Page 28 of Almost Beautiful (Beautiful 3)

Two cold hands cupped my shoulders, and I turned into a hug from America. Gigantic earrings dangled from her ears, her hair up in a messy bun. Her top exposed one shoulder. She had theeffortlessly glamorouslook down pat.

“Hey, betch,” a voice said from behind me.

I flipped around. “Finch! You made it!”

He shrugged, the collar of his white button down grazing his ears as he did so. “I almost didn’t come, but I refuse to sit around and wait for you to text me from Married-land. It apparently doesn’t have great service.”

I covered my eyes. “I meant to, I just … Okay, I’m a terrible friend.” I grabbed him by the upper arms. “Let’s grab lunch this week and I’ll catch you up on everything.”

“No need, America already did.”

America grinned.

I wrinkled my nose. “Lunch, anyway?”

“Hell, yes. And you’re paying.” He looked behind him, scanning the crowd.

Jorie appeared with a smile. “You guys want a table? I can have Raegan clear one for you.” She winked. “She loves being a bitch.”

“Nah, we’re good,” Shepley said, sharing a single handshake and side hug with his cousin. He kissed my temple. “You doing okay?”

I nodded.

America and Finch wasted no time dragging me onto the dance floor.

I locked eyes with my husband a few times, watching him watching me, noticing the four women purposefully ignoring his wedding ring as they shamelessly flirted with him.

Unfortunately, that was something that hadn’t changed.

Travis, though, wasn’t as patient as usual, and dismissed them with a few effective words I wished I could’ve heard.

The sorority sisters left in a huff.

When I returned to my stool, Travis ran his finger down my arm, enjoying the slickness of the sweat on my skin. He leaned over to kiss my shoulder, flicking his tongue with each peck.

I stood up and leaned into him. “We’re not going to stay long if you keep that up.”

Travis looked up at me with a wry smile. “Promise?”

I kissed the top of his cheek, and he slid his hand around me, cupping my ass.

“You’re people watching again,” I said.

“It’s just funny to me, the games people are playing, the assessment, the flirting, the push and pull and harmless manipulation ... Everything we’ve been doing all year right up until our wedding.”

I smiled, and then kissed him again.

“For fuck’s sake, you two, get a room,” Finch teased.

Travis patted my backside and stood. “Heading to the john. Need anything?”

I arched an eyebrow. “From the men’s room? No.”

Travis chuckled and set his empty beer bottle on the bar. “Would you mind ordering me another one?”

“Not at all,” I said, pressing my lips against his when he leaned down for a quick peck.

Shepley handed America his beer.