Page 13 of We're At It Again

It’s as if he heard my silent pleading.

He strutted into the diner with his trademark swagger and arrogant grin. In his hand was a single red rose.

He didn’t.

My gaze shifted to Austin, noticing the rigid tension in his jaw and the set of his shoulders. Hudson’s smile faltered as his eyes set on Austin, his eyes flickered with disappointment. But he didn’t take long to regain his composure. His expression shifted to his usual confidence.

“What a lovely surprise.” He said. I watched as he bit his lip to hold back his cocky grin, before extending the rose to Austin. “For you, princess.”

He was attempting to provoke Austin, and I was astonished to witness Austin’s stoic demeanor. He kept his gaze locked on his drink, pretending that Hudson wasn’t even there. However, his cold shoulder made Hudson’s smirk wider. He extended the flower to me.

“For my lovely partner.”

I glanced between him and Austin, but he didn’t move his arm. Sighing, I took the flower, knowing he wouldn’t budge until I accepted it. He smiled, sliding his leather jacket off his shoulder and draping it behind his seat. Once comfortable, he folded his arms on the table as if he were about to conduct a business meeting.

“No offense.” He said. “I’m not into threesomes.”

This ticked Austin off as he slammed his palms on the table, almost knocking his glass off. Heads turned our way.

“Well, there is no way I was letting you anywhere near her alone.”

Hudson snorted.

“Chill, jockstrap, we’re working on an English essay. We’re not planning on running off to Vegas to elope.” Hudson said before casting a cheeky glance my way. “Unless you want to, Snow.”

Austin launched out of his seat and towered over Hudson’s seated figure.

“I’ve had enough of your quips, Wilder.”

He peered at my boyfriend from underneath his lashes and grinned.

“You make it so easy for me,” Hudson said before looking at me. “I can’t work with such distractions and if you want that A, then I believe we need to compromise.”

I sighed, not in the mood for tedious child’s play. My eyes locked with Austin’s. It’s as if we were having a telepathic conversation.

“I’m not leaving you alone with him.”

“You don’t have to,” I said. “If you sit a few tables away, you can still see us.”

I gazed at him, hoping he would make this exchange as painless as possible. The sooner we started on this essay, the sooner we could finish it. Austin seemed to have had the same thoughts as his tense shoulders sank. He released a deep breath.

“Fine.”

He leaned down to kiss me, and a warm smile spread across my face. I returned the kiss, my heart fluttered with affection.

“There are kids in this diner.” Hudson said, interrupting our moment.

Austin ignored him and kept his focus on me.

“I’ll be just over there.” he said, motioning to the other side of the diner that was still in eye range.

I watched him walk off. A knot tightened in my chest. As he disappeared to the other side, I turned to Hudson.

“So, what’s the plan?” He asked, leaning back on the stool with his arms behind his head.

“Have you ever read Hamlet?”

“That’s the one with that Macbeth guy, right?”

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