I go to enter, but he steps outside, making me take a step back. “You better have a plan to fix this shit.”
“Deke …”
“This is getting in my way now, Cole. And if you don’t do something, I’m going to kill Kellan myself.” Then he spins around and walks inside, slamming the door shut behind him.
I shove it open and storm inside. But I come to a stop when I enter the kitchen. Deke and Becky aren’t present, but Austin stands over at the counter. Her back facing me. Her hair is down in big curls, and she has a black dress on that stops mid-thigh. It makes me instantly hard.
I walk over to her, and she stiffens when I pull her hair off her shoulder. I lean down, kissing her delicate neck. “Hello, sweetheart,” I say softly.
I’ve got to kiss ass! There’s no way around it.
She turns around in my arms and looks up at me. She’s not smiling, but she doesn’t look like she wants to tear my head off. So things are getting better already. Then she leans up and gently kisses my lips. I can’t stop myself; I slide my hands in her soft hair and demand more from her. And she gives it. Her arms wrap around my neck, and her mouth opens for me. I press her back into the counter and moan into her mouth. Fuck Kellan! He isn’t going to fuck up my plans with Austin. She is the one I want to destroy.
But she’s already destroyed.
She pulls away and runs her hands down my button-up. She licks her wet lips and then turns back around, giving me her back.
We all sit at the table, an awkward silence falling between everyone. It reminds me of dinner with her dad last month. And just like then, I haven’t eaten much. I’ve just sat here and stared at her, ignoring all the glares Deke has thrown me.
“Do you guys have plans afterward?” Austin looks at Becky.
“No.” Her answer is clipped.
Deke tightens his hold on his fork like he plans to stab me with it. “I thought you wanted to go see that movie—”
“Not anymore,” she interrupts him.
He slams his fork onto the table. Deke never has had much patience. “Why am I being punished for something Cole is doing?” he demands. “I’m not fucking Kaitlin.”
My teeth clench. Here we go.
“Because that could very easily be you,” she snaps back. “You guys play this stupid game as if your life depends on it. And it’s ridiculous.”
He opens his mouth, but Austin stands from the table. The room falls silent when she looks at me. “I spoke with Kellan yesterday.”
Deke jumps to his feet. “About what?” he demands.
She looks toward him. “He helped remind me what kind of game this is. And although I don’t agree with it either, I’m not a quitter.”
“What did he say to you?” I snap. I saw him at practice yesterday afternoon and not once did he tell me he spoke to her. He actually avoided me like he has all week.
“He said that he would retract the dare if I pulled out.”
Deke frowns, and my jaw tightens. “That isn’t allowed. He lied to you,” I growl.
She nods to me. “I figured. That’s why I don’t plan on pulling out.”
“So what are you gonna do?” Becky asks, looking up at her.
She tilts her head to the side. “Have you guys thought about Kellan?” She ignores answering Becky’s question. “Like really thought about him? ’Cause I have this week. And after our talk yesterday, things started to make sense.”
“Like what?” Deke asks.
“First—who is Kaitlin to Bryan?”
I frown, not understanding where she’s going with this.
“She is his ex,” Becky answers. “They had a bad breakup last year. But no one really knows why.”
She brings her hand up to tap her finger on her chin in thought. “Don’t you find it odd that just weeks ago, Kaitlin came up to you and said that I was a dare? That Bryan had told her Cole had a month to play with me. Then she literally becomes his dare?” She looks at me. Deke frowns, confused. But I get what she’s saying. “It could be a coincidence, but then she says the rumor came from Bryan. Who I now know is her ex. And he’s also a guy who you already got in a fight with over me once before then. Where would Bryan hear that from? It came to me. Last Sunday after you drew your dare and Deke was questioning him about it, Kellan’s words were why not? We all know he’s just playing with Austin.” Deke shakes his head with disgust. “And you guys both jumped Bryan and his best friend Christopher at the beach party after he dared his friend to fuck me. The party Kellan wasn’t at.”
“I don’t get it,” Becky says.
She looks at Becky. “Kellan is trying to fuck them at their own game.” Then her eyes meet mine. “I can’t figure out where Deke fits in, but he’s trying to set you both up. He wanted you guys in trouble for laying your hands on Chris and Bryan, but they didn’t rat you guys out ’cause they’re more afraid of you than him.”
“Son of a bitch.” Deke hisses.
“How long ago did you sleep with her?” She looks at me.
“Freshman year.”
“See. And now he’s daring Cole to fuck Bryan’s ex.” She shakes her head. “He’s playing very dirty.”
She walks out of the formal dining room, and my eyes fall to my plate. She’s right.
What are you gonna do about it, Cole?
There’s nothing I can do. My hands are tied. Literally.
She reenters with what looks like cupcakes on a tray. She sets them in the center of the table and turns to face me. “You told me to trust you. And I’m going to give you one chance, Cole.” Her green eyes hold my stare without an ounce of fear. “And don’t you dare try to fuck me over.” With that, she pulls her seat back and sits down.
She’s trusting me.
A part of me hates to fail her. Like everyone else in her life. The other part reminds me this is what I’ve wanted. But I’ve learned a lot about Austin Lowes since I met her. Whatever you dish out, she can throw back in your face ten times over. She is karma wrapped in a gorgeous tan and an innocent smile.
Deke and I slowly sit back in our seats.
“What time was that movie, babe?” Becky asks him.
“Eight thirty,” he answers her but smiles at me. They both reach in and devour the cupcakes, and I watch Austin smile as she talks to Becky like nothing ever fucking happened. It makes me want to know what else Kellan said to her. She’s obviously choosing my side, but why? Did he threaten her? Blackmail her? Does she think I’m the easier one of the two? I’m going to find out.
“Yeah, I’d love to go.” Her voice gets my attention.
“Go where?” I ask.
Becky answers. “To your guys’ swim meet next weekend. It’s only an hour away.”
“If it’s okay, we could bring Lilly,” Austin adds. “I know she would love to watch you.”
Deke smiles through his cupcake, and I can see the chocolate in his teeth. I refrain from throwing one at his face.
She’s getting to you.
Yes. She is. And I’m not sure what to do about that anymore.
_______________
I close the door after telling Deke and Becky goodbye to find Austin in the kitchen washing dishes. I lean back against the wall, watching her rinse them off before placing them in the dishwasher. “You know your father pays people to do that, right?”