by Sean Michael
He bent and helped Austin out of the Speedo, making sure it wasn’t stained. It wasn’t—he’d managed to get it down enough not to be affected by their antics. He helped Austin into his underwear, all the while touching gently, giving Austin something to focus on.
“All three in red?” Austin was still flushed when they stepped out of the room, but was together, working with him.
“Well, the color certainly suits you, doesn’t it?” He went through the rack of Speedos, looking for a couple more that were both red and the right size. “Oh, now, hey, this pair could be fun.” He pulled out the leopard skin pair and handed them over to Austin.
“I am not wearing those. Perv.” Austin snorted softly, the words having no heat.
He pouted, pretending to be put out as he put them back on the rack. “I’d wear ’em for you.”
He got a surprisingly serious look. “You’d look best in black. You’d be fucking stunning.”
He groaned a little, belly going tight and hot. When Austin looked at him like that, expressed his desire, it made him hot. He turned back to the rack and found a black one in his size. “You think?”
“I know.” Austin stepped closer, voice low. “We need a pool. You and me, in the water. I…. That’s like a dream.”
He nodded, swallowing. His two favorite things in the world, together. “It’s a good dream, Austin.” His hands curled around the bathing suits. “Come on,” he said, voice husky. “Let’s buy these and get out of here.”
“Okay.” Austin nodded, eyes looking at him like he was the center of the fucking world. Damn.
He wanted nothing more than to kiss Austin until they were both breathless, but he couldn’t. Not here. He strode to the cash register and cleared his throat, trying to find his footing again.
“You ready for the meeting with the sponsors?” he asked.
“Yeah. I think so. I think this one’ll be easier, yeah?”
“Well, you’re in the driver’s seat for this one.”
“Vroom, vroom.” Austin winked, gave him a grin.
He laughed, signed his credit card slip, and handed the bag over to Austin. “I believe these are yours.”
“Not all of them. One was for you.” Austin headed out, bouncing a little on his toes, the line of the lean body relaxed and happy.
“Oh, I might be wearing it, but I do believe I bought it for you.”
Shopping had been a good idea—they’d managed to finally buy Austin his Speedos, and now Austin was nice and relaxed going into this meeting with Avian.
“Yeah. Thank you. I can’t wait to see them on you.”
“I’ll put them on tonight. You can take them off me.” He started up the truck, and headed for Avian’s offices. He grabbed the rental section of the paper and tossed it into Austin’s lap. “I thought we could start looking for a place after everything’s signed. I circled the places that look like they have everything we need.”
“What do we need besides a bed and a fridge?” Austin started looking, muttering about the costs.
“Workout room, office, front room for the TV and stuff. Kitchen. Pop-Tart breakfasts are a thing of the past. I’ve been putting some menus together, trying to find a balance between the carbs you need for your training and your diabetes.” He glanced at his watch as the traffic slowed them; unless it stopped outright, they’d be on time for their meeting.
“Pop-Tarts are a necessary part of life. We need a yard for my trampoline too, don’t we?”
“Yep. That’s why most of those are as pricey as they are. Houses rather than apartments, with a yard of some sort. And I’m serious about the Pop-Tarts.” He took the ramp off the highway, starting to drum his fingers along the steering wheel as they got closer. Man, he wanted a cigarette.
“We could look outside of town. It’s got to be cheaper….”
“I suppose. Did you see the number on that contract? I mean, it’s not a fortune, but we’ve got some wiggle room. Especially with the power bar sponsorship added in. And I’ve a couple other irons in the fire.”
“Yeah, I just worry…. I’d hate to get us in trouble.” Lord, just what he needed, a fretting diver.
“Baby, you let me worry about the money, okay? It’s my job. Yours is to dive.”
He pulled into the parking lot at Avian and cut the engine, but he turned toward Austin instead of getting out.
“I… I don’t…. I’ve been worrying about money for a long time,” Austin said.
