She steps back and links her arm through Austin’s. I kind of want to punch her for it. “He flew me out to surprise you.” She looks over at him. “I’m thinking it worked.”
Austin’s gaze is fixed on me, his expression impassive. “I think so.”
“You must be Kelly and Rose,” Gemma says, letting go of Austin. The three of them start chatting, and I scan the faces of the strangers. One is definitely Austin’s mom. Then there are two women and one guy near my age.
“Mia,” Austin says, “this is my mom, Sue, my sister Tori, and our good family friends, Madi and Rémy. They live in France.”
Austin’s mom smiles and gives me a hug. “Has my son been taking good care of you, Mia?”
I glance at Austin, who chuckles and rolls his eyes.He’s been kissing me to help me with my hiccups, Mrs. Sheppard. “He’s done a great job.”
Madi and Rémy greet me next, and we talk about Paris for a minute. Apparently, this city is where they fell in love. How magical must that have been?
“My turn,” Tori says, pulling me into her arms. She’s got a head of fluffy blonde waves that temporarily obscure my vision. These Sheppards really know how to hug. “I watched your performance last night with Noah Hayes. You were incredible. Austin’s lucky to have you.”
My gaze darts to Austin again, and there’s a short, awkward pause as we stare at each other.Doeshe feel lucky to have me here? Or is he regretting the choice to ask me to come on tour?
Kelly and Rose introduce themselves to the Sheppards and Scotts, leaving Austin and me to stare at each other a little more. Just in case I hadn’t stared at him enough over the past couple of weeks.
I can’t believe he flew Gemma out here for me. I didn’t even realize how much I wanted someone from my family here until I saw her.
“Your parents really wanted to come,” he says, “but the notice was too short. Maybe they can make it to one of the shows during Noah’s tour.” There’s no bitterness in the words.
I wrap my arms around him. “Thank you.” I swallow, burrowing my head in his shoulder so there’s no chance he sees my emotion slipping through. “So much.”
His arms tighten around me. “You’re welcome.”
My arms have a mind of their own, and they want to hold on for dear life, but we have an audience, so I pry them from Austin’s body and smile at everyone like I’m not about to lose it over Austin’s kindness.
“What are youdoing?”I hiss, scrambling to get out of the sheet Gemma threw over me.
“Trying tohelpyou.” She pulls it off.
“I need to be surprised,” I say, putting my hands to my hair to make sure it’s not completely ruined. “Not suffo—hic!—cated.”
“Go find Austin, then,” Gemma says, tossing the sheet to the side.
It’s not even the performance that’s got me nervous. I don’t know exactly what it is. I know it has to do with Austin. And Noah. The whole situation is weird. There’s a palpable tension between the three of us I’d like to take a pair of scissors to.
“I’m not doing that,” I say. Not that I don’t want to kissAustin. But things are still off between us, and I don’t want to use him like that. Especially after how nice he was to bring Gemma here.
Hic!
“Two minutes,” Bobby says.
I nod, then turn to Gemma, clenching my teeth. I need to get rid of these hiccups. Stat. And Gemma is failing me. Part of me is afraid I’ve crossed the border into only-Austin’s-kisses-can-save-me territory.
“What do I do?” I ask, not expecting an answer.
“Mia!”
I whip my head around as Austin jogs over.
Hic!
He gives me a smiling grimace, and Gemma moves out of the way. “She’s all yours, buddy.”
I shoot her a look that saysyou’re so not cool, then look at Austin standing in front of me. My heart speeds. How is he so ridiculously handsome? And how am I so ridiculously pathetic?
