“Travis’ mouth fell open. “Oh, hell no. Are you trying to get me killed? You’ve gotta change, Pidge.”“What?” “Get a t-shirt on…and some sneakers. Something comfortable.”“What? Why?”“Because I’ll be more worried about who’s looking at your tits in that shirt instead of Hoffman,” he said, stopping at his door.“I thought you said you didn’t give a damn what anyone else thought?”“That’s a different scenario, Pigeon.” Travis looked down at my chest and then up at me. “You can’t wear this to the fight, so please…just…please just change,” he stuttered, shoving me into the room and shutting me in.”

“Because I'll be more worried about who's looking at your tits in that shirt instead of Hoffman. - Travis”

“He held the door shut with his hand. “I’ll stop fighting the second I graduate. I won’t drink a single drop again. I’ll give you the happy ever after, Pigeon. If you just believe in me, can do it.”“I don’t want you to change.”“Then tell me what to do. Tell me and I’ll do it,” he pleaded.”

“He walked away from me, and I swallowed, trying to keep the tears at bay. Travis stopped and came back, leaning into my face. “That’s why you said I wouldn’t miss you after today! You knew I’d find out about you and Parker, and you thought I’d just…what? Get over you? Do you not trust me, or am I just not good enough? Tell me, damn it! Tell me what the fuck I did to you to make you do this!”I stood my ground, staring straight into his eyes. “You didn’t do anything to me. Since when is sex so life or death to you?”“Since it was with you!”

“Why me, Trav?”I had a thing for you since the night of that first fight.”What?” “It’s true. You in that cardigan with blood all over you? You looked absolutely ridiculous,“Thanks.”“It was when you looked up at me. That was the moment. You had this wide-eyeyed, innocent look…no pretenses. You didn’t look at me like I was Travis Maddox,” “you looked at me like I was…I don’t know, a person I guess.”“News flash, Trav. You are a person.”No, before you came, Shepley was the only one that treated me like anyone else. You didn’t get all awkward, or flirt, or run your fingers through your hair. You saw me.”“I was a complete bitch to you, Travis.”He kissed my neck. “That’s what sealed the deal.”“I hope this gets old soon. I don’t see myself ever getting tired of you.”“Promise?” he asked”

“I reached my hand across the table, sliding my fingers into his. “You meant what you said last night, didn’t you?”He began to speak, but Chris’ laughter filled the cafeteria. “Holy God! Travis Maddox is whipped?”“Did you mean it when you said you didn’t want me to change?” he asked, squeezing my hand.I looked down at Chris laughing to his teammates, and then turned to Travis. “Absolutely. Teach that asshole some manners.”

“The suspense is killin’ me, Pigeon!” Travis called.I walked out, fidgeting with my dress while Travis stood in front of me, blank-faced.America elbowed him and he blinked. “Holy shit.”“Are you ready to be freaked out?” America asked.“I’m not freaked out, she looks amazing,” Travis said.I smiled and then slowly turned around to show him the steep dip of the fabric in the back of the dress.“Okay, now I’m freakin’ out,” he said, walking over to me “Okay, now I’m freakin’ out,” he said, walking over to me and turning me around.“You don’t like it?” I asked.“You need a jacket.” He jogged to the rack and then hastily draped my coat over my shoulders.“She can’t wear that all night, Trav,” America chuckled.“You look beautiful, Abby,” Shepley said as an apology for Travis’ behavior.Travis’ expression was pained as he spoke. “You do. You look incredible…but you can’t wear that. Your skirt is…wow, your legs are…your skirt is too short and it’s only half a dress! It doesn’t even have a back on it!”I couldn’t help but smile. “That’s the way it’s made, Travis.”“Do you two live to torture each other?” Shepley frowned.“Do you have a longer dress?” Travis asked.I looked down. “It’s actually pretty modest in the front. It’s just the back that shows off a lot of skin.”“Pigeon,” he winced with his next words, “I don’t want you to be mad, but I can’t take you to my frat house looking like that. I’ll get in a fight the first five minutes we’re there, Baby.”