“And I’m used to coaching kids who’re still living at home and haven’t got a clue what the value of a dollar is.” He gave Austin a warm smile. “You come to me anytime you’re worried about money, okay? Hell, you come to me if you’re worried about anything. You aren’t alone in this, Austin. Not by a long shot.”
Austin gave him a smile. “Sometimes it still seems like a dream, like I’ll wake up and you’ll be a fantasy.”
He nodded. “I’ve felt that a time or two myself. Especially in the time since I first saw you dive. But I tell you what, if this is a dream, I don’t plan on waking up. I like this dream.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Me too. Let’s go sign some papers, Coach.”
“All right! I’m right behind you.” He paused a moment and winked. “Watching your ass.”
“Be good, now….” Austin’s cheeks were back to red.
“Aren’t I always good, baby?” He reached out and stroked one hot cheek with his fingers. Then he sobered and nodded. “All business for this meeting, I promise.”
“Yeah. Yeah, you and me—business as usual.”
He nodded before locking the truck up and heading in with Austin. The thing was, what they were about to do was going to change their business as usual. No more outside jobs, focus on the diving, on practicing and working out and getting Austin to be the best he could absolutely be.
He glanced around and then gave Austin’s hand a quick squeeze before they went in.
The meeting went smooth as glass, Austin’s easy manner charming men and women alike, his honest enthusiasm contagious. And no one tried to suggest that Austin find a new coach. It seemed they knew that subject was not open for debate.
They left with handshakes all around, a check for more money than either of them had ever made in a year, and the promise of as much Avian water as they could drink delivered to them as soon as they let the receptionist know their address.
“Speaking of addresses,” murmured Vince as they headed back to the truck. “We should start checking those places out. We have to leave early tomorrow morning to get you back to work, and it’d be great if we had a lease signed.”
“So quick? Okay.” Austin got that “things are moving fast” look again that Vince was learning meant Austin was worried and uncomfortable, but would try.
They climbed back into the truck, and Vince debated bringing up Austin handing in his notice at work tomorrow. If he brought it up now, he’d have some time to talk Austin down, convince him it was the right way to go. “Hell, baby, there’s no reason to wait. That money will keep us going a year, maybe more. I figured you could let your boss know you’d be leaving in a week or two.”
“I… In a week? But what about my place? And packing? And….”
Easy, now. Breathe, Austin.
“Or two, baby. You can give your notice in at your place too. And I’ll help you pack. I know it’s a big change, but I’ve set up your first meet for about six weeks from now, and it’ll be good to concentrate on the diving, for you not to be trying to burn the candle at both ends, yeah?” He reached over and squeezed Austin’s thigh. “Won’t it be nice not to have to do all the shit I expect you to do after working the night shift?”
“I. Yeah? I mean… there’s something to be said for being so tired you can’t think.” Austin smiled and winked. “That thinking thing gets me every time.”
Vince responded to that grin with one of his own—it was a much better look on Austin than worry. “Oh, I have ways of keeping you from thinking.” He sta
rted up the truck and headed out, turning west, back toward the university. “Shall we look at the places closest to the UT pool first?”
Austin shrugged. “Okay. I don’t know much about Austin….”
“Well, East Austin is out, and anything really close to UT is going to be really expensive. Most of the stuff I’ve circled isn’t in Austin proper,” he said. “South or north’ll be our best bet and not take us too far from the facilities—I don’t want to have to drive for hours, or we might as well stay where we are, you know?”
“Yeah…. This one says it’s got three bedrooms, a backyard, on the bus line. You want me to call?”
“Sure. We don’t have to be on the bus line. We’ll be commuting in together.” There was a little growl in his voice that he tried to ignore—he couldn’t help the possessive and protective streak that Austin brought out.
“Well, I have a truck. She’d old and rusty, but she works.” Austin dialed and got a real estate agent, then started chattering away and making arrangements.
