by B. Cranford
She carefully lifted the box and sat, clipping her seat belt in place before setting the box in her lap. “What’d you get?” she asked as he hopped back into the driver’s seat.
“Raspberry Cheesecake. It looked so good.”
“What else did you get?”
“What makes you think I got anything else?”
She smiled at his too-innocent tone. Even with something clearly weighing on him, he was playing around. “What makes you think I’d believe you didn’t?” she responded, trying to draw him into their question game.
“Do you think I have no willpower?”
“Do you have any willpower?”
That last one earned her a laugh, one she was happy to note sounded genuine, and managed to lighten the lines that she’d seen around his eyes.
“No. Not when it comes to pastries, and not when it comes to you, either.” He leaned over and kissed her again, a full meeting of their lips that lingered with unsaid words and a hint of uncertainty.
She wanted to gloat that she’d won their game but the concern was too much. “What’s going on? Did something happen last night?” She hadn’t heard from him after he’d arrived home from The Avenue, but she hadn’t worried. He’d sent her a text telling her that he was going to head straight home as planned, despite their brief dalliance with sexting, because he knew she was tired and they had plans for today anyway, so all in all, everything seemed normal.
Until he’d arrived looking like he’d gotten no sleep at all.
“My mother came into the bar last night.”
The words were so blunt and so unexpected, she didn’t have a chance to stop her reaction from slipping forth. “Motherfucker.”
He laughed, nodding with her assessment of the situation. “That about sums it up, yeah. She came to tell me she was wrong.”
She did? Odie was surprised, knowing what she did about Patricia Andrews, and having seen first-hand the fallout of her choices—her ultimatums. But she wanted to hear Austin out, to know the whole story before she passed judgment.
“Not about Aaron, mind you. About me. Apparently now we’re together”—he pointed back and forth between the two of them, a wholly unnecessary gesture, but one Odie assumed was an outlet for some pent-up frustrations—“I’ve finally lived up to her expectations, accomplished what she wanted for her children.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, not sorry at all, but not sure she followed. “What?”
“Basically, she still thinks A is a disgusting pervert, and Ashton is a whore who’s living in sin with a man who isn’t the father of her—”
“How does she even know that?” Odie interrupted, latching onto a minor point, but one that stuck in her head.
“She ran into your mom is all she said.”
“My mom wouldn’t . . .” Odie trailed off, wondering at the implications, her mind easing when Austin’s hand found hers.
“I know she wouldn’t, babe. I know. I’m sure Patricia has her ways of finding shit out and she used your mom as an excuse.”
“Right, yeah. Sorry.” She offered an apologetic smile, then squeezed his hand to get him to continue.
“Anyway, long story short—she wanted us to come over before we go to your parents’ place and was wondering when we’re going to be married. She’s clearly pinned her hopes on me to save the souls of all our family.” He scoffed. “Only soul that needs saving is hers. If she has one.”
“What did you say to her?”
“I told her fuck no and fuck off, and then just stared at her until she left, basically.” He shrugged, like telling his mother to get out was an everyday thing.
“Aus, I’m—”
He shook his head. “Don’t say sorry, babe. It’s not your fault or problem, I just wanted you to know. I wanted to tell someone.”
She squeezed his hand again, this time to thank him for his trust and to let him know she was there.
That she always would be.
And also, that she’d always been there. “I’m your person, Aussie. Even before this”—she used their joined hands to point between them—“happened. You can always tell me anything. You know that right? That I’m here when you need me?”
He nodded, lifting their clasped hands to his lips, leaving a soft, grateful kiss on the back of hers.
“Is this why you didn’t come over last night?” She couldn’t help but ask the question, the idea of him spending the night alone and in turmoil made her feel . . . hurt. Not by him, but for him.
“Yeah, I–I just needed to process, I think.” He offered a wan smile and she returned it with brilliance.
She needed him to know it was okay.
She understood the need to process, the need to take time to deal.
He’d still come to her—he’d just had the presence of mind to know that he needed to first come to grips with what had happened, and the effect that it had had on him. Not to mention the effect it was most likely going to have on his siblings, too.
“I’ll have to tell them,” he started, as if he knew she was thinking about Aaron and Ashton and what this meant for them, “but I left my phone at the bar since I was kind of in a daze, and honestly, it’s probably better said in person, yeah?”
“Yeah, I think so.” It really was a discussion they needed to have face-to-face, but she didn’t envy any of them the emotional fallout that was sure to follow. “Are you sure you want to go today? I can call Mom and tell her I’m sick or something.”
He lifted their joint hands to his mouth, tugging her a little closer in the process, such that she had to steady the cake in her lap so as not to drop it. Pressing a fleeting kiss her the back of her hand, he shook his head. “Nah, we already cancelled on them once.” His lips curved, lending his face a mischievous and playful look. A look Odie was more than happy to see, given the weight of the past few minutes. “Besides, I’m kind of looking forward to being taken home as the boyfriend. Reckon your dad will threaten me with the shotgun?”
“My dad doesn’t own a shotgun.”
