Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

out, but before I knew it, I was piss drunk and those girls …” he paused. “I woke up this morning and you weren’t in bed, and when I found you on the recliner and saw the wrappers on the floor, I felt sick.”
    â€œYou could have just asked me instead of spending all that money at the grocery store just to bribe me to stay.”
    â€œI don’t care about the money, Pidge. I was afraid you’d leave and never speak to me again.”
    I cringed at his explanation. I hadn’t stopped to think how it would make him feel to hear me talk about how wrong for me he was, and now the situation was too messed up to salvage.
    â€œI didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,” I said, standing under the water.
    â€œI know you didn’t. And I know it doesn’t matter what I say now, because I fucked things up … just like I always do.”
    â€œTrav?”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œDon’t drive drunk on your bike anymore, okay?”
    I waited for a full minute until he finally took a deep breath and spoke. “Yeah, okay,” he said, shutting the door behind him.

Chapter Five
PARKER HAYES
    â€œCome in,” I called, hearing a knock on the door.
    Travis froze in the doorway. “Wow.”
    I smiled and looked down at my dress. A bustier that elongated into a short skirt, it was admittedly more daring than I had worn in the past. The material was thin, black, and see-through over a nude shell. Parker would be at that party, and I had every intention of being noticed.
    â€œYou look amazing,” he said as I slid on my heels.
    I gave his white dress shirt and jeans an approving nod. “You look nice, too.”
    His sleeves were bunched above his elbows, revealing the intricate tattoos on his forearms. I noticed that his favorite black leather cuff was around his wrist when he shoved his hands in his pockets.
    America and Shepley waited for us in the living room.
    â€œParker is going to piss himself when he sees you,” America giggled as Shepley led the way to the car.
    Travis opened the door, and I slid into the back seat of Shepley’s Charger. Although we had occupied that seat countless times before, it was suddenly awkward to sit next to him.
    Cars lined the street; some even parked in the front lawn. The House was busting at the seams, and people were still walking down the street from the dorms. Shepley pulled onto the grass lot in the back, and America and I followed the boys inside.
    Travis brought me a red plastic cup full of beer and then leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Don’t take these from anyone but me or Shep. I don’t want anyone slipping anything in your drink.”
    I rolled my eyes. “No one is going to put anything in my drink, Travis.”
    â€œJust don’t drink anything that doesn’t come from me, okay? You’re not in Kansas, anymore, Pigeon.”
    â€œI haven’t heard that one before,” I said sarcastically, taking a drink.
    An hour had passed, and Parker was still a no-show. America and Shepley were dancing to a slow song in the living room when Travis tugged on my hand. “Wanna dance?”
    â€œNo thanks,” I said.
    His face fell.
    I touched his shoulder. “I’m just tired, Trav.”
    He put his hand on mine and began to speak, but when I looked beyond him I saw Parker. Travis noticed my expression and turned.
    â€œHey, Abby! You made it!” Parker smiled.
    â€œYeah, we’ve been here for an hour or so,” I said, pulling my hand from under Travis’s.
    â€œYou look incredible!” he yelled over the music.
    â€œThanks!” I grinned, glancing over to Travis. His lips were pressed together, and a line had formed between his eyebrows.
    Parker nodded toward the living room and smiled. “You wanna dance?”
    I wrinkled my nose and shook my head. “Nah, I’m kinda tired.”
    Parker looked at Travis then. “I thought you