Chapter 5 #3
A flicker of disappointment moved through me at his words.
I hadn’t planned on being around him tonight, but I couldn’t deny the warmth that had spread through me when it suddenly became a possibility.
The feeling didn’t last long. Levi slid onto the bench beside Cherry, positioning himself between her and Lucas.
He wore a sly smile, one that told me he knew exactly what he’d just done.
I suppressed the giggle that threatened to spill from my lips.
I tried to catch Cherry’s eye, but she was already occupied, her attention very clearly elsewhere.
Austin’s hand returned to my back, firmer this time.
He applied gentle pressure, guiding me forward.
I looked up at him, and with a small nod of his head, he gestured toward the now empty bench.
I followed his lead, sliding into the seat.
Austin sat down immediately after me, leaving only one remaining spot for Killian, who was now entirely cut off from my side of the table.
And from the smug look on Austin’s face, he knew exactly what he was doing.
Austin and Levi looked completely at ease in the booth with Cherry and me, while the other two boys sat stiffly, like someone had just canceled spring break.
I wasn’t sure why, but that confidence was magnetic.
It reminded me of Cherry’s, the kind I’d always been drawn to.
But when it came from Austin, it stirred something entirely different in me.
I jumped slightly when Austin leaned in close, his face near enough that I could feel his breath as he spoke.
“So, Yellow,” he said quietly, “what’s good here?”
“Um,” I managed, when he didn’t pull back. I glanced at him, fighting the sudden rush of nerves. “Not much, if I’m being honest.”
He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as he continued to look at me like I’d said something fascinating. I didn’t understand it. I didn’t understand the way he was looking at me either. I was just me. There wasn’t anything especially captivating about that.
“So what happened last night?” Lucas cut in, breaking whatever spell had settled between Austin and me.
“Oh, you know me,” Cherry said, slipping into a tone I recognized instantly. “I just drank too much.” It was her lying voice. That caught Austin’s attention immediately. He pulled back, his expression shifting as he glanced at Levi, then back to Cherry.
“Yeah, it was kind of weird,” Lucas added. “You were really out of it.”
“There was mad drama after you two left,” Killian chimed in. “Someone beat the fuck out of Brandon.”
“You know him?” Austin asked sharply, his focus snapping to Killian.
“Yeah,” Killian shrugged. “Old buddy from Hawking.”
“Yeah?” Austin’s voice hardened. “Get better friends.”
Lucas and Killian exchanged uneasy looks, their confusion obvious.
The awkward tension that had settled over the table when Austin and Levi arrived hadn’t lifted once.
Now, it had multiplied. I watched Cherry closely as her eyes moved between the four boys, her mouth pressing into a thin line.
And even though it had been her idea to stay after work, it seemed she wasn’t in the mood for the awkward tension of competing teenage boys.
“Well,” Cherry said slowly, “this was fun. I promised Blair she’d get home in time to feed her sea monkeys, so…”
“Sea monkeys?” I mouthed at her, shaking my head.
“What?” she mouthed back, her smirk undeterred.
“I guess I have to go feed my sea monkeys,” I said, surrendering to her lie. Austin’s smile spread wide as he looked at me. He didn’t even try to hide it. He stared openly, unapologetically, and it sent a shiver through me, like I’d stepped into a pocket of cold air.
Killian and Lucas, meanwhile, looked openly annoyed. They didn’t try to mask it. I think they knew, just like the rest of us did. Especially Austin and Levi. This wasn’t a fight they were going to win. They stood from the booth, as did Austin and Levi, giving Cherry and me room to slide out.
“Well,” I said tensely, avoiding Killian’s glare, even though it felt like it landed squarely on me. “Nice seeing you.”
“I’ll text you, Lucas,” Cherry said, looping her arm through mine.
We waved quickly to Austin and Levi and started toward the exit.
I was surprised, for what felt like the hundredth time that night, when Austin and Levi fell into step beside us.
Austin’s hand settled at my back as naturally as if it had always belonged there, despite the fact that we were barely more than strangers.
“You guys are leaving?” I asked, confused. “I thought you came to watch the game.”
“Fuck the game,” Austin said easily. Then he paused.
“Wait here for a second, Yellow. Please.” His hand left my back as we stopped.
I watched him turn and head back toward the table, his movements sure, deliberate.
He rapped his knuckles against the wood, startling Lucas and Killian.
“Oh, by the way,” Austin said lightly, a smile on his face that made no sense to me, “find another dealer.”