“He doesn’t know that I know that.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“Yeah, but I’m your idiot,” he replied, an easy laugh accompanying the sound of the engine gearing up.
She smiled, turning her head away to look out of her window, whispering to herself with a satisfied smile, “You’re also my forever.”
“So, Austin,” Odie’s dad, Mark, began, “you’re dating my daughter.”
Hell. Austin had barely made it through the front door, and already his girlfriend’s dad was pulling the old girlfriend’s dad routine on him.
“Yes, sir.” He nodded and reached out for a handshake, only to be ignored in lieu of more questions.
“And your intentions? Your prospects?” He paused, his eyes narrowing. “Your thoughts of the future?”
“I–ah, I’m not sure how to answer that?” It came out more like a question as Aussie tried to find his bearings and his footing in the conversation.
“Are you planning to marry my daughter?” Mark’s voice was rougher than he remembered, though it wasn’t like Aussie hadn’t seen them semi-regularly over the years.
Not like with his own parents, his mother’s visit still lingering in the back of his mind.
“Dad,” Odie said, warning in her tone. Austin felt her hand in his, the little squeeze she gave him, and realized what was going on.
He’d been too distracted by thoughts of Patricia to notice at first, but now . . .
“Only if you’re going to add more to her dowry, sir.” He looked down at Odie and smirked, letting her know he was in on the game. Finally. “A man doesn’t just take on a wife without first negotiating the terms.”
Odie snickered, and Aussie watched with no small amount of awe as the sound bloomed into a laugh. God, she’s beautiful.
“You two, seriously,” she said through her laughter, shaking her head.
“Pumpkin, the boy needs to know I’m serious about your fut
ure.”
“Dad, the boy is in his thirties and let’s be honest, it’s probably him more than me you need to worry about.”
“True.” Mark turned to Aussie and lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, adding, “She’s so much like her mother. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“I heard that.” Odie’s mom chose that moment to walk into the room, her little dog Wilbur trailing in behind her, looking like he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.
“I love you, dear.” Mark kissed his wife on the cheek, and Austin marveled at how at ease everyone seemed.
It was a far cry from how tense and frustrated he’d been in the aftermath of last night’s surprise visitor.
“Mm hmm,” Karen murmured, “you’d better. Austin, sweetheart,” she said, as she opened her arms to offer him a hug. “You got more handsome.”
“It’s a blessing and a curse, I’m afraid. Mostly a blessing, since it meant Odie couldn’t keep her hands to herself.” He returned the hug one-handed, his other still joined with Odie’s, who was talking to her dad in low tones.
He caught a few words, and realized she was playfully admonishing him for pretending to sell her in marriage.
The vibe in the room—the front foyer of Karen and Mark’s home, since they’d yet to move past the greeting portion of the evening—was light and fun. Lively in a way that Austin couldn’t ever remember his parents’ place being. Even before everything that had gone down.
Karen pulled back from the hug at the same time Odie dropped his hand and walked from the foyer into the sitting room with her dad. That left him alone with Odie’s mom, who placed her hands on his upper arms and said, “We’re so glad you’re here, Aussie. We’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too,” he replied, even though it really hadn’t been that long since he’d seen them. It was just that this house had so many memories in it, and all of them good, and it made the nostalgia feel thick and encompassing. “Thanks for inviting me.”
“Pfft, it was just an excuse to get that girl of ours out here for a visit.” She let go of his arms and stepped back, but not before giving Austin a little thrill with her next words. “Mark and I, we always knew it would be you and her. I’m glad it’s finally happening, though.”
She turned and followed her husband and daughter into the other room, but for a moment, Aussie simply stood there and took it in.
Always.
You and her.
Finally.
Yeah, that was how he felt about it, too.
Odie looked around at her bedroom—well, the bedroom at her parents’ place that they’d preserved like a tomb.
It looked like her high-school-self went a little overboard with the photo collages and movie star posters. The walls were covered in famous faces and candid and not-so-candid shots of her and her friends.
Austin was right beside her in every one.
“Do you have any idea how often I imagined being in here and being able to do this?” he asked, leaning down to kiss her while landing a hand on her ass and giving it a pat, followed by a squeeze.
“Squeezing my ass after dinner with my parents?” She returned his kiss and then some, making sure to rub her body against his and feeling a sense of victory when he began to harden.
“Odie,” he grit out, tightening his hold on her, bringing the other hand up so he was holding both of her ass cheeks in a sensual, borderline painful way.
Good God, that feels amazing.
They’d arrived at her childhood home on time and ready to face the potential awkwardness of a meal together. After all, they’d practically been family in the final weeks of high school, when Aussie spent more time at her place than his own.
Except for the first few moments in the foyer, it was anything but awkward. Her mom had given Austin the largest meal portion, patting his shoulder lovingly before rambling on about their trip, the poop deck activities—which earned a childish snort and giggle from both Odie and Aussie—and the dish she had made for the night.
Some kind of bean casserole thing.
It had been surprisingly tasty, despite the unappetizing description her mother had given of its creation.
