Chapter 5
FIVE
AUSTIN - PRESENT
The song ends, and we make our way back to the table.
I didn’t want to let her go. The comfort of holding her in my arms just confirmed a feeling I’ve had for so long.
A feeling I’ve longed to explore and open myself up to.
I want more. I always have. I saw the look she gave me.
The sparkle in her eyes and the way her lips slightly parted when she gazed at my mouth.
She’s so damn beautiful it drives me crazy, and I don’t think she has any idea.
We order a round of shots, and the girls take off again to the dance floor. Kash is chatting up some blonde at the bar, hoping to get laid tonight, and who are we kidding? He likely will.
I sit back with a beer in hand, watching Vix so carefree and alive, I can’t help but grin so hard my cheeks are sore.
Watching her move her body to the music so seductively has me in a trance.
It’s like she’s a snake charmer luring me to her with each sway of her hips, and I’m the snake hypnotized by her song.
She moves effortlessly, throwing her hands in the air and closing her eyes. It’s easy to see she’s feeling the rhythm of the music moving through her as if she and the beat are one. I could watch her dance all night.
The girls sing over the music, spinning each other around and hanging off one another. They fall into fits of giggles, and it makes me feel so whole. You would think they’ve known each other for years, and not just one day. Kash joins me at the table, and I notice he’s come back alone.
“Strike out with the blonde?” I tease.
“Nah.” He shakes his head. “I wasn’t feeling it. She’s not my type,” he lies through his teeth, and I scoff, trying to suppress my laughter.
“Since when?”
“I don’t know, man,” he says, and his eyes drift over to the girls. Something in my stomach tightens, and an uneasy feeling washes over my body. Maybe I’ve had too much to drink.
We both turn back to the crowd, and rage immediately takes over my body. I slam my glass on the table and jump to my feet.
“What the fuck?” Kash shouts, noticing the commotion and barrels towards the girls.
Two drunk slobs are getting handsy with Vix and Leah.
Lee is pushing one away, shouting at him to get the fuck off of her, while the other is attempting to grab at Vix, assaulting her despite the warnings she’s yelling at him to back off.
Kash rips the first guy off his sister, landing a sucker punch to his face, sending the guy staggering backwards, hitting the ground.
He’s towering over the asshole, yelling all sorts of threats and promises.
I don’t hear him, though, because I’m seeing red.
I’ve never been a violent guy. I’d rather verbally spar than ever put my hands on someone else.
But seeing this guy trying to touch her… I feel murderous.
He doesn’t see me coming. I tap the guy on the shoulder, grabbing his attention, and when he turns, I knock the ever-loving shit out of him.
One swing. One hit. That’s all it takes, and the guy goes down crying out like the little bitch he’s proven himself to be.
I crouch beside him as he cowers on the ground, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt so I know I’ve got his attention.
“Think fucking twice before ever touching anyone again without their consent,” I snarl and drop him back down, giving him a sadistic smile and then turn myself to Vix.
She nods at me, a silent thanks for helping her.
I know she could have handled it herself if given the time to do so, but I wasn’t about to stand by and watch as this asshole kept forcing himself on her.
She turns to Leah and hugs her, giving her comfort that she herself doesn’t seem to seek. She’s still that strong, independent girl I’ve always known her to be, always looking out for others before herself. Vix claps her hands together.
“Let’s do a shot, yeah?” She won’t let this moment spoil her night out.
We head back to the table and order another round of well-needed shots.
Vix starts telling Leah and Kash about the time she punched a guy in the face when we were teens, and I can’t help but chuckle.
It’s a day I’ll never forget. My heart swells with pride at the way she’s always been able to handle herself, and I know without a doubt, I wouldn’t survive losing her again.
VIX
Hours later, we stumble through the entrance of our dorm room, barefoot and giggling like two teenage girls, riding the high of the night and the extra shots Lee insisted we knock back. The guys trail behind us, getting us home safely like our own personal bodyguards.
Austin hands me my shoes, a lazy smile spread across his face. “Your shoes, ma’am.” I crinkle my nose and take my shoes from him,
“Ma’am? I’m not sure I like that, sounds too old,” I mumble while booping him on the nose with my index finger. He laughs. “If you’re old, then I’m ancient. And I’m not ancient.”
“You’re old, Austin, don’t fool yourself,” Leah chimes in and slips her dress over her head, changing into an oversized shirt.
“Ah, Jesus Lee, you couldn’t just wait until I leave?” Kash covers his eyes like he just saw her naked and storms out of our room. Leah laughs and shrugs as she finishes getting dressed and hops into her bed, under her fluffy duvet, completely unbothered.
I can feel Austin’s eyes on the side of my face. I look over at him and he smiles, that beautiful smile I’ve dreamed about for so many nights, wondering if I’d ever get to see it again.
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” he says, hesitating as if there is more he wants to say.
“What?” An awkward smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. He shakes his head, returning my smile and pulls me into a side hug, kissing the top of my head.
“Sleep tight, Vixen,” he says in a low whisper.
“Goodnight, Aussy,” I whisper. His eyes soften, and then he turns and walks away.
I close the door, sliding the lock into place and turn to face the room.
I take a deep breath in an attempt to steady my racing heart and head over to my bed, falling backwards in a huff.
What a night. The rush of emotions coursing through my body from what this day has brought on is something I’m too far gone to decipher tonight.
“I told you so,” Leah mumbles from the other side of the room.
“Hmm?” I ask half asleep on top of my covers.
“You and Austin,” she chuckles, “you couldn’t stop looking at each other alllll night. The eyes, they never lie.”
I smile to myself, not wanting to admit out loud that she wasn’t wrong, at least on my part. My eyes betrayed me the entire night, always finding their way back to him.