“What are you doing? Are you with Parker or what?”
“I like him but it’s been a week. We’re not serious or anything.”
“You have feelings for Travis, don’t you?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know how I feel about him. I just don’t see it happening, Mare. He’s too much of a bad thing.”
“Neither one of you will just come out and say it, that’s the problem. You’re both so scared of what might happen that you’re fighting it tooth and nail. I know for a fact that if you looked Travis in the eye and told him you wanted him, he would never look at another woman again.”
“You know that for a fact?”
“Yes. I have the inside track, remember?”
I paused in thought for a moment. Travis had been talking to Shepley about me, but Shepley wouldn’t encourage a relationship by telling America. He knew she would tell me, leading me to the only conclusion: America had overheard them. I wanted to ask her what was said, but thought better of it.
“That situation is a broken heart just waiting to happen,” I said, shaking my head. “I don’t think he’s capable of being faithful.”
“He wasn’t capable of carrying on a friendship with a female, either, but you two sure shocked the whole of Eastern.”
I fingered my bracelet and sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t mind how things are. We can just be friends.”
America shook her head. “Except that you’re not just friends,” she sighed. “You know what? I’m over this conversation. Let’s go get our hair and makeup done. I’ll buy you a new outfit for your birthday.”
“I think that’s exactly what I need,” I smiled.
After hours of manicures, pedicures, being brushed, waxed and powdered, I stepped into my shiny, yellow high heels and tugged on my new, grey dress.
“Now that’s the Abby I know and love!” she laughed, shaking her head at my ensemble. “You have to wear that to your party tomorrow.”
“Wasn’t that the plan all along?” I said, smirking. My cell phone buzzed in my purse, and I held it to my ear. “Hello?”
“It’s dinner time! Where the hell did you two run off to?” Travis said.
“We indulged in a little pampering. You and Shep knew how to eat before we came along. I’m sure you can manage.”
“Well, no shit. We worry about you, ya know.”
I looked at America and smiled. “We’re fine.”
“Tell him I’ll have you back in no time. I have to stop by Brazil’s to pick up some notes for Shep, and then we’ll be home.”
“Did you get that?” I asked.
“Yeah. See you then, Pidge.”
We drove to Brazil’s in silence. America turned off the ignition, staring at the apartment building ahead. Shepley asking America to drive over surprised me; we were just a block from Shepley and Travis’ apartment, .
“What’s wrong, Mare?”
“Brazil just gives me the creeps. The last time I was here with Shep, he was being all flirty.”
“Well, I’ll go in with you. If he so much as winks at you, I’ll stab him in the eye with my new heels, okay?”
America smiled and hugged me. “Thanks, Abby!”
We walked to the back of the building, and America took a deep breath before knocking on the door. We waited, but no one came.
“I guess he’s not here?” I asked.
“He’s here,” she said, irritated. She banged on the wood with the side of her fist and then the door swung open.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” the crowd inside yelled.
The ceiling was pink and black bubbles, every inch covered by helium balloons, with long, silver strings hanging down in the faces of the guests. The crowd separated, and Travis walked approached me with a broad smile, touching each side of my face and kissing my forehead.
“Happy birthday, Pigeon.”
“It’s not ‘til tomorrow,” I said. Still in shock, I tried smiling at everyone around us.
Travis shrugged. “Well, since you were tipped off, we had to make some last minute changes to surprise you. Surprised?”
“Very!” I said as Finch hugged me.