Endlessly Beautiful

“I’ll help,” I said, beginning to push off Travis’s lap. He pulled me back down, nuzzling my neck.

“Oh, no,” America snarled. “You’re married now. Let the third wheels put away the two-hundred dollars in groceries they just bought.”

“Whoa! Nice, Shep!” Travis said, turning to look into the kitchen long enough for Shepley to shoot him a wink.

“I buy, you cook. That hasn’t changed, right, Trav?” Shepley said.

“Right,” Travis said, lifting his thumb into the air.

“You’re going to have to teach me,” I said, sheepish.

“To cook?” Travis asked. I nodded. “But if I teach you, I won’t get to cook for you as often.”

“Exactly. I want to help.”

He grinned, his dimple sinking into his cheek. “Then the answer is no.”

I pinched an inch of skin just beneath his arm, giggling when he cried out. America passed by the couch to the loveseat where the remote was barely poking out between the cushions. I thought about warning her that the large detective had kept it warm like a hen sitting on her nest, but before I could, America tugged on the remote until it was finally free. She pointed it at the television, watching as the screen flashed on, instantly displaying the local news. They were still reporting on the fire, the reporter standing in front of Keaton, black stains above the windows while yellow words scrolled across the bottom of the screen.

I touched my throat and swallowed, remembering choking from the smoke, and how terrifying it was to see the flames coming closer. I was confused, lost, and terrified, feeling that death could come at any moment until I heard Travis’s voice amid the screams and crying from main room.

America slowly sat down on the loveseat, letting her hands and the remote sag between her legs. “Emily Heathington died in that basement. She was in my water aerobics class,” America said, laughing without humor. “She hated the water. She said the thought of going under and having anything between her and a deep breath made her feel claustrophobic. So she took the water aerobics class to try and face her fear. For her to die like that … it’s almost a sick joke.”

“Mare,” I warned, noticing Travis’s expression.

“I’m so glad you weren’t there,” America said, wiping her cheek. “I don’t know what we would have done if something had happened to either of you.” She stood, tossing the remote to Travis. “Yes. Even you, asshole.”

Travis caught the slender black triangle with one hand, turning back toward the kitchen. He couldn’t see over the back couch cushion, but he directed his voice to his cousin, anyway. “Should we go to Sig Tau?”

“I just went,” Shepley said. “It’s pretty quiet over there. A lot of guys sitting around staring at the floor.”

“They were talking about holding a fundraiser,” America said.

Travis nodded. “Yes. We should definitely do that.”

“Travis,” Shepley said. “How are we going to pay the rent now? We’re out what we’re regularly paid for the summer. We have no more money coming in.”

“We get a fuckin’ job,” Travis said, leaning back.

“Doing what? All you’ve ever done for money is throw punches. I made phone calls. Are we going to apply at Burger King?”

I frowned at America, but she just shrugged. “You’ll figure out something,” I said. “I saw an ad for a Calculus tutor on the cork board by the door in class before break. I’m going to look into that.”

“Oh yeah,” Shepley said with a sigh. “We’re splitting rent and bills into thirds now. That’ll be a lot easier.”