Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire Page A

weren’t coming.”
    â€œI changed my mind,” Travis said, irritated that he had to explain.
    â€œI see that,” Parker said, looking to me. “You wanna get some air?”
    I nodded and then followed Parker up the stairs. He paused, reaching to take my hand as we climbed to the second floor. When we reached the top, he pushed open a pair of French doors to the balcony.
    â€œAre you cold?” he asked.
    â€œA little chilly,” I said, smiling when he pulled off his jacket and covered my shoulders. “Thanks.”
    â€œYou’re here with Travis?”
    â€œWe rode together.”
    Parker’s mouth stretched across his face in a broad grin, and then he looked out onto the lawn. A group of girls were in a huddle; arms hooked together to fight the cold. Crepe paper and beer cans littered the grass along with empty bottles of liquor. Among the clutter, Sig Tau brothers were standing around their masterpiece: a pyramid of kegs decorated with white lights.
    Parker shook his head. “This place is going to be destroyed in the morning. The cleanup crew is going to be busy.”
    â€œYou have a cleanup crew?”
    â€œYeah,” he smiled, “we call them freshmen.”
    â€œPoor Shep.”
    â€œHe’s not on it. He gets a pass because he’s Travis’s cousin, and he doesn’t live in the House.”
    â€œDo you live in the House?”
    Parker nodded. “The last two years. I need to get an apartment, though. I need a quieter place to study.”
    â€œLet me guess … Business major?”
    â€œBiology, with a minor in Anatomy. I’ve got one more year left, take the MCAT, and then hopefully I’m off to Harvard Med.”
    â€œYou already know you’re in?”
    â€œMy dad went to Harvard. I mean, I don’t know for sure, but he’s a generous alumnus if you know what I mean. I carry a 4.0, got a 2200 on my SATs, thirty-six on my ACTs. I’m in a good position for a spot.”
    â€œYour dad’s a doctor?”
    Parker confirmed with a good-natured smile. “Orthopedic surgeon.”
    â€œImpressive.”
    â€œHow about you?” he asked.
    â€œUndecided.”
    â€œTypical freshman answer.”
    I sighed in dramatic fashion. “I guess I just blew my chances at being exceptional.”
    â€œOh, you don’t have to worry about that. I noticed you the first day of class. What are you doing in Calculus Three as a freshman?”
    I smiled and twisted my hair around my finger. “Math is sort of easy for me. I packed on the classes in high school and took two summer courses at Wichita State.”
    â€œNow that’s impressive,” he said.
    We stood on the balcony for over an hour, talking about everything from local eateries to how I became such good friends with Travis.
    â€œI wouldn’t mention it, but the two of you seem to be the topic of conversation.”
    â€œGreat,” I murmured.
    â€œIt’s just unusual for Travis. He doesn’t befriend women. He tends to make enemies of them more often than not.”
    â€œOh, I don’t know. I’ve seen more than a few that either have short-term memory loss or are all too forgiving when it comes to him.”
    Parker laughed. His white teeth gleamed against his golden tan. “People just don’t understand your relationship. You have to admit it’s a bit ambiguous.”
    â€œAre you asking if I’m sleeping with him?”
    He smiled. “You wouldn’t be here with him if you were. I’ve known him since I was fourteen, and I’m well aware of how he operates. I’m curious about your friendship, though.”
    â€œIt is what it is,” I shrugged. “We hang out, eat, watch TV, study, and argue. That’s about it.”
    Parker laughed out loud, shaking his head at my honesty. “I’ve heard you’re the only person who’s allowed to put Travis in his place.