Page 13 of Almost Beautiful (Beautiful 3)

My cheeks flushed red, and I looked down. “They close soon, don’t they?”

“What? You don’t want a car?Vamos! Get your ass in gear, Mrs. Maddox!”

I giggled, grabbing the first pair of jeans and sweater that I touched, dressing quickly and meeting Travis in the living room.

He had Shepley’s keys in his hand, his face lighting up when he saw me. He opened the door, gesturing for me to go first.

“You just do that so you can stare at my ass, don’t you?” I asked.

“You’re damn right I do,” Travis said, closing the door behind him.

We walked down the steps holding hands, and I took a deep breath. “Smells like rain.”

“Good thing I called an Uber, then,” he said, walking to a red Volkswagen Jetta waiting in the parking lot.

He opened the back passenger side door and waited for me to slide in before jogging around the front to sit behind the driver. Once he settled in, he put his hand on my thigh and shook his head.

“What?” I asked. “Forget something?”

“Every five minutes or so it hits me, and I can’t believe it.” He leaned over, cupping my cheek in his hand before planting a quick kiss on my lips. He pulled away just as the driver put the gear into drive, making a face when a country song came over the radio. “Is there another station we can listen to?”

“Of course!” The man said, fiddling with the buttons. “Are you warm enough?”

“I am,” Travis said, “my wife’s a little chilly.”

“Easy fix,” the driver said.

“Wait, this one,” Travis said as Dexy’s Midnight Runners came over the speakers. He bobbed his head, and I laughed at him as he mouthed the words,C’mon Eileen.

Travis seemed relaxed and happy. His hand rested on my knee, still singing and bobbing his head to the music. He knew every word. It was sort of impressive. Once in a while, he would look at me and mouth the words with such enthusiasm, I couldn’t help but sing with him.

I was glad he insisted we leave the apartment. I hadn’t realized how trapped I’d felt, or how much I needed to laugh.

The driver parked the car and Travis stepped out.

When I closed the passenger door, he walked ahead of me, reaching behind him with both hands until I intertwined my fingers in his.

He wrapped my arms around him, his steps coming to a halt at the end of a short line of Toyota Camrys.

An older gentleman walked out, smoothing his tie and silver hair, preparing his spiel by clearing his throat and offering his most charming smile.

Travis’s was better.

To my surprise, the salesman greeted Travis by name. Travis released me to shake his hand.

“I was wondering when you’d be out. Is this Abby?” He shook my hand. “Richard. Nice to finally meet you.”

I craned my neck at Travis.

Travis shrugged. “I told you. Pick a color.”

I choked out a single laugh. “Are you for real?”

He held out his hands and let them fall to his thighs. “Have I ever lied to you?”

I slowly reached around his neck, feeling his muscles relax from my touch. I pushed up on the balls of my feet and gave him a quick peck, seeing Richard in my peripheral trying not to watch.

“Never.” I looked down the line of Camrys.