“Hello?”
“Is uh … is Travis there?” a woman asked.
“He’s in the shower, can I take a message?”
“Of course he is. Tell him that Megan called, would ya?”
Travis walked in, tightening his towel around his water-splotched waist, and smiled as I held out his phone.
“It’s for you,” I said.
He kissed me before looking at the display, and then shook his head. “Yeah? It was my girlfriend. What do you need, Megan?” He listened for a moment and then smiled, “Well, Pigeon’s special, what can I say?” After a long pause, he rolled his eyes. I could only imagine what she was saying. “Don’t be a bitch, Megan. Listen, you can’t call my phone anymore … Well, love’ll do that to ya,” he said, looking at me with a soft expression. “Yes, with Abby. I mean it, Meg, no more phone calls … Later.”
He tossed his phone on the bed, and then sat beside me. “She was a little pissy. Did she say anything to you?”
“No, she just asked for you.”
“I erased the few numbers I had on my phone, but I guess that doesn’t stop them from calling me. If they don’t figure it out on their own, I’ll set them straight.”
He watched me expectantly, and I couldn’t help but smile. I had never seen this side of him. “I trust you, you know.”
He pressed his lips to mine. “I wouldn’t blame you if you expected me to earn it.”
“I’ve got to get in the shower. I’ve already missed one class.”
“See? I’m a good influence already.”
I stood up, and he tugged on the sheet. “Megan said there’s a Halloween party this weekend at the Red Door. I went with her last year, it was pretty fun.”
“I’m sure it was,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
“I just mean a lot of people come out. They have a pool tournament and cheap drinks … wanna go?”
“I’m not really … I don’t do the dress-up thing. I never have.”
“I don’t, either. I just go,” he shrugged.
“Are we still going bowling tonight?” I asked, wondering if the invitation was just to get some alone time with me that he no longer needed.
“Well, hell yeah! I’m gonna kick your ass, too!”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Not this time you’re not. I have a new superpower.”
He laughed. “And what’s that? Harsh language?”
I leaned over to kiss his neck once, and then ran my tongue up to his ear, kissing his earlobe. He froze in place.
“Distraction,” I breathed into his ear.
He grabbed my arms and flipped me onto my back. “You’re going to miss another class.”
After finally talking him into leaving the apartment long enough to attend history class, we raced to campus and slid into our seats just before Professor Chaney began. Travis turned his red baseball cap backwards to plant a kiss on my lips, in full view of everyone in the classroom.
On our way to the cafeteria, he took my hand in his, intertwining our fingers as we walked. He seemed so proud to be holding my hand, announcing to the world that we were finally together. Finch noticed, looking at our hands and then to me with a ridiculous grin. He wasn’t the only one; our simple display of affection generated stares and murmuring of everyone we passed.
At the door of the cafeteria, Travis blew out his last puff of smoke, looking to me when I hesitated. America and Shepley were already inside, and Finch had lit another cigarette, leaving me to go in with Travis alone. I was certain the gossip had soared to a new level since Travis had kissed me in full view of everyone in our history class, and I dreaded walking out onto the stage the cafeteria presented.
“What, Pigeon?” he said, tugging on my hand.