Chapter 13
Levi
The smell of cooked bacon pulls me from my sleep. Groaning, I sit up and rub my eyes. It takes me a few moments to gather my thoughts and remember where I’m at.
Blinking, I look around, and my eyes widen.
I’m in Austin’s apartment. Well, I guess my new apartment?
For now, at least.
Holy shit, how the hell did I end up becoming roommates with Austin Cade?
Desperation, that's how. There was no way I was sleeping another night in my parents' garage. Not after poor Snicklefritz knocked over a can of paint off my dad’s work shelf.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to get that shit out of cat fur?
Thankfully, I was right there while it happened and rushed to clean him up. He was not happy about it. Not at all.
Got the claw marks to prove it.
Even when I saw that the person I was renting from was Austin, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I needed a safe place for Snicklefritz.
That's what I’m telling myself at least.
It does not at all have to do with the fact that I have a thing for the very sexy rugby player and my new best friend.
We’ve grown so close over the past few weeks that the idea of living together didn’t scare me as much as I thought it would.
Ask me that again in a few days when reality kicks in.
Throwing the blankets off, I stretch, groaning as I do. My brow furrows as I look around, not finding Snicklefritz anywhere in my new room.
The need to make sure he’s okay and not hiding somewhere scared has me rushing out of my room, forgetting the fact that I’m still in my boxers.
I come to a sliding stop when I spot my baby boy in the kitchen. He’s sitting on the counter, watching Austin cook.
The smell of the food fills my nose, making my stomach grumble.
“Only egg whites,” Austin says to Snicklefritz. “Daddy doesn’t like the yolk, right?”
I blink in surprise, a small smile curving on my lips as I watch him talk to my cat.
“And bacon.” Austin nods, getting a meow from Snicklefritz.
“What? You want some?” Austin asks, frowning down at the cat.
He meows again, and I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing.
“Okay, fine.” He takes a piece and breaks a small bit off.
“But don’t tell daddy.” He whispers, giving Snicklefritz the bit of bacon.
He watches with a smile on his face as Snicklefritz eats it, then leans over and gives him a kiss on the head. “That’s a good boy.”
Holy fucking hell. I think my heart just exploded. He’s so damn hot right now. And sweet. Seeing how good he is with Snicklefritz, one of the most important things in my life, has my damn heart falling even harder for him.
Yeah. Moving in was a bad idea. A really bad idea.
“Smells good in here.”
Austin spins around, looking at me like he was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
“You're up.” He states.
“I am.” I smile.
His eyes drop lower, and a smug grin slips on his face. “Oh. You really are up.” His voice goes low and husky.
My eyes drop to see what he’s looking at. God. Let the ground open up and swallow me whole, please.
“It’s just morning wood.” My voice comes out a little too high-pitched as my hands shoot down to cover my erection.
“Mhhmm,” he chuckles. “Morning wood.”
“You suck.” I scowl.
“I mean, I could.” he licks his lips, his heated eyes making my skin buzz. “If you want.”
I want to. I really, really want to. But... damn it. Not right now. This is too new, too weird. We haven’t even gotten a chance to talk about the fact that we’re living together now.
What does this mean? Are we telling people? Or does anyone need to know if I plan on moving out?
Would they judge us? We’re not dating, but they think we are, and it’s only been around a month and a half.
“Levi.” When I blink out of my inner thoughts, I see that Austin is closer. “Hey.” He smiles softly. “Go get changed, then come and eat, okay?”
“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “Okay.”
I’m in a weird headspace as I head back to my room and change. All my things are still in my suitcase.
When we brought everything in, we went right to eating and the movie, so I haven’t had a chance to unpack.
As I head back into the kitchen, I see Austin sitting at the table, and my nerves come fluttering back in.
“Eat,” he says softly, pushing a plate of food towards me.
I pull out a seat across from him and look at the food. It looks good and my stomach agrees. Then I remember when he was talking to the cat. He knows the way I like my eggs?
I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned that before.
“How did you know how I liked my eggs?” I ask, eyes lifting to find him watching me.
“Because it’s how you’ve always eaten them?” he raises a brow, smiling. “You would make your mom remake them if she even got the smallest bit of yolk in it,” he chuckles. “Would piss her off, and she would just give it to me or Charlie before she made you a new one.”
“Oh.” I blink, looking down as a shy feeling takes over. He remembered something so small, from years ago. I... I don’t know how to feel about that.
Happy?
No. But close.
“Are you okay?” Austin asks, sounding concerned.