Sure, Austin had his own way of getting around, but there was no reason for both of them to be driving if they were going to the same place. Of course, maybe Austin wanted him to back off some. It made Vince’s hands tighten on the steering wheel. The kid was going to have to get used to it—it had nothing to do with their physical relationship.
Okay, maybe it had a little bit to do with it, but he was the coach; it was his job to take care of his diver. It was what he did.
“See if she’s got other places to show us, as well,” he suggested before Austin signed off.
“’Kay. Ma’am? We’d like to see other places in that price range, if you don’t mind. Yeah? Cool. Where?”
Vince appreciated not having to do this part himself. Austin was really personable, and it was nice having someone else doing some of the work. So, okay, it was his job to take care of his diver, but he would have to remember that as young as Austin was, he was still a partner in this, far more than the kids that Vince was used to coaching.
“So where am I going first?” he asked once Austin hung up.
“Lake Creek off north 183.” Austin pointed. “She sounded perky.”
“Of course she did. She’s a real estate agent.” He took the exit they were coming up to. “That was like perfect timing. Almost seems serendipitous.” He gave Austin a smirk. “And that’s my four-dollar word for the year.”
They drove up north, stores and shit seeming to be everywhere—at least until the construction started. “No wonder it’s cheaper out here,” Austin noted.
“Yeah, really. Of course, there isn’t going to be construction forever.” He made a face. “And no doubt by the time they’re done we’ll be able to afford something really classy and upscale and wouldn’t be here anymore. I wonder how late they work.” He and Austin wouldn’t be around during the day most of the time, but he didn’t see much point in having Austin quit his night job only to be kept awake all night by construction. “Traffic’s gotta be a bitch at rush hour.”
“In the summer, they’ll shut the road down at night, I’m betting. Looks like the housing districts are back in a little.”
“You think you can sleep through that?” Of course, it seemed Austin could sleep anywhere, anytime, while Vince didn’t sleep, noise or not. He turned the truck onto Lake Creek.
“It’s not like the windows will be open. The AC will cover anything the radio won’t.”
Oh, grocery store. Taco Bell. Ice cream store. Mexican restaurant. Nice.
“Three bedrooms and a yard, yeah?” It wasn’t too far from pool facilities either. Really, the construction looked like the biggest drawback. It was looking good. Of course, they hadn’t seen the place yet; it was likely to be a dump, or have something else wrong with it.
“What was that address, baby?”
“Uh…. 1544 Broken Spoke. Right past the big church.”
“Broken Spoke? That doesn’t exactly sound welcoming.” Still, he supposed it fit in with the cutesy themes these places always tried to go for.
He found the street and then the church, and there was 1544, newly painted and bright, a big pecan tree in the front yard, the garage big enough for two trucks.
“Oh, hey, this is nice.”
It really was—two-story, quiet, a simple, decent-sized house. Austin looked, nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, we can afford it? Because I can always try to get work here.”
“You did see the four zeros on that check, right?” Vince shook his head. “Your job, Austin, is to be the best fucking diver you can be. The day-to-day living details fall under my job description.” He got out, looking around for the perky real estate agent. The place looked empty, which was good. There she was, bouncing and smiling, rhinestone earrings sparkling.
“Good morning! I’m Kate, so glad to meet you. Isn’t it a lovely little house?” Oh, wow, he’d known more than one diving mom like this woman. You didn’t want to cross those bright smiles.
“I’m Vince and this is Austin. It’s not bad. Of course the inside is what matters.”
“Of course. Come inside. It’s sweet as pie.” She got the lockbox open, jewelry jingling and rattling. “Are y’all moving here for work?”
“Yep.” Vince nodded at Austin. “You’re looking at the next Greg Louganis.” He glanced around, noting the windows letting in the light. It was a little dusty, but otherwise clean and bright. There was a huge backyard, a long galley kitchen, and a tiled front room with a little gas fireplace. Simple, solid, exactly what they needed.
