Shepley and America walked in, and Shepley pulled two plates from the cabinet, holding them out as Travis shoveled a pile of steaming eggs onto each one. Shepley sat the plates on the bar, and he and America sat together, satisfying the appetite they more than likely worked up the night before.
“Don’t look at me like that, Shep. I’m sorry, I just don’t want to go,” America said.
“Baby, the House has a date party twice a year,” Shepley spoke as he chewed. “It’s a month away. You’ll have plenty of time to find a dress and do all that girl stuff.”
“I would, Shep …that’s really sweet …but I’m not gonna know anyone there.”
“A lot of the girls that come don’t know a lot of people there,” he said, surprised at the rejection.
She slumped in her chair. “The sorority bitches get invited to those things. They’ll all know each other…it’ll be weird.”
“C’mon, Mare. Don’t make me go alone.”
“Well…maybe you could find someone to take Abby?” she said, looking at me, and then at Travis.
Travis raised an eyebrow, and Shepley shook his head. “Trav doesn’t go to the date parties. It’s something you take your girlfriend to … and Travis doesn’t … you know.”
America shrugged. “We could set her up with someone.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “I can hear you, you know.”
America used the face she knew I couldn’t say no to. “Please, Abby? We’ll find you a nice guy that’s funny and witty, and you know I’ll make sure he’s hot. I promise you’ll have a good time! And who knows? Maybe you’ll hit it off.”
Travis threw the pan in the sink. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t take her.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t do me any favors, Travis.”
“That’s not what I meant, Pidge. Date parties are for the guys with girlfriends, and it’s common knowledge that I don’t do the girlfriend thing. But I won’t have to worry about you expecting an engagement ring afterward.”
America jutted her lip out. “Pretty please, Abby?”
“Don’t look at me like that!” I complained. “Travis doesn’t want to go, I don’t want to go … we won’t be much fun.”
Travis crossed his arms and leaned against the sink. “I didn’t say I didn’t want to go. I think it’d be fun if the four of us went,” he shrugged.
Everyone’s eyes focused on me, and I recoiled. “Why don’t we hang out here?”
America pouted and Shepley leaned forward. “Because I have to go, Abby. I’m a freshman. I have to make sure everything’s moving smoothly, everyone has a beer in their hand, things like that.”
Travis walked across the kitchen and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me to his side. “C’mon, Pidge. Will you go with me?”
I looked at America, then at Shepley, and finally to Travis. “Yes,” I sighed.
America squealed and hugged me, and then I felt Shepley’s hand on my back. “Thanks, Abby,” Shepley said.
Chapter Three
CHEAP SHOT
Finch took another drag. The smoke flowed from his nose in two thick streams. I angled my face toward the sun as he regaled me with the recent weekend of dancing, booze and a very persistent new friend.
“If he’s stalking you, then why do you let him buy you drinks?” I laughed.
“It’s simple, Abby. I’m broke.”
I laughed again, and Finch jabbed his elbow into my side when he caught sight of Travis walking toward us.
“Hey, Tr