After they’d finished eating, her mom had suggested they head up to Odie’s room and see if there was anything she wanted, since they were planning a remodel. Which meant cleaning out her old room and storing anything that needed to be kept.
“You’ve still got that photo?” Austin asked, somewhat out of the blue. He released her—her body mourning the loss of his hands on her immediately—and stepped over to the photo that had caught his attention.
In it, they were fifteen and sixteen. It had been a school sports day, and Odie’s face was painted with the paw print that was part of their school logo. Austin looked gangly—having already far out-reached her in the height department by then—and his hair was a particular kind of out of control.
“Oh my God. Your hair.” She plucked the photo off the wall where it had been stuck, pointing at the blond curls that had been too long and windblown.
She couldn’t help but laugh at the memories of that day—of so many of the days they’d spent together when they were kids, then teenagers, as twenty-somethings and now.
Twenty-five years after they’d met and they were closer than ever.
She stared a little longer at the image, the thought of teasing him a little making her want to shimmy. “I’ve decided. I’m changing your nickname to Neville.”
“What, like from Harry Potter?” Austin narrowed his eyes, suspicion creeping into their blue depths. “Why?”
Odie looked at the picture of the two of them again, trying to conceal a smile. “I’m just saying, you and Neville have some things in common.”
“Are you saying I Longbottomed?”
She nearly snort-laughed, before nodding sagely. “Yep, sure am.”
“I’m offended.” He looked it, too, a frown creasing his forehead, the corners of his mouth tipped down.
“You’re pouting? Come on, Nev. It’s generally considered a good thing to Longbottom.”
“Only if you weren’t hot before,” he snapped, his eyes now locked back on the photograph she still held. “You’re saying I wasn’t? Yeah, I’m definitely offended.” He crossed his arms over his chest, and Odie had to bite her lip to keep her amusement locked tight.
“Oh, baby. Are you fweelings hurt? Do you need me to kiss your boo-boos better?”
“You’re mocking me.”
“Well, no shit, Sherlock. You’re seriously offended I think you got hot?” She scoffed. “Come on.”
“You come on, Odette. Look at it again,” he told her, flicking the corner of the print, “and pay attention to how I’m looking at you.”
She did as he asked, and for scant moments, nothing registered until everything did.
His eyes were locked on her. His mouth was just barely open, giving him a look of awe. His gangly body leaned toward hers.
She was looking at the camera.
He was looking at her. And not just looking—staring at her with unmasked longing.
How have I never noticed that before?
“Austin,” she whispered, not sure what to say, but needing to say something. “Aussie.”
“How did you not realize it? Huh? God, Odie. I’ve waited so long for you. I’ve wanted you forever. It kind of sucks you didn’t think I was hot but I guess that explains why this”—he gestured between them—“is only happening now.”
She knew it was a joke—a self-deprecating attempt at humor—but she couldn’t let him believe that.
“This could have been happening then, if I wasn’t an idiot. If you’re Neville, then I’m, like, Harry.”
“Um, what?”
“Not realizing what was happening right in front of him until too late?”
“Ah. Yeah, okay, I can see that, but . . .”
“But if you’d said something or if I’d noticed, I would’ve wanted it, Austin. I
would have wanted it so bad.” She emphasized the last two words, then watched in horror as Austin’s face twisted.
He broke into laughter. Loud, uproarious, hold-your-sides laughter.
“What the fuck, you asshole?” She pushed at his shoulder, his laughter only increasing with her frustration. “You didn’t mean it?”
That sobered him. Quickly.
“No. I mean, yes. I mean, I meant it. I really fucking meant it. But you said you wanted it so bad, and I was powerless against the laughter.” He wiped at his laugh-wet eyes, then made a terrible attempt at apology eyes. “I’m sorry, babe.”
She scowled at him, not really mad—she could admit her wording wasn’t the best considering her boyfriend was clearly an immature boy stuck in a hot man’s body—but she wasn’t quite ready to let it go.
He stood to his full height, having laughed himself into a hunched stance, and gripped her hips, dragging her in close. The photo was still in her hand, and he nodded down at it. “I wouldn’t have looked at you like I loved you, like I was astounded by you if I wasn’t, Garfield. From the second I realized I wanted it, it was hard as hell—”
This time, they both broke into giggles, Odie stuttering out “ha–ha–hard as he–h–he–hell” occasionally, ensuring that they were in hysterics for long enough that Odie’s mom was able to rush into the room unnoticed.
Well, she was unnoticed until she yelled, “I think your father is having an allergic reaction to the cheesecake!”
At which point, all hell broke loose.
Chapter Seventeen
Tiny: Please tell me you’re awake.
Tiny: Babies are awake at all hours, right?
Tiny: So you have to be awake.
Little: I’m awake, yes.
Little: What’s up, Aussie?
Tiny: Can I call you?
Ashton didn’t bother sending him a reply, but his phone immediately began to ring in his hand. A quick glance confirmed that she was calling him instead of waiting for him to call her, so Austin quickly swiped to answer the call.
