Free Endlessly Beautiful (Beautiful #1.3) by Jamie McGuire

party. She winked at Travis, and then handed him a bottle of whiskey with a bow around its neck.
    Travis kissed her cheek. “Thanks!”
    “Hey!” Trenton said, frowning and pushing Travis’s shoulder. “Get your fuckin’ lips off my girl!”
    Travis held up his hands. “All right, all right. Just showing my appreciation.”
    I sunk twenty candles into the icing of the cake, and then searched the kitchen for a lighter. After opening one drawer after another, I came up empty-handed. “This is ridiculous,” I seethed. “I’m married to a pack-a-day smoker, and we have no lighters?” Travis flicked his lighter and held the flame in front of my face. I paused, and then snatched it from him. “Thanks,” I said quietly, returning to where everyone was gathered, plates already in hand.
     
    As I lit the wicks, America turned off the lights, and Travis stood at the breakfast bar over his cake, smiling at the words scrawled with icing on top. He slid his arms around my middle, nuzzling my neck while each new flame flickered.
    “Nice cake,” he said, whispering the words on top.
    Happy 20th Fucking Birthday, Travis
    “Glad you like it. The swearing was America’s idea.”
    Travis held up his hand, high-fiving America. “Well done.”
    America simply nodded, her arms crossed over her middle, holding Shepley’s hands. He was behind her, swaying a bit as they watched us. He had the sweetest smile on his face. I wasn’t sure what he was thinking about, but I knew it involved America.
    We sang Happy Birthday, and then Shepley turned up the music. We danced, and drank, and the police only showed up once. Half of the football team was present, as was most of his brothers from Sig Tau. Jim, Thomas, Taylor, and Tyler all called at different times, but each time, Travis would go outside to smoke and chat with his family. I kissed Travis each time he left, and every time I was reminded of my birthday, of how sweet he was that night, and how hard I tried not to fall in love with him-so we kissed a lot. At one point, Travis backed me into the hall, and he curled his fingers behind my neck, impatient to put his warm mouth on mine. He tasted like cheap beer and sugar, and I drew him deeper into my mouth.
    Just when I thought he might lift me into his arms and carry me into his bedroom, the rhythm of his mouth slowed. He pulled away, kissed my cheek, and then whispered in my ear. “I’m surprised you haven’t set up shots for me, yet.”
    “I didn’t think you were hard up for money.”
    “I will be if I don’t get that job.”
    I breathed out a laugh. “You’ve got the job. You just have to go in and accept it.”
    Travis glanced around the corner, and then returned his attention to me.
    “What?” I asked.
    “Just making sure they’re not trashing the place.”
    “Aw. Listen to you. All grown up.”
    Travis frowned. “I’ve never had a party here … because I didn’t want to beat someone’s ass for trashing it.”
    I touched his cheek. “Strictly a love dungeon, huh?”
    Travis’s face twisted into disgust. “A what?”
    I giggled. “Nothing.”
    “Oh, you got jokes,” he said, pinching my sides with my fingers.
    I ran out into the living room, giggling and hiding behind America. Travis only chased me for a few seconds before a slow song came over the speakers—my favorite song. Our song. Travis pulled me into his arms. We swayed for a few moments before Travis pulled me tighter into his arms.
    “You sort of told me you loved me for the first time the last time we danced to this song at a birthday party,” he said.
    “What?” I said, pulling back to look into his eyes. There was no humor in his eyes. “No, I didn’t.”
    “Yeah. You were drunk outta your mind, but you said it. Well, kind of said it. You said that in another life, you could love me.”
    I smiled, gazing into his warm, russet irises. I recalled the first time I saw his eyes—in the basement of a building on campus. He was sweaty and