Page 15 of Almost Beautiful (Beautiful 3)

“Tell me.”

“Owning this car together kind of makes it feel real, you know?”

He smiled, rubbing my upper arms. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“Yeah?” I said, leaning in.

My eyes were closed, waiting for a kiss, but when Travis’s lips never touch mine, they popped open. Travis was glaring in the direction of our apartment, and I turned to see exactly what he was unhappy about.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” Travis said.

I closed the passenger door and wrapping my arms across my middle.

Jesse, America, and Shepley were standing at the bottom of our steps. Jesse walked over to me, America right behind him.

“I tried to tell him to leave,” America said.

“Hey, Abby,” Jesse said, ignoring her. His eyes were bright, the fact that Travis had just arrived next to me didn’t faze him.

“What are you doing here, Jesse?” I asked.

He looked down at my left hand, grabbed it, and lifted the evidence. “Had to see this for myself.”

I pulled my hand away.

Travis’s anger was radiating off him, and Shep put a hand on his chest when he took the smallest step forward.

I stepped in front of my husband. “Yes, I’m married. You came all the way here to see my ring? You couldn’t have just called?”

He shrugged. “I don’t have your number. Neither does Mick.”

“There’s always Instagram,” America said, unimpressed.

“Does Mick know, too?” I asked.

“That you’re married?” Jesse said with a chuckle. “Yeah. So does your mom.”

I swallowed. “How?”

He smirked. “What happens in Vegas that Benny Carlisi doesn’t know about?”

I looked around. This many people standing in a tight group would draw attention, and that was the last thing we needed. “Why did you really come all the way here, Jesse?”

“He knows about the fire, too. He sent me to tell you personally that he’d be happy to help.”

“Help with what?” America asked.

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re running errands for Benny, now? Are you insane, Jesse?”

Jesse flashed me his trademark captivating smile. The smile that made me fall for him years ago, in what felt like another life.

When we were kids, he’d wanted to be a Baptist preacher. He’d ended up as a Vegas pit boss, and now he was clearly neck-deep with the mafia. Benny didn’t send just anyone to deliver messages.

Raindrops began to fall again, the first touching my lip, and then the rest saturating my hair and shirt. America looked around in a panic and then jogged to the stairs, making a racket in her chunky wedge sandals as she made her way up to stand on the stoop, out of the rain.

Shepley stayed behind, presumably to make sure Travis didn’t kill Jesse.

“We respectfully decline the offer,” I said.