I let out a breath. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to think about this.”
“About what?” His brow furrows.
“All of this.” I wave my hand around. “How did we go from not talking or seeing each other for two years, to telling everyone we’re dating when we’re not, but also messing around? Now, we’re living together. It’s...it’s a lot.”
Austin blinks, putting his fork down. “I could see how you would feel that way.” He nods slowly.
“You don’t feel that way?”
He shrugs. “No.”
“How?” I blink at him in disbelief.
“I don’t know. I like hanging out with you.
I think you’re sexy as hell.” That makes me blush.
“I feel comfortable around you. None of this feels off or weird to me. I don’t know how to explain it.
But if it does for you, and your moving in is too much, I can find a place to stay until your apartment is ready. ”
Is this man crazy? Did he just offer to move out of his own house rather than kick me out because I might not be comfortable with this situation? What is going on right now?
“No.” I rush out. “Of course not. Why would you even think of leaving your house?”
“I’m not going to kick you out.” He says it like it’s obvious. “You need a place to stay. And a place for Snicklefritz where he’s safe. I could easily crash with one of the guys on the team. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Stop.” I hold up my hand. “If anyone is moving out, it would be me.”
His face falls. “So you don’t wanna stay here anymore?”
“Of course I do.”
“Okay. So, are you sure you're comfortable living here?” He raises a brow and takes a bite of his food again. “Because I’ll do what I can to make sure you are.”
“I... I don’t know anymore.” I deflate. Because I’m overthinking this. It’s just a room to live in. He had the space; I needed it. “Forget I said anything. I’m overthinking things.”
“Your feelings are valid, Levi.” He narrows his eyes.
My body flushes. How does he do that? Make me feel so damn cared for with the smallest things he says and does.
I’m not used to others caring for me in this way.
“As long as this won't make things weird between us, I’m more than fine staying here until my apartment is ready.”
“Good.” He nods. “Now. What are you doing today?”
“I actually have the evening off after school.” I chuckle. “And I have no idea how to spend it.”
His face slips into a handsome grin, making my heart start to race. Why does he have to be so damn good-looking?
“I do. With me.”
***
“There’s no way you can’t convince me you’re not trying to kill me right now.” I croak out, my hands on my knees as I take in heavy breaths.
“Stop being such a baby.” Austin chuckles, slapping my ass.
I shoot him a glaring look. “We’ve just hiked for thirty minutes up a hill,” I growl. “While it’s pissing rain out.”
“It’s not pissing out.” Austin laughs at my misery some more. “It’s just drizzling. It’s a nice spring day. Perfect for a hike.”
“When you said you knew the perfect thing to spend the evening doing, I didn’t think it was this.” I straighten up.
“But it’s worth it. Trust me. With the sun staying out longer now, it means we can enjoy the beach before sunset.”
“Beach?” That perks my interest.
Austin smiles wider, grabbing my hand and tugging me a few more feet up the path. “The beach,” he confirms, showing me one of the most stunning views.
I’ve grown up on the island, and I’ve lived by the sea my whole life. But there’s never a time I won’t stop and be in awe of the beauty that is Newfoundland.
“Wow.” I breathe.
“Beautiful, right? It’s one of my favorite places to go. It’s a private beach, so hardly anyone comes up here. So we should have the place to ourselves.”
“Are we allowed to be here then?” I ask.
“Yup.” He grins over his shoulder as he starts down another path. At least this one is downhill and not uphill. “My coach owns it.”
I start after him, taking a drink from my bottle as I do.
He holds his hand out when we get to the trickier parts of the path. “Thanks.”
He winks, helping me before letting my hand go and guiding me further.
When we get to the beach, I’m smiling widely. No sand. Only rocks. So many pretty rocks.
“Oh my god.” I rush forward, my eyes darting around, trying to figure out what I want to look at first. I bend down and pick up a jet black rock. “So pretty.” Then I see a red one with dots. “Oh, this one too.”
Austin chuckles as I rush around the beach like a chicken with my head cut off. I stop, shame filling me as I turn to him with heated cheeks.
“I’m sorry.”
His smile falls, and he frowns. “What on earth do you have to be sorry for?”
“I.. Ah.” I throw the rocks back on the ground. “It’s nothing. Let’s walk.”
Austin comes over and bends down, picking up the rocks I just dropped. “Why did you throw them away? You clearly liked them. Keep them.” He takes my hand and places the rocks in my palm before curling my fingers around them.
“You don’t think it’s childish?”