Chapter 5 #2
“Aren’t we all,” I sigh heavily, closing my eyes and tipping my head back. “I didn't think I'd be leaving the wedding with a new boyfriend, that's for sure.”
“A new what?” Cole practically shouts. “What the fuck happened tonight?”
“A lot.” I lower my head, glowering at him. “No thanks to you.”
“Hey.” He holds up his hands. “I only set you up on a blind date. Date. Not a blind boyfriend. Whatever that is, that's all you,” he points out. “And what is all that about?”
“First off, you suck for setting me up with my brother's best friend. Dude, what were you thinking?”
“I didn’t think it would be a big deal. You were single. Austin was single. He said he needed a date to the wedding, and you needed a date to the same wedding. I told him I’d hook him up because my buddy was attending the same wedding. I thought I was helping two of my friends.”
“You didn’t stop to think it might be weird to set me up with my brother's best friend?"
“I sure as hell wasn’t going to set you up with any of Gabe’s friends. They’re too prim, proper, and assholely for you. Austin is a good, nice guy. I thought he would be perfect.”
“I’m not denying that. He really is a nice guy. And my type. But now I’m in this big mess that I don’t know how to get out of.”
“What mess? Like that, somehow you two are dating now? Why didn’t you just decide to part ways?”
“Because I lied to my mom,” I say with a blank face. “She wouldn’t get off my back about finding a good man and settling down. She would bring it up every time I saw her. So, I told her I had a boyfriend.”
“And why would you do that?” Cole frowns.
“Because I’m stupid.” I throw my hands in the air. “I don’t know. Anyways. Mom expected my new boyfriend to be there too. I didn't want to tell her I got stood up, or that there really wasn’t a boyfriend, so Austin said we should just play it out and let everyone think we were dating.”
“He did?” Cole’s eyes widen. “And how did that go?”
“Everyone was over the moon, happy for us. Mom pretty much cried happy tears.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah. My family loves Austin. So they are happy that we’re together because they want what is best for the both of us. So now, because we don’t want to crush their little hearts with our big lie, we decided to keep this fake dating thing going.”
“Whose idea was that?”
“Why does it matter?”
“Just answer the question,” he snorts.
“His. Why?”
“Interesting.” Cole smiles. “Very interesting."
“And why is it interesting?”
“I think he liiiiikes you.”
“He does not.” I roll my eyes. “He just didn’t want to hurt my family, same as me. He loves them like they’re his family.”
“Damn.” Cole blows out a breath. “So it’s serious?”
“What is?”
“The two of you.”
“No!” I sigh heavily. “Keep up. This is fake dating.”
“Okay, for how long?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Until it doesn’t work anymore. He’s busy, I’m busy. We’re not looking for something serious. He has no plans on dating or hooking up, and neither do I. So he said to just not tell anyone we’re not actually together right now.”
“Wait. Neither of you are going to hook up with anyone else? I get you. You're a damn monk.”
“Thanks.” I roll my eyes.
“You're welcome. It’s true. But Austin? Really? He’s not going to hook up with anyone? He just came out, shouldn’t he want to explore and have fun?”
The idea of Austin hooking up with anyone else but me leaves a sour taste in my mouth and a rush of jealousy courses through my veins. A feeling I have no right to feel because we’re not actually dating.
“No,” I say a little defensively. “He doesn’t need to hook up.”
“Well, I mean, not everyone is okay with just their hand and some sex toys.” Cole chuckles. “Sometimes you need the real thing.”
“He had the real thing. With me.”
Cole frowns. “Wait, you said your fake dating and it’s not real.”
“The dating isn’t real.”
His eyes light up. “Holy fuck. You two fucked!” He slams his hand down on the table in excitement.
“Would you chill the fuck out?” I whisper harshly. “You're going to wake up the whole damn building.
“Sorry,” he says, lowering his voice. “But you two totally fucked, didn’t you? And now you plan on doing more. Like what, friends with benefits?"
“We didn’t fuck,” I grumble. “But yeah, pretty much.”
“But you did do something, right?”
I don’t answer his question with words, because my cheeks turning a warm red gives everything away.
“Damnnn.” Cole whistles. “My bestie is a freak.”
“Stop it. I am not.”