He tugged Austin up the stairs, looking for some privacy to talk about it. It seemed wrong, finding the right place on their first try, but he couldn’t see spending the rest of the afternoon dragging their asses around if this was it.
“What do you think?” he asked, poking his head into the bedrooms.
“It’s a house. It’s a lot bigger than my place.” There was a little tub in the second full bath, a good-sized one in the master.
“You think we’re done looking?” He wouldn’t complain if they had the afternoon to themselves instead of having to keep looking, keep letting Ms. Perky show them around. “It’s got everything we need, and I don’t know that we’re going to find anything better.”
“Is it that easy?” Austin stood to peer out the bedroom window, down into the backyard. “Like this?”
He made sure the door was closed and then went and stood behind Austin, wrapping his arms around Austin’s skinny waist. “I know—I keep waiting to find out what the catch is. And if it makes you feel better, we can go looking at other places, but this one sure seems right. And maybe….” He shrugged, sliding his fingers idly over Austin’s belly. “Well, this was meant to be, baby. From the moment I saw you diving, I’ve felt that. So maybe this is the world’s way of showing us that. Things falling into place like this.”
“Yeah? It’s a nice place. Homey. Quiet. Not too froufy. I like it.” Austin relaxed back against him. “We’ll have to buy a fridge.”
He nodded, kept touching Austin softly. “The yard’s big enough for your trampoline and a patio table and chairs. This master bedroom’s nice and big, and the other two bedrooms are big enough to put the weight room in one, a little office in the other.” He rested his cheek against the top of Austin’s head. “I think it’s what we’re looking for, baby.”
“Yeah? Wow. Too fucking cool.” Austin turned, stepped in close, and hugged him. “Broken Spoke Drive, huh?”
“Yeah. Has a strange kind of ring to it, doesn’t it?” Smiling, he brought their mouths together. “Welcome home,” he whispered against Austin’s lips.
“Oh.” Austin moaned, lips parting, letting him in.
He found Austin’s ass, pulling the long body closer as he pushed his tongue deep.
The scent of Austin’s need was strong, filling the empty room. “Oh, there now, that’s better.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Austin nodded, hummed a little. “Guess we ought to go say yes, huh?”
“Yea
h. Much as I’d like to christen this room, it would be better if it was officially ours, first.” He gave Austin a wink and his hand a squeeze before heading back downstairs to Ms. Perky.
“Well, I think this will suit us fine, Ms.…” Damn. All he could think was Perky, and he knew for sure that wasn’t right.
“It’s Kate. You like it? Excellent. It’s a nice little property.” She started chattering about contracts and credit checks and deposits.
“You give us the paperwork, and we’ll get it filled out.” He waited until she was out the door, going to fetch the stuff she needed from her car, to turn back to Austin. “Damn, she’s so fucking perky.”
“I warned you.” Austin was chuckling, eyes laughing.
“Yeah, you did. Still she’s gonna make it easy for us to have this place, so I guess we can put up with it.” He reached out for Austin, but pulled back as she came back in, arms full of paperwork.
“Damn, is that all for us?”
She laughed. “It looks worse than it is.”
He nodded and they all went to the kitchen, where they filled out the forms at the counter, and it wasn’t very long at all before everything was signed and they needed the credit check to happen and the deposit check to clear.
“You’ll call us as soon as you know when we can move in?”
“Of course, Mr. Dawson. We should know Monday at the latest.” She gave him that fake salesperson smile. “I can fax you all the utility information, as well. All that fun stuff.”
“Excellent. Thank you.” He was pleased to have it all pretty much settled. “And we can move in right away?”
“As soon as the paperwork clears, yes. The owners are ready for a tenant.”
“The paperwork will clear, ma’am.” He shook her hand. “Thank you again.” He gave her a nod and headed back out to the truck, a little bounce in his step. They had a whole afternoon now, just him and Austin.
Austin got in the truck and sat, shaking his head a little. “Wow.”
He slid his hand along Austin’s thigh. “You okay, baby?”