He turned away before they could respond.
I didn’t miss their expressions, though.
Judging by the snort Cherry let out, neither did she.
They looked completely stunned, like they had no idea what the hell had just happened.
Join the club. Austin rejoined us, his hand returning to my back without hesitation.
Smoothly. Like it was exactly where it was meant to be.
“What the hell was that?” Cherry asked once we stepped outside. Her voice carried equal parts amusement and concern. “You know we’re friends with them, right?”
“Is that right, Yellow?” Austin asked, his attention settling squarely on me.
“Not really,” I shrugged. The answer only seemed to deepen his smug satisfaction.
“I don’t like that guy,” Austin went on. Even though the four of us stood in a loose circle, it felt like he was speaking only to me. “He… I don’t know.”
“You seemed to like him well enough before tonight,” Cherry said, voicing exactly what I’d been thinking. She looked between Levi and Austin like she was trying to peel back layers, and knowing Cherry, she probably could.
“Anyway,” I cut in, trying to defuse the tension that was creeping off Austin in waves. I could tell he was fighting something, his thoughts pulling him somewhere darker than this moment deserved. “It was nice seeing you guys again.”
“Nah,” Austin said, shaking his head as he held my gaze. “It’s like that, Yellow? All that talk about fate, and you’re ready to leave so quickly?”
I flicked my eyes toward Cherry, fully expecting her to burst out laughing at the mention of fate. Instead, she was focused on Levi, who was speaking to her quietly with a grin that said he was enjoying every second of it.
“I can’t abandon my poor sea monkeys,” I laughed. “I don’t want to give them mommy issues.”
Austin chuckled, the sound low and coming from his chest, his eyes never leaving mine. I didn’t understand why his stare felt so intense, or why it made me feel almost weightless. “Can I drive you home?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head even though the word came with a hint of regret. “I drove here.” I gestured toward my old car, suddenly self-conscious about him seeing it.
Austin took another step toward me. His hand, still resting at my back, shifted slightly, sliding down and forward until his fingers closed around my waist. His eyes were deep as they moved over my face.
I had to remind myself that he was practically still a stranger, because the way he made me feel was like I’d known him forever.
I waited, forcing myself to take a quiet breath so he wouldn’t steal all of my oxygen.
“You know,” he said after what felt like minutes, “I think you’re really beautiful, Yellow.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks at his words, electricity bursting through my stomach like fireworks.
My lips wouldn’t move. I couldn’t speak.
I just stared at him, and he stared back.
His face drifted closer to mine, and for a single second, I thought he might kiss me.
And for a single second, I thought I might kiss him back.
Which was insane. I had just met him. I didn’t know him.
Cherry cleared her throat loudly. The sound snapped me out of it.
I stepped back from Austin too quickly, stumbling over a rock and flailing in a thoroughly humiliating attempt to steady myself.
Once I’d saved myself from face-planting into the concrete, I tilted my head up toward the starry sky.
I knew better than to look at anyone’s reaction, especially Austin’s.
“Bye,” I blurted, keeping my eyes fixed upward.
I turned on my heel and headed for my car, my walk of shame nothing like the ones Cherry used to tell me about.
Her laughter rang out as she caught up to me.
I didn’t look at her. I unlocked my car, slid into the driver’s seat, and dropped my forehead against the steering wheel in complete embarrassment.
“Don’t even,” I said as soon as she climbed in beside me. I kept my head down as her door slammed shut.
“I won’t,” she promised, though her voice was still buzzing with amusement.
“Are they gone?” I muttered.
“Yep,” Cherry said easily. I lifted my head slowly and glanced toward where we’d left them. To my relief, they were gone. I let out a breath, but it lasted barely a second before I nearly jumped out of my skin.
Someone knocked on my window. I shot Cherry a look, knowing she’d known this whole time, then turned toward the source. Of course it was Austin. He motioned for me to roll the window down. I briefly considered driving away instead.
“Yellow,” he urged through the glass. I shook my head and gave in, rolling the window down. “Give me your phone,” he said quickly.
“What?” I asked, my mind still replaying my spectacular exit.
“You said, and I quote, let’s leave it up to fate,” he continued smoothly. “Fate happened. We met again. Seems like a sign you should give me your number.”
“I still don’t know you,” I said.
“Trust me,” he replied easily. “You’re going to.”
And like his words had cast a spell, I handed him my phone.