“I’m not mad at you. I just don’t associate with complete idiots.”
I shook my head and then looked out the window before I said something I couldn’t take back. America had always been able to make me feel like shit on command.
“Do you even see what’s going on?” she asked. “Travis quit fighting. He doesn’t go out without you. He hasn’t brought any girls home since the bimbo twins, has yet to murder Parker, and you’re worried that people are saying you’re playing them both. You know why that is, Abby? Because it’s the truth!”
I turned, slowly craning my neck in her direction, trying to give her the dirtiest look I knew how. “What the hell is wrong with you?
“You’re dating Parker now, and you’re so happy,” she said in a mocking tone. “Then why aren’t you at Morgan?”
“Because I lost the bet, you know that!”
“Give me a break, Abby! You talk about how perfect Parker is, you go on these amazing dates with him, talk to him for hours on the phone, and then you lie next to Travis every night. Do you see what’s wrong with this situation? If you really liked Parker, your stuff would be at Morgan right now.”
I clenched my teeth. “You know I’ve never welched on a bet, Mare.”
“That’s what I thought,” she said, twisting her hands around the steering wheel. “Travis is what you want, and Parker is what you think you need.”
“I know it looks that way, but—”
“It looks that way to everyone. So if you don?
??t like the way people are talking about you—change. It’s not Travis’s fault. He’s done a 180 for you. You’re reaping the rewards, and Parker’s getting the benefits.”
“A week ago you wanted to pack me up and never let Travis come near me again! Now you’re defending him?”
“Abigail! I’m not defending him, stupid! I’m looking out for you! You’re both crazy about each other! Do something about it!”
“How could you possibly think I should be with him?” I wailed. “You are supposed to be keeping me away from people like him!”
She pressed her lips together, clearly losing her patience. “You have worked so hard to separate yourself from your father. That’s the only reason you’re even considering Parker! He’s the complete opposite of Mick, and you think Travis is going to land you right back where you were. He’s not like your dad, Abby.”
“I didn’t say he was, but it’s putting me in a prime position to follow in his footsteps.”
“Travis wouldn’t do that to you. I think you underestimate just how much you mean to him. If you’d just tell him—”
“No. We didn’t leave everything behind to have everyone here look at me the way they did in Wichita. Let’s focus on the problem at hand. Shep is waiting for you.”
“I don’t want to talk about Shep,” she said, slowing to a stop at the light.
“He’s miserable, Mare. He loves you.”
Her eyes filled with tears and her bottom lip quivered. “I don’t care.”
“Yes, you do.”
“I know,” she whimpered, leaning against my shoulder.
She cried until the light changed, and then I kissed her head. “Green light.”
She sat up, wiping her nose. “I was pretty mean to him earlier. I don’t think he’ll talk to me now.”
“He’ll talk to you. He knew you were mad.”
America wiped her face and then made a slow U-turn. I was worried it would take a lot of coaxing on my part to get her to come in with me, but Shepley ran down the stairs before she turned off the ignition.
He yanked open her car door, pulling her to her feet. “I’m so sorry, baby. I should have minded my own business, I … please don’t leave. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
America took his face in her hands and smiled. “You’re an arrogant ass, but I still love you.”