Chapter 21
Levi
“Hey, we need to talk,” is the first thing I say to Cole when I find him at the library the following day.
“Well, hello to you too,” he chuckles, glancing up from the textbook he’s reading.
“And why does it sound like you're breaking up with me?” he asks, raising a brow.
“Wait!” His eyes widen. “Are you about to tell me Austin is officially taking my spot as best friend, because I will fight him for it.”
“No.” I laugh, taking a spot on the couch next to him. “But this does have to do with Austin.”
“Mhhm.” He nods. “Let me guess. You both have come to your senses and realized this fake dating thing isn’t fake after all, and now you two are together for real?”
I blink at him, lips parting. “Are you a mind reader?” I whisper.
He snorts out a laugh. “No. Levi, dude, it was a long time coming. From day one, there was nothing fake about the way that man treated you. If anything, he probably just used it as an excuse to get close to you.”
“Okay, no, really, can you read my mind or something? You're freaking me out.”
“Wait.” Cole blinks. “Am I right?”
“Yeah, pretty much.” I laugh. “Last night, we were on a date, and he came clean. Told me he has been in love with me for years and came up with the fake dating thing as a way to get me back into his life and make me fall for him.” I shake my head, unable to keep the smile off my face.
“He’s crazy, but I love him. I really do. ”
“Trust me, we know. We all know. It’s why I never thought it was fake. Even if that's what you two told yourselves. That man has been head over heels for you from the get-go.”
“And you didn’t think to give me a heads up?”
“I’m sorry. But it was obvious,” he laughs. “My sweet, sweet best friend. Sometimes you can be so oblivious.”
“Okay, fine, I won’t argue with that.” I sigh. “I think I was just so afraid of him not feeling the same way about me, and worrying about reading things wrong, it took me a while to see what was right in front of me.”
“That the man is in love with you?” he snorts.
“Yes.” I bite my lip, unable to stop smiling.
After Austin told me everything, I couldn’t even be mad about what he did. If anything, I found it so damn cute. That he liked me so much, he did whatever he could to be with me, without forcing anything on me. He just kept putting himself in my line of sight and letting me take my time.
I can’t say for sure how I’d have been if he just outright asked me out, maybe I’d have said yes, maybe I’d have turned him down because life was busy.
I think the offer he gave me was the opening I needed to let someone in my life, and I’m glad I took it.
It’s still hard to believe that Austin Cade is in love with me. ME! But I’m so damn happy.
Since he came into my life, it has changed for the better. He’s everything I could have wanted and more. And I’m glad I can finally stop worrying about getting my heart broken when Austin decided he wanted to end our arrangement because there is no end. Only a beginning.
A beginning to hopefully the rest of our lives.
“So what are you going to do now?” Cole asks.
“Pretty much what we’ve already been doing.” I laugh. “Although more sex, saying I love yous, and knowing for a fact we’re together.”
“That’s a good start.” He grins.
“Also.” I rub the back of my head. “I won’t be moving back into the apartment with you when it’s fixed.”
“What?” Cole sits up. “Why not?”
“Because I haven’t actually been living in a basement apartment I found online. I’ve been living with Austin.”
He gapes at me. “You’ve what!?”
“Oh, don’t act like you didn’t know.” I give him a blank look.
“Okay, I had an idea.” He lets his surprised face fall into a knowing grin. “He didn’t outright say anything, but I saw the listing. That man.” Cole throws his head back and laughs. “He’s unhinged when it comes to you.”
“I didn’t know that until now. But fuck, it’s so damn hot.” I sigh dreamily.
“Well, I’m happy for you. If anyone deserves to find someone amazing, it’s you. I hope I’m just as lucky as you someday.”
My brows furrow. “What about you and Gage?”
“About that.” Cole’s whole face falls. “We broke up.”
“What? I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not.” Cole sighs heavily. “It’s been a long time coming. I never knew if we were on or off. He was never happy. Always moody. I never felt like I was enough, you know? And then there’s the fact he cheated on me.”
“I’m sorry, what!?” I say a little too loudly.
“Would you keep your voice down?” Cole hisses.
“Sorry. But what the hell!? He cheated on you? When? How come you didn’t tell me?”
“I found out this weekend. I’m still processing it. I’ll tell you everything later, but right now I just want to forget, okay?”
My heart breaks for my best friend. “He can go fuck himself.” I huff. “Jackass never deserved you.”
“And Brogan never deserved you. But you ended up with your perfect man. I’m just hoping I get the same chance.”
“You will,” I promise. “You're a good guy, Cole. Funny, smart, talented. Any guy would be lucky to have you. Just not that one. He sucks.”
“I love you, you know that, right?” Cole grins.
“Sorry, I’m a taken man.”
“Oh fuck off.” Cole laughs, pulling me in and messing up my hair.
“Okay, okay, I love you too!”
We spend a little while just sitting and talking. I’ve missed my best friend. Since moving out, we’ve hardly seen one another, and I feel bad.
Now with exams and everything, we make plans to study together.
He’s staying in St. John’s after graduating, so I’ll have my best friend nearby.
We’ll have the whole summer together, and I can’t wait.
Now with Austin in my life, I can’t wait for all the fun things we’re going to get up to. All the memories we’re going to make.
“I’m going to meet up with the guys for some drinks, you gonna come? This time, as part of the group and not working,” he chuckles.
“You know what, yeah, I think that would be fun. I know Austin would want to. He should be home soon. I’ll go meet him and get ready.”
“Where is he?”
“He went to talk to Charlie to come clean about everything.” I give him a guilty look. “It sucked keeping it from him, but I know Austin felt worse.”
Cole’s face pales at the mention of my brother. “You okay?” I ask.
