“Missed you at the Red the other night. Cami says hi.”
“I was busy.”
“With that girl Cami saw you with the other night?”
“Yeah,” I said. I pulled out an empty ketchup bottle and some molding fruit from the fridge and tossed them in the garbage before we returned to the front room.
Trenton bounced a few times when he fell into the couch, slapping his knees. “What’ve you been up to, loser?”
“Nothin’,” I said, glancing at Dad.
Trenton looked to our father, and then back at me. “Did I interrupt?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head.
Dad waved him away. “No, son. How was work?”
“It sucked. I left the rent check on your dresser this morning. Did you see it?”
Dad nodded with a small smile.
Trenton nodded once. “You stayin’ for dinner, Trav?”
“Nah,” I said, standing. “I think I’m just going to head home.”
“I wish you’d stay, son.”
My mouth pulled to the side. “I can’t. But, thanks, Dad. I appreciate it.”
“You appreciate what?” Trenton asked. His head pivoted from side to side like he was watching a tennis match. “What’d I miss?”
I looked at my father. “She’s a pigeon. Definitely a pigeon.”
“Oh?” Dad said, his eyes brightening a bit.
“The same girl?”
“Yeah, but I was kind of a dick to her earlier. She kind of makes me feel crazy-er.”
Trenton’s smile started small, and then slowly stretched the entire width of his face. “Little brother!”
“Quit.” I frowned.
Dad smacked Trent on the back of the head.
“What?” Trenton cried. “What’d I say?”
Dad followed me out the front door and patted me on the shoulder. “You’ll figure it out. I have no doubt. She must be something, though. I don’t think I’ve seen you like this.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I leaned in, wrapping my arms around his large frame as best I could, and then headed for the Harley.
The ride back to the apartment felt like it took forever. Just a hint of warm summer air remained, uncharacteristic for the time of year, but welcome. The night sky draped darkness all around me, making the dread even worse. I saw America’s car parked in her usual spot and was immediately nervous. Each step felt like a foot closer to death row.
Before reaching the door, it flew open, and America stood with a blank look on her face.
“Is she here?”
America nodded. “She’s asleep in your room,” she said softly.
I slipped past her and sat on the couch. Shepley was on the love seat, and America plopped down beside me.
“She’s okay,” America said. Her voice was sweet and reassuring.
“I shouldn’t have talked to her like that,” I said. “One minute I’m pushing her as far as I can to piss her off, and the next I’m terrified she’ll wise up and cut me out of her life.”
“Give her some credit. She knows exactly what you’re doing. You’re not her first rodeo.”
“Exactly. She deserves better. I know that, and at the same time I can’t walk away. I don’t know why,” I said with a sigh, rubbing my temples. “It doesn’t make sense. Nothing about this makes sense.”
“Abby gets it, Trav. Don’t beat yourself up,” Shepley said.
America nudged my arm with her elbow. “You’re already going to the date party. What’s the harm in asking her out?”
“I don’t want to date her; I just want to be around her. She’s . . . different.” It was a lie. America knew it, and I knew it. The truth was, if I really cared about her, I’d leave her the hell alone.
“Different how?” America asked, sounding irritated.
“She doesn’t put up with my bullshit, it’s refreshing. You said it yourself, Mare. I’m not her type. It’s just not . . . like that with us.” Even if it was, it shouldn’t be.
“You’re closer to her type than you know,” America said.
I looked into America’s eyes. She was completely serious. America was like a sister to Abby, and protective like a mother bear. They would never encourage anything for each other that could be hurtful. For the first time, I felt a glimmer of hope.
The wooden boards creaked in the hall, and we all froze. My bedroom door shut, and then Abby’s footsteps sounded in the hall.
“Hey, Abby,” America said with a grin. “How was your nap?”
“I was out for five hours. That’s closer to a coma than a nap.”
Her mascara was smeared under her eyes, and her hair was matted against her head. She was stunning. She smiled at me, and I stood, took her hand, and led her straight to the bedroom. Abby looked confused and apprehensive, making me even more desperate to make amends.
“I’m so sorry, Pidge. I was an ass**le to you earlier.”
Her shoulders fell. “I didn’t know you were mad at me.”
“I wasn’t mad at you. I just have a bad habit of lashing out at those I care about. It’s a piss-poor excuse, I know, but I am sorry,” I said, enveloping her in my arms.
“What were you mad about?” she asked, nestling her cheek into my chest. Damn, that felt so good. If I wasn’t a dick, I would have explained to her that I knew the boilers had been fixed, and the thought of her leaving here and spending more time with Parker scared the shit out of me, but I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to ruin the moment.
“It’s not important. The only thing I’m worried about is you.”
She looked up at me and smiled. “I can handle your temper tantrums.”
I scanned her face for several moments before a small smile spread across my lips. “I don’t know why you put up with me, and I don’t know what I’d do if you didn’t.”
Her eyes slowly fell from my eyes to my lips, and her breath caught. Every hair on my skin stood on end, and I wasn’t sure if I was breathing or not. I leaned in less than a centimeter, waiting to see if she would protest, but then my f**king phone rang. We both jumped.
“Yeah,” I said impatiently.
“Mad Dog. Brady will be at Jefferson in ninety.”
“Hoffman? Jesus . . . all right. That’ll be an easy grand. Jefferson?”
“Jefferson,” Adam said. “You in?”
I looked at Abby and winked. “We’ll be there.” I hung up, stuck my phone in my pocket, and grabbed Abby’s hand. “Come with me.”
I led her to the living room. “That was Adam,” I said to Shepley. “Brady Hoffman will be at Jefferson in ninety minutes.”
CHAPTER NINE
Crushed
SHEPLEY’S EXPRESSION CHANGED. HE WAS ALL BUSINESS when Adam called with a fight time. His fingers tapped against his phone, clicking away, texting to the people on his list. When Shepley disappeared behind his door, America’s eyes widened over her smile.
“Here we go! We’d better freshen up!”
Before I could say anything, America pulled Abby down the hall. The fuss was unnecessary. I’d kick the guy’s ass, make the next few months’ worth of rent and bills, and life would return to normal. Well, sort of normal. Abby would move back to Morgan Hall, and I would imprison myself to keep from killing Parker.