It feels like we’ve closed the door on a chapter of who we used to be, and opened a window to what comes next. She’s mine, and I’ll fight every day to make sure I don’t lose her again.
NINE
VIX - PRESENT
I walk into my room,having said goodbye to Austin, agreeing to see each other this evening for the party. I close my eyes and lean my head against the door, taking a deep breath that I’ve been longing for since leaving the diner.Austin has feelings for me.He always has. A smile appears on my lips like a giddy schoolgirl who was just told the boy she likes likes her back. But it’s not just a boy. It’s Austin. My Aussy.
“You keep smiling like that, and your face might crack,” I scream, slapping my hand to my chest as Leah walks out of her closet.
“You scared the fuck out of me!” I shout, walking over to my bed and kicking my shoes off.
“Details! I need details! What happened? Where did you go?” she asks, plopping down on her bed.
“He brought me to the spot he visits often when he wants some peace. Probably to get away from Kash,” I tell her, shrugging like it was just a casual hangout.
“Uh-huh.” She doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. “You expect me to believe that after five years, you two just snuckoff to some private spot and nothing interesting happened? I’m not buying it.” She sits up, crossing her legs. “You know, besties usually tell each other things, right? If this is gonna work, I’m gonna need every greedy little detail,” she says, waggling her eyebrows.
I laugh and give her a little bit more.
“He told me he wants me. He wantsus, and we may or may not have made out a little bit,” I say, heat rushing to my cheeks. Leah springs up and lunges at me, and we fall back on my bed laughing.
“I knew it!” she squeals. It’s nice having a girlfriend to share this with. I’ve never had one before, and Leah has definitely set the bar high. “So what does this mean? Are you guys a thing now?” she asks. I shake my head, my stupid grin still in place.
“We’re going slow, getting to know each other again.”
“Slow? Jesus, any slower, and you’ll be in a retirement home before you finally get it in. You’ve known each other since you were six. SIX! Time to speed this shit up!” she says. “Can I be your maid of honour?” She’s jumping from one thing to the next, and it’s making me dizzy. I chuckle, nodding my head.
“Sure, someday you can be my maid of honour.” She nods her head in approval, satisfied with my response.
We spentthe rest of the afternoon getting ready for the party. Both of us, ready with our makeup perfected, loose curls, and our matching HHU crewneck sweatshirts, which we scored at the campus book shop. The guys meet us at our door, and we walk to the party while Leah and Kash talk a whole lot of smack the entire way, proving they weren’t kidding about being overly competitive.
The floor of room B260 is packed with students, the music so loud it sends vibrations through the walls. Along the hallway, six dorm rooms are wide open, each buzzing with a party of its own. We enter the first room and see a couple making out on the sofa while a group of people puff and pass a joint around. Almost everyone has a drink in their hands, and the energy of the night before us is intoxicating. We make our way to the back room, where the primary focus of the night is set up before us. Beer Pong. This isn’t just any beer pong, though. There are four tables side by side with multiple groups of people playing at the same time.
I can see Leah itching to get in the game. Austin and I exchange a look, knowing we’re going to try like hell to kick their ass. A table becomes free at the other end of the room, and Kash all but trips over himself to claim it.
“You ready to eat ass?” he says, a cocky grin stretching across his face.
“Eat ass? The fuck?” Austin asks, stifling his laugh. “You mean eat dirt?” None of us can contain our laughter.
“Moron.” Leah swats at Kash’s arm
“Whatever,” he brushes us off, “let the games begin!” he shouts.
We play two rounds, and I’m starting to feel the alcohol in my system. I’m not sure if it’s the laughter, the music, or simply feeling happy for the first time in so long, but my head is spinning, and I feel truly alive.
The score is one to one, and Leah is about to lose her mind if she loses this round.
“Best two out of three?” I ask, hoping we can end this before I’m too far gone to remember how to get home.
“Fine, but when we beat you, you are to refer to us as the almighty beer pong champions of HHU, and we shall refer to you both as the lightweight losers,” Kash says, trying to get under our skin. Austin and I share a glance, rolling our eyes.
We win the round, completely demolishing the siblings, and Leah takes a fit and just about flips a table. Austin leans into me, his eyes a little glossed.
“Want to find a quieter place to talk?” he asks. I nod my head and reach for his hand, guiding us out of the room and back into the hallway.
The next room over has a few people mingling, but not nearly as many as the one before it. An unoccupied love seat sits at the far end of the room, and we claim it, snuggling into one another. It feels right. Like every moment I’ve wanted to curl into him in the past was worth the wait to feel his arms wrapped around me in such a natural way.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, the richness of his voice fills the small space between us, steady and grounding. He runs a gentle hand over my bare legs and pulls them onto his lap. Butterflies swarm in my stomach at his touch.
