be someone I could call, someone who'd be up for some fun. My thumb hovered over a few names—guys and girls I'd hooked up with in the past who I knew would be down for a repeat performance. But for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to call any of them. With a frustrated groan, I shoved my phone back in my pocket and headed for my car. Maybe a night in wasn't such a bad idea after all.