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"Do you even know this guy?"

She smiled even wider "This is Ethan"

Ethan extended his hand "Nice to meet you "

I couldn’t take my eyes off of Abby while she stared at that sick and twisted fuck across fro for Abby to re there

Dismissive, she waved her hand in my direction "Ethan, this is Travis" Her voice was decidedly less enthusiastic about my introduction, which just pissed lared down at Ethan, and then at his hand "Travis Maddox" My voice was as low and reide, and he aardly pulled back his hand "Travis Maddox?"

I stretched rip the bar "Yeah, what of it?"

"I saw you fight Shawn Sht I was about to witness someone’s death!"

My eyes narrowed, and ain?"

Ethan laughed once, his eyes darting back and forth between us When he realized I wasn’t kidding, he smiled aardly at Abby, and then walked away

"Are you ready, now?" I snapped

"You are a complete asshole, you know that?"

"I’ve been called worse" I held outme help her from the stool She couldn’t have been that pissed

With a loud whistle, I signaled Shepley, who saw my expression and immediately knew that it was tih the crowd, sha over a few innocent bystanders to let off steam until Shepley headed us off and took over for me

Once outside, I took Abby’s hand, but she jerked it away

I wheeled around and yelled in her face "I should just kiss you and get it over with! You’re being ridiculous! I kissed your neck, so what?"

Abby leaned back, and when that didn’t create enough space, she pushed me away No matter how pissed I was, she knew no fear It was kinda hot

"I’m not your fuck buddy, Travis"

I shookelse I could do to keep her fro that, I didn’t knohat it was She was special to me from the second I laid eyes on her, and I tried to let her know it every chance I got How else could I get that across to her? How much different from everyone else could I treat her? "I never said you were! You’re around me 24-7, you sleep in my bed, but half the time you act like you don’t wanna be seen with me!"

"I came here with you!"

"I have never treated you with anything but respect, Pidge"

"No, you just treat ht to run Ethan off like that!"

"Do you knoho Ethan is?" When she shook her head, I leaned in "I do He was arrested last year for sexual battery, but the charges were dropped"

She crossed her ar in common?"

A red veil covered e insideit away "Are you calling ht, and her hesitation er melt away She was the only one that had that effect on ry, I had punched so or someone I had never hit a wo at the truck parked next to us

"No, I’ether

"I’ve been drinking, all right? Your skin was three inches fro awesome when you sweat I kissed you! I’m sorry! Get over yourself!"

My answer made her pause, and the corners of her mouth turned up "You think I’m beautiful?"

I frowned What a stupid question "You’re gorgeous and you know it What are you s about?"

The harder she tried not to so"

I laughed once, and then shook my head "Wha? You? You’re a pain infroone from psycho to ridiculous in less than five , and, in turn, that madeto God I had just kissed her "You’re ht?"

The ride home was quiet, and e finally arrived at the apart on the shower My rabbed a pair of my boxers and a T-shirt I knocked on the door, but she didn’t answer, so I went ahead and walked in, laid it on the sink, and then left I wasn’t sure what to say to her anyway

She walked in, sed by my clothes, and fell into bed, a residual smile still on her face

I watched her for awhat I was thinking The trouble was, even I didn’t know Her eyes slowly traveled down e," I whispered, turning over, cussing at h, and I wasn’t going to take advantage Especially not after she’d forgiven an

Abby fidgeted for severala breath "Trav?" She leaned up on her elbow

"Yeah?" I said, notI was afraid if I looked into her eyes, all rational thought would go out the

"I know I’ht over this, but"

"I’"

"What? No!"

I laughed and turned, looking at her sweet, horrified expression "What, Pigeon?"

"This," she said, laying her head onAt all I held up my hand and froze in place, unsure what the hell to do "You are drunk"

"I know," she said, shameless

No , I couldn’t say no I relaxed one hand against her back, and the other on her wet hair, and then kissed her forehead "You are thewoman I’ve everoff the only guy that approached ht"

"You mean Ethan the rapist? Yeah, I owe you for that one"

"Neverto pull away

My reaction was instantaneous I held her arainst my stomach "No, I’m serious You need to be more careful If I wasn’t thereI don’t even want to think about it And now you expecthiize It’s not even about that"

"Then what’s it about?" I asked I’d never begged for anything infor her to tellWe were so close It would just take another inch or so for our lips to touch, and it was a ive in to that inch

She frowned "I’m drunk, Travis It’s the only excuse I have"

"You just want me to hold you until you fall asleep?"

She didn’t answer

I turned, looking straight into her eyes "I should say no to prove a point," I said, ether "But I would hate ain"