I reached out to stop him. “No. That’s not—” Fuck. Why wasn’t my brain working at a normal speed? I took a deep breath. “That’s not it. It’s fine there.”
I turned toward the kitchen, and my stomach grumbled. Austin looked at me and laughed. He was wearing a pair of gray sweats and a plain black T-shirt that fit snugly around his chest. If he walked in front of me, then I’d see the outline of his cock move again.
“I’m going to get something to eat.” I scurried into the kitchen and pulled out the vegetables I’d gotten from the farmers’ market.
When I grabbed a carrot, I realized how absolutely phallic it looked now and groaned loudly.
Austin’s hand snaked around my waist, and he spun me around. My back was to the cold fridge as he slid something in my mouth.
“Wha—?” I couldn’t process what was in my mouth until I bit down, trusting whatever it was to be edible.
“These are fucking amazing,” Austin groaned and took a bite of the cookies I’d finished baking this morning.
“Mhmm,” I murmured.
They were fucking good and only made me realize how hungry I was.
“Did you like seeing me on the ice?”
Agh. No. Run away.
I turned around, grabbed the ranch, and walked around Austin, intentionally steering clear of him. Nothing good happened when it was dark outside, which meant I had to avoid him.
As I washed the carrot, Austin handed me the knife, and I looked up at him. Mistake number one.
“I, uh—” His eyes were so blue and full of mystery. “I loved watching you on the ice. You’re a natural.”
“It’s because you gave me a good-luck kiss.”
I flicked the leafy stem of the carrot in his direction. “Thanks, by the way, for that. We’ll be on social media soon, and I’m going to have to call my mom tomorrow and let her know about us.”
“I thought you did that today?”
I shrugged and shook my head. “Too nervous.”
“I told you I’d be there if you wanted.”
I picked at the carrot leaves. “No, it’s okay. I appreciate it, but it’s something I should do. After work tomorrow, I’ll give them a call. I also have a meeting with HR during my planning period to confirm that, since we’re married, you’ll be added to my health insurance plan. I’ve got an IEP scheduled right after, so I’ll probably end up eating during recess.”
“You’re missing lunch . . . for me?”
I shrugged. “I’ll be fine. I’m a teacher—I usually shove my face full of food in twenty seconds anyway.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
I chuckled. “It’s fine, really. ”
I grabbed some carrots and a bowl from one of the cabinets and added ranch to it before I pulled out a stool from the island. “Your mom’s friend Emma didn’t seem like she liked me all that much.”
“She’s protective of me. She’s unsure of everything after what happened with Nova .”
“Ah,” I said. Hearing his ex’s name, I closed my eyes and remembered what Stassi had told me about making sure that my cup was full too.
“I’m jealous.” I shoved a carrot in my mouth, and the only sound was me awkwardly trying to quietly crunch it.
“Of... Nova?” Austin turned toward me, or at least I thought he did, but I refused to turn my head in his direction.
“Yup,” I said, popping thep.
