Page 14 of Almost Beautiful (Beautiful 3)

Richard pointed. “Attitude Black, Barcelona Red, Classic Silver, Clearwater Blue, Cosmic Gray, and Sandy Beach Metallic. We don’t have the Pearl or Magnetic Gray in stock.”

“But he can get it,” Travis added.

“Yes, of course,” Richard responded.

Travis led me down the line. “Open them up and look inside. They all have different interiors.”

I walked over to the silver car, opening the driver’s side door. “What is that? A television?”

Richard stepped closer. “That’s a, uh ... the navigation system and radio.” He continued to ramble off the various features as Travis encouraged me to sit inside.

The interior was light gray, and the buttons around the large display screen and on the steering wheel made me think of a NASA control panel. I couldn't imagine ever being familiar with them all.

“I can’t believe you did this for me,” I said, running my fingers over the steering wheel. “I’ve never had my own car.”

Travis squatted next to me, resting his hand on the ledge inside the open door. “I’d do anything for you, Pidge. I’m going to give you everything you’ve ever wanted.”

I touched his cheek. “You already have.”

Travis leaned against my touch, and then pecked my palm, suddenly excited. “What do you think?”

“This one.”

“The silver?” he asked.

“The silver,” I answered. “It matches my ring.”

Travis moved his head to the side, keeping his gaze on me. “You heard my wife, Richard. She wants this one.”

“Done,” Richard said. “I’ll get it ready.”

I lunged at Travis, pushing him back onto his backside.

He laughed, and then cradled me on the asphalt, kissing my lips just as thunder echoed in the distance and rain began to fall from the sky.

“You happy, Pidge?” he asked.

“The happiest,” I whispered against his smiling lips.

Travis had already negotiated a price and paid before we got there, so at least I didn’t have to listen to them go back and forth in addition to the mind-numbing offers of extended warranties and what felt like dozens of signatures.

The car was listed under both of our names. The first thing, besides Toto, that Travis and I owned together, and for some reason that made me feel oddly affectionate toward an inanimate object.

Travis held my hand as he drove the Camry back to the apartment, and it seemed surreal as he parked our car in the spot next to Shepley’s Charger. “I guess they’re back. Did she text you?”

“Mare? No. They probably forgot something.” I stared at the car and then back at Travis, unable to contain the ridiculous grin on my face.

“That makes sense. It’s stopped raining for the moment so America would chance getting her hair wet.”

I grinned. “She’s not that bad.”

He laughed, nodded, and we both said, “Yes she is”simultaneously. Neither one of us could contain ourselves then, and I was wiping away tears by the time our laughter died down.

I didn’t realize I was staring at Travis until he said something.

“What?” Travis asked, holding my hand to his lips.

“I don’t know. It’s stupid,” I said, waving him away.