“I’ll wait up for you,” I smiled, trying to seem happier with the idea than I felt.
“I’m going to ask Trent to come. He’s the only one I’d trust so I can concentrate on the fight.”
“Thanks a lot, asshole,” Shepley grumbled.
“Hey, you had your chance,” Travis said, only half-teasing.
Shepley’s mouth pulled to the side with chagrin. He still felt at fault for the night at Hellerton. He apologized to me daily for weeks, but his guilt finally became manageable enough for him to suffer in silence. America and I tried to convince him that he wasn’t to blame, but Travis would always hold him accountable.
“Shepley, it wasn’t your fault. You pulled him off of me, remember?” I said, reaching around America to pat his arm. I turned to Travis, “When is the fight?”
“Next week sometime,” he shrugged. “I want you there. I need you there.”
I smiled, resting my chin on his shoulder. “Then I’ll be there.”
Travis walked me to class, his grip tensing a few times when my feet slipped on the ice. “You should be more careful,” he teased.
“I’m doing it on purpose. You’re such a sucker.”
“If you want my arms around you, all you have to do is ask,” he said, pulling me into his chest.
We were oblivious to the students passing and the snowballs flying overhead as he pressed his lips against mine. My feet left the ground and he continued to kiss me, carrying me with ease across campus. When he finally set me on my feet in front of the door of my classroom, he shook his head.
“When we make our schedules for next semester, it would be more convenient if we had more classes together.”
“I’ll work on that,” I said, giving him one last kiss before making my way to my seat.
I looked up, and Travis gave me one last smile before making his way to his class in the next building. The students around me were as used to our shameless displays of affection as his class was used to him being a few minutes late.
I was surprised that the time ticked by so quickly. I turned in my last test of the day and made my way to Morgan Hall. Kara was sitting in her usual spot on the bed, reading, as I rifled through my drawers for a few needed items.
“You going out of town?” Kara asked.
“No, I just needed a few things. I’m headed over to the Science building to pick up Trav, and then I’ll be at the apartment all week.”
“I figured,” she said, keeping her eyes on the pages of her book.
“Have a good break, Kara.”
“Mmmhmm.”
The campus was nearly empty, with only a few stragglers left. When I turned the corner, I saw Travis standing outside, finishing a cigarette. He wore a knit cap over his shaved head and one hand was shoved in the pocket of his worn, dark brown leather jacket. Smoke drifted from his nostrils as he looked down to the ground, deep in thought. It wasn’t until I was just a few feet from him that I noticed how distracted he was.
“What’s on your mind, Baby?” I asked. He didn’t look up. “Travis?”
His lashes fluttered when my voice registered and the troubled expression was replaced with a contrived smile. “Hey, Pigeon.”
“Everything okay?”
“It is now,” he said, pulling me against him.
“Okay. What’s up?” I said with a raised eyebrow and a frown, making a show of my skepticism.
“Just have a lot on my mind,” he sighed. When I waited expectantly, he continued. “This week, the fight, you being there….”
“I told you I would stay home.”
“I need you there, Pidge,” he said, flicking his cigarette to the ground. He watched it disappear into a deep footprint in the snow and then cupped his hand around mine, pulling me toward the parking lot.
“Have you talked to Trent?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I’m waiting for him to call me back.”