I smiled, and it wasn’t even forced. “You . . . are beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she said, clearly taken off guard.
The doorbell rang, and instantly adrenaline surged through my veins. I took a deep breath, determined to keep my cool.
Abby opened the door, and it took Parker several seconds to speak.
“You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen,” he cooed.
Yep, I was definitely going to vomit before I ended up throwing a punch. What a loser.
America’s grin spread from one ear to the other. Shepley seemed really happy, too. Refusing to turn around, I kept my eyes on the TV. If I saw the smug look on Parker’s face, I would climb over the couch and knock him to the first floor without him hitting a step.
The door closed, and I came forward, my elbows on my knees, my head in my hands.
“You did good, Trav,” Shepley said.
“I need a drink.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Virgin
LESS THAN A WEEK LATER, I HAD EMPTIED MY SECOND bottle of whiskey. Between trying to cope with Abby spending more and more time with Parker, and her asking me to release her from the bet so she could leave, my lips were touching the mouth of the bottle more than they were my cigarettes.
Parker had ruined the surprise of Abby’s surprise birthday party Thursday at lunch, so I had to scramble to move it to Friday night instead of Sunday. I was thankful for the distraction, but it wasn’t enough.
Thursday night, Abby and America were chattering in the bathroom. Abby’s demeanor toward America was a stark contrast to the way she regarded me: she’d barely spoken to me that evening since I refused to let her out of the bet earlier that day.
Hoping to smooth things over, I popped into the bathroom. “Wanna grab dinner?”
“Shep wants to check out that new Mexican place downtown if you guys wanna go,” America said, absently combing through her hair.
“I thought me and Pidge could go alone tonight.”
Abby perfected her lipstick. “I’m going out with Parker.”
“Again?” I said, feeling my face compress into a frown.
“Again,” she lilted.
The doorbell rang, and Abby burst out of the bathroom and rushed across the living room floor to open the front door.
I followed and stood behind her, making a point to give Parker my best death glare.
“Do you ever look less than gorgeous?” Parker asked.
“Based on the first time she came over here, I’m going to say yes,” I deadpanned.
Abby held up a finger to Parker, and turned around. I expected her to snap back something shitty, but she was smiling. She threw her arms around my neck and squeezed.
At first I braced myself, thinking she was trying to hit me, but once I recognized she was hugging me, I relaxed, and then pulled her into me.
She pulled away and smiled. “Thanks for organizing my birthday party,” she said, genuine appreciation in her voice. “Can I take a rain check on dinner?”
She had the warmth in her eyes I’d missed, but mostly I was surprised that after not speaking to me all afternoon and evening, she was in my arms.
“Tomorrow?”
She hugged me again. “Absolutely.” She waved to me as she took Parker’s hand and closed the door behind her.
I turned around and rubbed the back of my neck. “I . . . I need a . . .”
“A drink?” Shepley asked, an edge of worry in his voice. He looked to the kitchen. “We’re out of everything but beer.”
“Then I guess I’m making a trip to the liquor store.”
“I’ll go with you,” America said, jumping up to grab her coat.
“Why don’t you drive him in the Charger?” Shepley said, tossing her the keys.
America looked down at the collection of metal in her hand. “You sure?”
Shepley sighed. “I don’t think Travis should drive. Anywhere . . . if you get my meaning.”
America nodded enthusiastically. “Gotcha.” She grabbed my hand. “C’mon, Trav. Let’s get you liquored up.” I began to follow her out the door, but she stopped abruptly, turning on her heels. “But! You have to promise me something. No fighting tonight. Drowning your sorrows, yes,” she said, grabbing my chin and forcing me to nod my head. “Mean drunk, no.” She pushed my chin back and forth.
I pulled back, waving her hand away.
“Promise?” She raised one eyebrow.
“Yes.”
She smiled. “Then off we go.”
My fingers against my lips, my elbow leaning against the door, I watched the world pass my window. The cold front brought with it wild wind, whipping through the trees and bushes, and causing the hanging streetlights to swing back and forth. The skirt of Abby’s dress was pretty short. Parker’s eyes had better stay in his head if it happened to fly up. The way Abby’s bare knees look when she sat next to me in the backseat of the Charger came to mind, and I imagined Parker noticing her soft, shiny skin as I had, but with less appreciation and more salaciousness.