It takes me a second to register the fact that Austin is on my screen, his suit tailored to perfection, his arms crossed over his chest, and his jaw set in a line I know by heart. He's furious, but controlled, icy almost.
I sit up a little straighter, my heart in my throat, unable to stop staring. How much of that fury is because of me? Most of it, probably. He was mad as hell at me last night. I don't really blame him. I'm mad at myself.
I don't even think everyone is seated before the first question is fired at him.
"Austin, do you have any comment about the altercation atThe Bandwagonlast night? Do you regret what transpired?" a female reporter asks.
Austin doesn't even blink. He stares directly into the camera. "I saw a group of grown men and women cornering and physically assaulting the love of my life. I did what any man would do." His voice is calm and steady. "If anyone thinks I'm going to stand by and let some grown man lay hands on her, they're mistaken."
"Are you saying you don't regret it?" the reporter follows up, her tone incredulous, like she fully expects him to apologize and grovel. She clearly doesn't know him verywell if that's what she wants. Austin is stubborn as hell, and I doubt he's ever groveled a day in his life.
"I'm saying I would do it again," he says right on cue, earning chuckles and grins from Lucas and Jasper, seated on either side of him. "And if anyone else thinks it's okay to harass, body-shame, or lay a hand on any woman—not just mine—they should know there will be consequences." His gaze turns ice cold. "Serena has been mocked, bullied, and humiliated over and over since she came into my life. Enough is enough. We will be taking legal action against anyone who continues to harass my future wife."
Did he just—
Future wife?
I can't move. I can't breathe. I can't even think.
He just called me his future wife.On national television.
Is this real?
Is this happening right now?
"Did he just go on national television and call me his future wife?" I whisper at the television, like it's really going to answer me.
My phone rings before I can even process any of this. It's Peyton, of course.
The second I answer, she's already screaming. "You fucking got engaged and didn't tell me?" she shrieks so loud my ears ring.
"Uh…" I stutter, my mind still reeling.
"I'm so mad at you right now!" she growls. "And so happy for you."
"He told me he loves me," I blurt, glancing back at the screen. Jasper is talking now, but there's a ticker along the bottom calling me Austin's future wife.
Jesus Christ. This is real.
"Obviously. You're engaged."
"I didn't say it back," I say.
"What?"
"I didn't say it back."
"I'm so confused right now," Peyton mutters.
"He never asked me to marry him!" I cry, suddenly not sure if I want to laugh or cry or crawl through the television and strangle him before I kiss him. "He just… Oh my god. He just told the whole world we're getting married, and he never even asked me!"
Peyton is silent for a second, then cracks up, laughing so hard she wheezes. "Holy shit. He's a diabolical genius," she breathes.
"I have to go," I say, already rushing for the door. I don't even care that I'm wearing sweatpants and his hoodie. I just need to get to him. "I have to…"
"Kiss him? Kill him?"
"Yes, that."
