Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire Read Free Book Online Page A

and I stood, stunned. Kara’s words replayed in my mind. Travis Maddox slept with every one; I couldn’t help but feel deficient in some way knowing he had no desire to even try to sleep with me.
    The door opened again, and America walked through. “Wakey, wakey, eggs ’n’ bakey!” she smiled, yawning.
    â€œYou’re turning into your mother, Mare,” I grumbled, rifling through my suitcase.
    â€œOooh …did someone miss some sleep last night?”
    â€œHe barely breathed in my direction,” I said acerbically.
    A knowing smile brightened America’s face. “Oh.”
    â€œOh, what?”
    â€œNothing,” she said, returning to Shepley’s room.
    Travis was in the kitchen, humming a random tune while scrambling eggs. “You sure you don’t want some?” he asked.
    â€œI’m sure. Thanks, though.”
    Shepley and America walked in, and Shepley pulled two plates from the cabinet, holding them out as Travis shoveled a pile of steaming eggs onto each one. Shepley sat the plates on the bar, and he and America sat together, satisfying the appetite they more than likely worked up the night before.
    â€œDon’t look at me like that, Shep. I’m sorry, I just don’t want to go,” America said.
    â€œBaby, the House has a date party twice a year,” Shepley spoke as he chewed. “It’s a month away. You’ll have plenty of time to find a dress and do all that girl stuff.”
    â€œI would, Shep …that’s really sweet …but I’m not gonna know anyone there.”
    â€œA lot of the girls that come don’t know a lot of people there,” he said, surprised at the rejection.
    She slumped in her chair. “The sorority bitches get invited to those things. They’ll all know each other…it’ll be weird.”
    â€œC’mon, Mare. Don’t make me go alone.”
    â€œWell…maybe you could find someone to take Abby?” she said, looking at me, and then at Travis.
    Travis raised an eyebrow, and Shepley shook his head. “Trav doesn’t go to the date parties. It’s something you take your girlfriend to … and Travis doesn’t … you know.”
    America shrugged. “We could set her up with someone.”
    I narrowed my eyes at her. “I can hear you, you know.”
    America used the face she knew I couldn’t say no to. “Please, Abby? We’ll find you a nice guy that’s funny and witty, and you know I’ll make sure he’s hot. I promise you’ll have a good time! And who knows? Maybe you’ll hit it off.”
    Travis threw the pan in the sink. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t take her.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Don’t do me any favors, Travis.”
    â€œThat’s not what I meant, Pidge. Date parties are for the guys with girlfriends, and it’s common knowledge that I don’t do the girlfriend thing. But I won’t have to worry about you expecting an engagement ring afterward.”
    America jutted her lip out. “Pretty please, Abby?”
    â€œDon’t look at me like that!” I complained. “Travis doesn’t want to go, I don’t want to go … we won’t be much fun.”
    Travis crossed his arms and leaned against the sink. “I didn’t say I didn’t want to go. I think it’d be fun if the four of us went,” he shrugged.
    Everyone’s eyes focused on me, and I recoiled. “Why don’t we hang out here?”
    America pouted and Shepley leaned forward. “Because I have to go, Abby. I’m a freshman. I have tomake sure everything’s moving smoothly, everyone has a beer in their hand, things like that.”
    Travis walked across the kitchen and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me to his side. “C’mon, Pidge. Will you go with me?”
    I looked at America, then at Shepley, and finally to Travis.