“You look amazing,” he said as I slid on my heels.
I gave his white dress shirt and jeans an approving nod. “You look nice, too.”
His sleeves were bunched above his elbows, revealing the intricate tattoos on his forearms. I noticed that his favorite black leather cuff was around his wrist when he shoved his hands in his pockets.
America and Shepley waited for us in the living room.
“Parker is going to piss himself when he sees you,” America giggled as Shepley led the way to the car.
Travis opened the door, and I slid into the back seat of Shepley’s Charger. Although we had occupied that seat countless times before, it was suddenly awkward to sit next to him.
Cars lined the street; some even parked in the front lawn. The House was busting at the seams, and people were still walking down the street from the dorms. Shepley pulled onto the grass lot in the back, and America and I followed the boys inside.
Travis brought me a red plastic cup full of beer and then leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Don’t take these from anyone but me or Shep. I don’t want anyone slipping anything in your drink.”
I rolled my eyes. “No one is going to put anything in my drink, Travis.”
“Just don’t drink anything that doesn’t come from me, okay? You’re not in Kansas, anymore, Pigeon.”
“I haven’t heard that one before,” I said sarcastically, taking a drink.
An hour had passed, and Parker was still a no-show. America and Shepley were dancing to a slow song in the living room when Travis tugged on my hand. “Wanna dance?”
“No thanks,” I said.
His face fell.
I touched his shoulder. “I’m just tired, Trav.”
He put his hand on mine and began to speak, but when I looked beyond him I saw Parker. Travis noticed my expression and turned.
“Hey, Abby! You made it!” Parker smiled.
“Yeah, we’ve been here for an hour or so,” I said, pulling my hand from under Travis’s.
“You look incredible!” he yelled over the music.
“Thanks!” I grinned, glancing over to Travis. His lips were pressed together, and a line had formed between his eyebrows.
Parker nodded toward the living room and smiled. “You wanna dance?”
I wrinkled my nose and shook my head. “Nah, I’m kinda tired.”
Parker looked at Travis then. “I thought you weren’t coming.”
“I changed my mind,” Travis said, irritated that he had to explain.
“I see that,” Parker said, looking to me. “You wanna get some air?”
I nodded and then followed Parker up the stairs. He paused, reaching to take my hand as we climbed to the second floor. When we reached the top, he pushed open a pair of French doors to the balcony.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“A little chilly,” I said, smiling when he pulled off his jacket and covered my shoulders. “Thanks.”
“You’re here with Travis?”
“We rode together.”