Page 57 of Almost Beautiful (Beautiful 3)

“What?” I said, pulling back to look into his eyes. “I don’t remember that.”

He chuckled.

I smiled. “I don’t!”

“Yeah. You were wasted, but you said it. Well, kind of said it. You said that in another life, you could love me.”

I smiled, gazing into his warm, russet irises. I recalled the first time I saw those eyes staring back at me—in the basement of a building on campus. He was sweaty and we were both spattered with blood, but from that moment on, those eyes were my home.

“What did you say to that?” I asked with a smile. “You didn’t run screaming?”

He shook his head, his gaze growing more intense. “I said I might love you in this one.”

“You did?” I asked, touched. That was almost six months ago, and he’d never told me. “I still said it first.”

“No,” he chuckled.

“I mean … I kind of said it first.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“You just admitted it! I said it on my birthday.”

“You kinda said it.”

“According to you, you said youmightlove me in this one.”

“We both know that was me being a hard ass. You saying you could love me in your next life doesn’t count.”

“Well,” I said, lifting my chin and feeling victorious. “Welcome to our next life.”

He stopped in the middle of the apartment. His shoulders fell, and his eyes poured over me with such love and adoration, my cheeks flushed.

“I’ll be damned,” he said, hugging me to him. He rested his chin in the crook of my neck, causing him to hunch over. “Got my birthday wish before I made it.”

I pressed my cheek against his ear, listening to the words of our song, and taking in the moment. “How weird is it that it’s your first birthday with me, and as my husband.”

“Best birthday to date,” he replied.

“What did you do for your nineteenth?”

“I don’t remember, and even if I did, I know it wasn’t this good. I’m sorry I ruined the surprise.”

“You’re forgiven,” I said with a smile.

“Don’t worry. You have the rest of our lives to try to surprise me.”

“You’re damn straight I do,” I said, hugging him closer. “We have a thousand more surprises ahead of us.”

I closed my eyes.All of them good, I hope.

Chapter Thirteen

Weakness

Abby

“BABY,” TRAVIS SAID, PULLING OFFhis jacket and tossing it to the bed. “I said I was sorry.”