“Yeah. For sure.” He clears his throat. Okay then. “Is Charlie gonna be there tonight?"
“Ah, I don’t know? You’re the one who invited me. But isn’t he always with you guys? So why wouldn’t he? Unless he’s out with Claire.”
“I should get going. Gotta do a few things. See you tonight,” he says, grabbing his things and shoving them in his backpack before taking off
“Okay. Bye.” That was weird. I’ll have to check in with him later. Right now, I’m gonna go home and see how things went with Charlie.
––––––––
Austin
“My best friend. My brother from another mother. My homie.” I greet Charlie when he walks into my apartment.
He narrows his eyes. “I’m not sure if I like the sound of your tone, Austin,” he says suspiciously.
‘What? Why not? Nothing's wrong. Nothing at all.”
“Oh boy.” He blows out a breath. “What did you do?”
“Why do you assume I did anything?” I mock gasp.
“Because it’s you.”
“Lies.” I huff. “I’m a good boy. Just ask your brother.” I wiggle my brows.
“Ew. I don’t wanna hear about what you and my brother do, or why he would be calling you a good boy.”
“It’s me who calls him a good boy, thank you very much.”
Charlie fake gags as he joins me on the couch.
“Ha ha.” I flip him off.
“So,” he says. “What has you calling me up to come over here?”
“Why do you sound like it’s something out of the blue?” I frown.
“Because for the past few months, it pretty much has been. We used to hang out and game here all the time, but we haven’t in like a month.
But I know it’s because you're in a new relationship. I get it. It’s fun and exciting, and all you wanna do is be with the person.
And seeing how that person is my brother, I was extra chill about it.
But, I think the honeymoon phase needs to wrap up because I really need my best friend. ”
Guilt hits me hard. “Fuck. I’m sorry, man. My head was so in the clouds that I didn’t even realize.”
“Like I said. I get it. I’m not mad. But don’t do it anymore.
” He grins. Charlie jumps when Snicklefritz jumps into his lap.
“What the...” he stares down at the cat.
“Snicklefritz?” he looks at him in disbelief.
Snicklefritz purrs, rubbing his head against Charlie’s chest. He blinks down at the cat, then up to me.
“Ah, wanna tell me why my brother’s cat is at your place? ”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” I say nervously. “This is his apartment too.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Levi has been living with me this whole time since he moved out of the apartment.”
“What the fuck? Dude, you’ve been dating for two months and are already living together?”
“And that’s why we didn’t tell you.” I sigh. “I know it seems fast. But he needed a place to stay, and I had a room. It made sense.”
“Okay. True, but damn.” Charlie shakes his head. “You really must be serious about my brother.”
“I am. I’m madly in love with him. He means the world to me, and if I have it my way, he’s gonna be with me for the rest of our lives.”
“Damn.” Charlie blinks. “Well, shit. Huh. I’m happy for you both. Is that why you asked me over here? To tell me you two are living together?”
“No. I wanted to talk to you and let you know that technically Levi and I have only been officially dating since last night.”
“Huh?” Yeah, I’ve confused the man. Shit.
“So, the truth is, back at your sister's wedding, Cole set us up on a date. Levi had no idea it was with me, but I knew it was with him. The fact is, I’ve been in love with Levi since we were in high school. He was the first guy, really the only guy, I’ve ever been interested in.
Us drifting apart the past few years has sucked, so when I got the chance to be with him in every way I dreamed about, I took it. ”
“I’m so fucking confused. What do you mean you haven’t been dating until last night? You’ve been dating for two months.”
“We were fake dating. Kind of. Not really. I mean, it always felt like it was real, but we both were under the impression it was just an arrangement we agreed to.”
“You agreed to fake date? Why?”
“Because Levi told your parents he had a boyfriend and was bringing him to the wedding. He didn’t want to be embarrassed by admitting he lied.
So, I agreed to be his fake boyfriend. Then your parents were over the moon that we were dating, and we didn’t have the heart to tell them it wasn’t real.
So, we agreed to let everyone believe we were together because Levi didn’t have time to date, and well, I wanted a chance for him to fall for me.
So yeah... fast forward to now, we both fell in love with one another, and are now actually together, for real. ”
He blinks at me. And blinks, and blinks. “My brain hurts.” He sighs. “So... you’re okay? The two of you are good?”
“Yup. Better than ever.”
“Okay then.”
“That’s it?” I ask. “I just told you I went all crazy man, obsessed about your brother, and all you can say is okay?"
“You love him?”
“More than anything.”
“You treat him good?”
“I try my damnedest.”
“Then I don’t see an issue. Honestly, I’m not surprised you would do something like this. I just didn’t know it would be over my brother. But I’m glad it is. Levi has always had a thing for you, too. And I’m glad he left that piece of shit and ended up with the guy he should have always been with.”
“I knew you were my favorite person!” I pull him in for a hug.
Charlie laughs, and we get to talking. I tell him about the dog and all the other crazy little things I’ve done.
Charlie opens up to me, and I feel like the worst best friend because he’s going through some pretty fucked up shit. Hell, I feel like the worst friend in general because poor Cole, too.
After we’re done, Charlie says some of the guys are planning to go out to the bar. I tell him I’ll ask Levi if he wants to go and see if I already have a text saying he’s on his way home.
“Alright then.” I laugh. “Guess we’ll meet you there.”
“Sounds good.” We do our bro hug, and he leaves.
Heading into my room, I pick out something to wear when I hear a knock at the door.
“Huh.” I frown. Maybe Levi forgot his key? Or Charlie left something here.
Heading to the front door, I don’t look through the peephole. That's my first mistake. I should have. I really should have. Because the person on the other side isn’t my boyfriend or his brother. It’s my father.
And he looks fucking pissed.