“Shep. I told him—sort of, in a way—that I was ready.”
“Why don’t you tell him for sure, directly, that you’re ready?”
I sighed. “I might as well ask him myself.”
“You two are exhausting.”
“Has he said anything to Travis?”
“No. And you know anything Trav tells me in confidence is off-limits.”
“That’s not fair. I would tell you, if I knew it was important. You’re a shit friend.”
“But I’m a great wife,” she said, not an ounce of apology in her voice.
“I told him we should visit my parents before classes start. A road trip.”
“Fun.”
“I’m hoping he gets the hint to pop the question.”
“Shall I plant a seed?”
“It’s already been planted, Abby. If he doesn’t ask me, it’s because he doesn’t want to … anymore.”
“Of course he does. You’ve been together three years in August. That’s not quite three months away, and it’s definitely not the longest a girl has waited for a ring. I think it just feels like it because Trav and I eloped so fast.”
“Maybe.”
“Be patient. Rejection is hard for their egos to take.”
“Travis didn’t seem to mind.”
She ignored my jab. “Twice takes twice as long.”
“Rub it in, bitch,” I snapped.
“I didn’t mean—” Abby squealed as she was lifted off the lounger and into Travis’s arms.
He took two long strides and leaped into the pool. She was still screaming when they rose to the surface.
I stood and walked to the edge, crossing my arms. “You’re off early.”
“Had a cancellation at the gym.”
“Hi, baby,” Shepley said, wrapping his arms around me.
Unlike Travis, he was fully dressed, so I was safe.
“Hi,” I began.
But Shepley leaned, and soon, we were falling into the pool like a toppling pillar.
“Shepley!” I shrieked as we hit the surface of the water before going under.
He popped up and pulled me with him, cradling me in his arms. He shook his head and smiled.
“You’re nuts!” I said.
“It wasn’t planned, but it’s over a hundred fucking degrees outside. I’m baking,” Shepley said.
The little shits from the next building over splashed us once, but after just one frown from Travis, they were scrambling to get out of the pool.
I planted a kiss on Shepley’s lips, tasting the chlorine on his mouth. “Have you thought about the road trip?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I checked the weather. They’re supposed to have some gnarly stuff coming in.”
I frowned. “Really? I grew up in Tornado Alley. You think I give two shits about the weather?”
“What if it hails? The Charger …”
“Okay, we’ll take the Honda.”
“To Wichita?” His nose wrinkled.
“She can make it! She’s made it before!” I said, defensive.
Shepley dragged his legs through the water to the side, and then he lifted me to the concrete. He wiped water from his face and squinted up at me. “You want to drive the Honda to your parents’, this weekend, with storms coming. What’s so urgent?”
“Nothing. I just thought it would be nice to get away.”
“Just the two of you. A special road trip,” Abby said.
When Shepley turned to look at her, I shot my best friend a warning glare. Her stoic expression didn’t give anything away, but I still wanted to dunk her.
He traded glances with Travis and then turned back to face me, confusion scrolling across his face. “It’ll give us time to talk, I guess. We’ve been busy. That’ll be nice.”
“Exactly,” I said.
Once I spoke those words, something lit in Shepley’s eyes, and a million thoughts seemed to flip behind his eyes.
Whatever was bothering him, he shook it off and pushed himself up, pecking my lips. “If that’s what you want, I’ll ask off.”
“It’s what I want.”