Page 70 of Almost Beautiful (Beautiful 3)

“Louder!” he said, twirling.

I screamed. “You’re the best husband ever!”

He stopped abruptly and lowered me to my feet.

I giggled, out of breath from the struggle.

He watched me for a while and then grabbed my hand, leading me to the car. He sniffed, standing tall. “Damn right, I am.”

My seatbelt clicked, and Travis reached over to give it a tug—a small habit he’d picked up since Trenton’s accident. We drove in the direction of Trenton and Camille’s apartment—another new part of our daily routine.

Travis drove our Camry to the far side of town, parking at the last building of the Highland Ridge apartments, a property that was mostly full of young professionals and newlyweds instead of rowdy college kids.

I followed Travis upstairs, waiting only long enough for him to knock and walk in. I stopped wondering why none of the Maddoxes waited for someone to answer. Travis insisted if he wasn’t supposed to walk in to one of his brothers’ residences, the door would be locked.

Trenton was lying on the couch with his casted arm perched atop a pillow on his lap. He held the remote in the other hand.

“What the fuck are you watching?” Travis asked, his nose wrinkled.

“Dr. Phil,” Trenton said. “It’s so fucked up. These people are bat shit crazy and that bald fucker exploits the hell out of them, all for free therapy. They promised this chick her ex wouldn’t be there. Well guess what? He’s fuckin’ there and she repeats their agreement and that son-of-a-bitch yells at her and tells her to leave if she doesn’t like it, that it’s his show. I would’ve left. What a piece of shit.”

Travis and I traded glances, and then we sat on the couch next to Trenton.

“Cami’s at work?” Travis asked.

“Yep,” Trenton said. “I’m glad you stopped by. I’m driving her nuts, calling twenty times a day. I can’t work, so I clean and do laundry as best I can until she gets home. Watch Days of Our Lives and Dr. Phil. That Sami Brady is hot. I’d bag her.”

“No, you wouldn’t,” Travis said, ripping the remote from Trenton’s hand. He turned off the TV and then tossed it to the recliner. It bounced but didn’t fall.

“Hey,” Trenton said with a frown.

“You should come workout with me at Iron E between clients,” Travis said.

“Yeah? How’s that going?”

“Brandon Kyle is a dick,” Travis grumbled.

Trenton nodded to me. “Is he?”

“I wouldn’t know. Travis doesn’t think it’s a good idea that I meet his boss.”

“Oh. Can’t keep his mouth shut, huh?” Trenton teased. “Does he still say his catch phrase all the time?It’s not what you know, but who you know?”

“Incessantly.” Travis looked to me. “It’s better for everyone if you don’t. That imbecile has no desire to live, apparently.” His eyes fell to the floor, but he snapped out of it quickly. “How’s Cami?”

“Good,” Trenton nodded. “She’s good. Apologizes every ten minutes. She still feels bad.”

“She should,” I grumbled, louder than I’d meant to.

“We were hit by a drunk driver, Abby,” Trenton said, defensive. “Yeah, she was driving upset, but she couldn’t have helped that. We had the right-of-way. Be nice, even if I know you’re just saying that because you love me.”

“Not really,” I teased, leaning over Travis to nudge Trenton’s pillow.

“Ow! Hey!” Trenton said with a smile.

Travis smirked. “You carried Cami for two miles with that arm. Now you can’t handle Pidge poking at you? What a vag.”

I chuckled. I loved nothing more than to sit back and watch the brothers interact. I could do it all day, every day.