“It’s okay. Nothing wrong with that. It’s kinda hot.”
“Cole,” I growl.
“Okay, okay!” he holds his hands up. “Friends with benefits with Austin Cade,” he groans. “I’m so jealous, that man is fine.”
“Hey.” I frown. “Don’t call him fine. That's my fake boyfriend, okay? And you have a real one.”
“Sometimes I wonder if I do.” All playfulness is gone as a sad look takes over Cole’s face.
“Hey.” I place my hand on Cole’s. “You deserve someone who treats you like the amazing person you are. You know that, right?”
“Thanks.” He smiles softly. “Gabe isn’t bad. He just has his moments.”
Yeah, and those moments seem to be more and more frequent these days.
“You know, you deserve the same, too. You don’t need to work yourself into an early grave before you're even twenty-five. You only have one life to live, Levi. Enjoy it. Live it. Be happy. Have fun.”
I nod my head, not sure what to say.
“I’m gonna head to bed. You good out here?”
“Go. I’m fine. The sleepy tea is starting to do its thing.”
“Night.”
“Night.”
I head to my room with Snicklefritz hot on my heels.
Stripping out of my suit, I toss it on the chair in the corner to deal with tomorrow and head right to the bed, my body sore and tired.
I’m face down in the pillow, almost asleep, when a pinging sound goes off.
Fuck. My phone. I need to plug that in or I’ll be fucked without it tomorrow.
Groaning, I roll off the bed and pad over to my dress pants. Snatching my phone, I bring it to my bedside table and plug it in. The lock screen lights up, and I pause when I see the name on my screen.
Austin. He texted me.
I didn’t know I even had his number. I thought he would have changed it after all these years.
But why would he, I mean, I’ve had same number since high school.
Excitement bubbles up inside me, and I know I’m fucked if I’m feeling this way just because he sent me a text.
Swiping the lock screen open, I click on his name.
Austin: Hope you made it home safe. Please text me that you did.
Butterflies wreak havoc in my stomach. He cares about my safety.
Smiling like a damn fool, I read the text over and over again when I get another one.
Austin: I see that you read my text. Are you ghosting me? And so soon. Ouch, baby, that hurts.
Rolling my lips together, I smile. There he goes again, calling me baby. Why does he do that, and why do I love it so much?
Me: No one is ghosting you lol. No need to be so dramatic.
Austin: He’s alive!
That gets a snort of laughter out of me.
Me: Yes, I’m alive. For now. Gonna be dead to the world here soon. Got a shift at the vet clinic in the morning.
Austin: Boo. I’ll let you get some sleep then. But remember, if you need me for anything, I’m here, okay? I’ve missed you, Levi. And I’m glad this is another reason to bring us closer. Even if we’re “fake” boyfriends. It’s nice to have you back in my life.
My damn heart clenches, these ooey gooey feelings hitting me in the chest. I’m going to screw myself over soon if I start letting them get to me.
Fake boyfriend or not. Hooking up, or not. The fact is, Austin was a big part of my life for a long time. Not having him in it for years sucked.
I know life happens, and people drift apart, but this is Austin. Not having him in my life felt like I lost an important part of myself.
Being with him tonight, having him in ways I’ve only ever dreamed about for so long, has literally been the best moment of my life.
Maybe it was stupid of me to agree to these hairbrained ideas, but if it means I get Austin in the ways I got to be with him tonight, again, I’ll take what I can get.
It makes me sound a little sad, but Cole did point out, you only live once.
If this means I can have a regular outlet for my pent-up sexual energy like I’ve been craving, and I get to have Austin back in my life, I call it a win-win.
I might end up heartbroken in the end, but that's future Levi’s issue to deal with.
Me: I’ve missed you too. Thank you for listening tonight. And thanks for, well, everything. I’m looking forward to hanging out again.
Fucking. I’m looking forward to having your perfect cock deep in my ass. But I’m not going to text him that. Don’t want to scare him off too soon. But god, do I ever want that man in every way he’s willing to let me.
Austin: Anytime, Levi. Really, I mean it. For anything. Call me, text me, I’m there.
Me: Okay. Goodnight.
Austin: Night, babe. Sweet dreams xox
Babe. It’s even worse than baby. I’m so fucking screwed.