Free Beautiful Disaster 01 by Jamie McGuire

in.
    “Travis!” I yelled. I kicked off my heels, and shoved my feet into my Converse. Then I wiggled out of my halter top, throwing it across the room. The first cotton shirt that touched my hands I yanked over my head, and then ran down the hall, standing in the doorway.
    “Better?” I huffed, pulling my hair into a pony tail.
    “Yes!” Travis said, relieved. “Let’s go!”
    We raced to the parking lot. I jumped on the back of Travis’ motorcycle as he ripped the engine and peeled out, flying down the road to the college. I squeezed his middle in anticipation; the rushing to get out the door had sent adrenaline surging through my veins.
    Travis drove over the curb, parking his motorcycle in the shadows behind the Jefferson Liberal Arts building. He pushed his sunglasses to the top of his head, and then grabbed my hand, smiling as we snuck to the back of the building. He stopped at an open window near the ground.
My eyes widened with realization. “You’re joking.”
Travis smiled. “This is the VIP entrance. You should see how everyone else gets in.”
I shook my head as he worked his legs through, and then disappeared. I leaned down and called into oblivion, “Travis!”
“Down here, Pidge. Just come in feet first, I’ll catch you.”
“You’re out of your damn mind if you think I’m jumping into the dark!”
“I’ll catch you! I promise! Now get your ass in here!”
I sighed, touching my forehead with my hand. “This is insane!”
    I sat down, and then scooted forward until half of my body was dangling in the dark. I turned on my stomach, and pointed my toes, feeling for the floor. I waited for my feet to touch Travis’ hand, but I lost my grip, squealing when I fell backward. A pair of hands grabbed me, and I heard Travis’ voice in the darkness.
    “You fall like a girl,” he chuckled.
    He lowered my feet to the ground, and then pulled me further into the blackness. After a dozen steps, I could hear the familiar yelling of numbers and names, and then the room illuminated. A lantern sat in the corner, lighting the room just enough that I could make out Travis’ face.
“What are we doing?”
“Waiting. Adam has to run through his spiel before I go in.”
I fidgeted. “Should I wait here, or should I go in? Where do I go when the fight starts? Where’s Shep and Mare?”
    “They went in the other way. Just follow me out, I’m not sending you into that shark pit without me. Stay by Adam, he’ll keep you from getting crushed. I can’t be looking out for you and throwing punches at the same time.”
    “Crushed?”
    “There’s going to be more people here tonight. Brady Hoffman is from State. They they have their own Circle there. It will be our crowd and their crowd, so the room’s gonna get crazy.”
“Are you nervous?” I asked.
He smiled, looking down at me. “No. You look a little nervous, though.”
“Maybe,” I admitted.
“If it’ll make you feel better, I won’t let him touch me. I won’t even let him get one in for his fans.”
    “How are you going to manage that ?”
    He shrugged. “I usually let them get one in, to make it look fair.”
    “You…? You let people hit you?”
    “How much fun would it be if I just massacred someone and they never got a punch in? It’s not good for business, no one would bet against me.”
    “What a load of crap,” I said, crossing my arms.
    Travis raised an eyebrow. “You think I’m yankin’ your chain?”
    “I find it hard to believe that you only get hit when you let them hit you.”
    “Would you like to make a wager on that, Abby Abernathy?” he smiled, his eyes animated.
    I smiled. “I’ll take that bet. I think he’ll get one in on you.”
    “And if he doesn’t? What do I win?” he asked. I shrugged as the yelling on the other side of the wall grew to a roar. Adam greeted the crowd, and then went over the rules.
    Travis’ mouth stretched into a wide grin. “If you win, I’ll go without sex for a month.” I raised