We could hear throwing up through the house, and Levi was gone in a blink. A door shut, and I exhaled slowly, knowing that they had her.
“Well, damn,” Austin mumbled. “I hope she's okay.”
“I’m sure she'll be fine,” Maddie said slowly. “Well, I guess that's the meeting then. Maybe we should clean up and leave them so she can rest.”
“That's a good idea,” I said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Evie
After everything, I decided to go home with Austin.
We were all worried about Avery, but Mateo and Levi had her, and I knew she’d be okay.
I wasn’t sure if I’d ever been to Austin’s house, I realized, as he opened the front door and we walked inside. I took off my shoes, my gaze sliding over to him.
“You okay?” I asked softly.
Austin slumped against the wall, his eyes finally meeting mine. “I don’t know,” he finally said. “I’m a little ashamed right now.”
“About what?” I breathed out. “None of this is your fault.”
“I know. Well, I guess I know. It feels like my fault.” He grimaced. “There’s . . . it’s been a lot.”
“I know,” I whispered. I stepped closer and closer until I could slide my hands around his waist. I tilted my head back, looking up at him. “I’m proud of you for telling everyone.”
Austin let out a dry chuckle, his hands yanking me closer to him.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment with you,” he murmured.
Oh.This was the first time we had each other alone. My breath hitched as he tucked my hair behind my ears, his fingertips grazing my cheeks.
“I wish I wasn’t a mess all the time,” he said. “I’m trying. I’ll try to get better, Evie, I swear. You deserve someone who can be better.”
“Austin, I don’t need you to be perfect.”
“I want to be, though. For you. For Matthew . . .” He trailed off, and for a moment, I thought he was going to add Nick in there too.
I leaned up on my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his neck, just hugging him. Squeezing him tight. He sighed against the curve of my neck, breathing me in deep.
“I want you so much,” he murmured. “I feel rusty at everything, Evie. But the last couple weeks have changed my life. For the first time, I feel like I can breathe again, and it’s because you’re the air I needed.”
“I want you too,” I whispered.
My eyes burned with tears as it hit me how much I’d been right about my feelings for him. I hadn’t just imagined the chemistry between us. It wasn’t just in my head. It was real.
“I’m sorry I’ve been an idiot for so long,” he mumbled. “I’ll make it up to you, Evie. All these years, I’ll make it up to you.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “This was worth the wait.”
He smiled against my cheek and brushed his lips over mine. Soft and gentle, until that fire lit between us, all consuming. His breath caught between our mouths and I squealed as he lifted me, bringing my legs around his waist. I held onto him as he carried me through his home in the dark, all the way to his bedroom.
Austin laid me down in the center of his bed, crawling on top of me and pinning me beneath him. I gasped as his teeth scraped my throat.
“I like it rough,” I moaned.
“I know you do.” He paused in kissing me, his eyes locking with mine. “Do you want that tonight? For me to be rough with you? Dominant?”
