Page 10 of Throuple Next Door

Austin didn’t know why he stayed near the guys. He wasn’t usually self-conscious in any way. As a model, he had been photographed in everything from parkas to bathing suits and underwear. Still, this seemed to be more consequential for some reason.

“Are you having a good time?” Weaver asked in a whisper after refilling their wine glasses. “You’re usually so outgoing and the life of the party. Poor Randy is trying to make up for it, and I think his head is going to explode pretty soon. He’s usually the strong, silent type at things like this….”

Austin smiled and chuckled. “Maybe I should go rescue him.”

“Just be yourself,” Weaver said, patting him lightly on the butt. Austin flashed him a dirty look before making his way to where Randy was talking with Doug and Eileen.

“It’s a great neighborhood, and everyone has made us feel welcome, except that weird guy across the street,” Randy was saying.

“Yeah, what’s up with him?” Austin asked, sidling up next to Randy, who lightly hip-bumped him. “I was coming back from the grocery store, and the entire time I unloaded the car, he stood on his porch, staring at me like his eyes were death rays. It was weird.”

“That’s Steve. He’s a real piece of work,” Eileen said as Doug nodded. “There were potential buyers before the three of you, and he started calling them names and stuff. Scared the couple off. None of us heard it, but the couple did and so did their realtor. We don’t invite him to these or the other neighborhood things and do our best to ignore him.”

Austin turned to Randy. “I dare say if he says anything to us, we’ll ask Randy here to have a talk with him.” Randy was a kind man, but if you threatened his family, he could be frightening as hell. Austin had seen it a few times in New York, and it thrilled him that Randy would stick up for him… but it also scared him a little bit as well.

“Good. None of us have anything to do with him if we can help it.” Eileen sipped her wine, and the conversation shifted to the pair of chickens she kept in her backyard. Austin had been fascinated by the pair of birds and their tiny coop on wheels that could be moved around the yard. Apparently, their names were Gwyneth Poultry and Hennifer Aniston. Austin couldn’t help smiling.

Randy’s arm slipped away, and as Austin glanced around, he found him hugging a handsome Black woman, with Weaver doing the same once Randy backed away. He must have had a look of curiosity that Eileen picked up on.

“That’s Veronica. She’s a professor at the law school. Her house is right across the street, and they know each other.”

“Evidently,” Austin said as his men brought her over. “Veronica?” he said with a smile. “I’ve been hearing about you.”

She shook his hand with a huge smile. “Weaver and I have known each other for years. I’d heard that you boys were moving in and would have been over sooner, but I had a family issue in Philly. I’m so thrilled we’re going to be neighbors.” She slipped her arm around Weaver’s waist, and Austin wanted to slap it away. He didn’t know where that stab of jealousy came from, and there was no reason for it, but damn, it hit him hard for a few seconds. To try to cover it, Austin sipped from his glass. “I knew that Rose and Gene were selling their house, but I didn’t know Weaver and his family had bought it until Rose told me a few weeks ago.” She squeezed Weaver. “I can’t believe you’re all here.”

“And we’re grateful for your help in getting Weaver the position at the law school,” Austin said, trying to be happy for everyone… and he was. He just wished he could be happy for himself too.

“I had nothing to do with that,” Veronica said. “The administration was thrilled that he was interested in working with us.” She was very pleased, Weaver beamed, and Randy stood there proudly. Suddenly, the wine in Austin’s belly wasn’t sitting so well. He pasted on a smile and turned away from the happiness parade, wondering if there was a way he could simply sneak out and return home.

Weaver was so glad to connect in person with Veronica once more. They almost instantly began talking about old times and then segued into what he could expect during his first semester. “Unfortunately, the previous instructor has left you with quite a mess,” Veronica told him. “He wasn’t updating his materials and thought he could skate by. That went on for a while, and he was warned, but he thought that he had allies….” She shook her head. “But there were student complaints, plenty of them… and his tenure had been deferred.”

“But they hired me on permanently, I thought” Weaver asked, wondering if he should be concerned.

“Now that I did have a say in,” she said with a smile.

“But what does that mean?” Austin asked softly from next to him.

“That Weaver is on the fast track for tenure. His stellar reputation and case history means that he will bring additional prestige to the school. Basically, most professors come up for tenure after five to seven years. The plan is that Weaver will be offered it after three. His experience will stand in for the time.”

“I see.” Austin plastered on a smile, one that Weaver knew well. He hated that smile because it meant Austin was shutting down and mentally pulling away.

But it seemed Veronica was persistent. “What are you looking for in our little town?” Veronica asked.

Austin shrugged. “There aren’t a lot of calls for over-the-hill fashion models,” he said flatly. Weaver suppressed a groan and slipped his arm around Austin’s waist. He hated how lost Austin seemed and wished he could do something about it. “I’ve pretty much unpacked and set up the house. So….”

“You could volunteer,” Veronica offered. “There are plenty of organizations that could use your expertise. The theater downtown is always looking for help.” She grinned as if a lightbulb just went on.

“What’s happening behind those eyes?” Weaver asked. “Should we be scared?” He was teasing, and thankfully, even Austin smiled at his joke.

“I think I might have an idea. Is it okay if I look into it and then get back to you in a few days?” Veronica asked. “I don’t want to promise anything I can’t deliver.”

“Sure,” Austin said, drinking the rest of his wine in a gulp. “I’ll be around.”

Veronica stepped away from Weaver, drawing closer to Austin. “I get that this is hard, I really do, and I know you don’t know me from Adam, so let me tell you something about myself. I’m a pushy Black woman who’s about to get all up in your business.”

Weaver chuckled, because she had said the same sort of thing to him back in law school when he’d been trying to figure out his own way forward. Veronica had always been a little pushy, but it came from a place of caring. Weaver had been struggling midway through law school, and it had been Veronica who basically told him to shit or get off the pot. He could complain and grouse all he wanted, or he could buckle down and become a damned good lawyer. Then she had explained everything she was doing just to be able to stay in school, including working two jobs and putting off sleep until the summer. Weaver had shut his mouth and taken her advice, because she’d been right. Law school had been tough, but after that, he had thrived, and he’d taken that work ethic into his career—hell, he still carried it with him, in part thanks to her.

“Okay. You can’t do any worse with it than I am.” Austin was trying to make light of it, but the joke fell flat.

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