Page 110 of Pretend Girlfriend

Austin was chuckling to himself. “That’s one hell of a prank, I have to give it to you.” He glanced over his shoulder. “You two are probably hoping I’ll leave so you can have some alone time. That’s why you were in his room in the first place, right?”

I shared a look with Theo. “Are you going to cock-block us now to get even?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Austin replied. “I’ll keep my lips sealed and let you two have your fun.”

I breathed a small sigh of relief.

“Or,” Austin said, sinking back into his chair, “I could stay and watch.”

45

Joanna

Austin’s words slowly sank in. I exchanged a look with Theo.

Then both of us started laughing.

“Wasn’t makin’ a joke,” Austin said, sipping his rum. “Y’all were hot together at the wedding.”

“The wedding?” Theo asked. “We weren’t together. In fact, we did a very good job of ignoring each other all night.”

“Right,” Austin said. “You did a good job of that. Except for when you fucked her brains out on the desk in the parlor. You were not ignoring her then.”

I gave a start. “What!”

Theo sat up very straight next to me on the couch. “You’d better elaborate on what you saw. Right. Fucking. Now.”

“Nobody else saw, don’t worry,” Austin quickly said. “And it’s not like I was tryin’ to be a creeper or anything. I was outside getting some fresh air, and I heard a noise inside, and when I looked in the window…”

He spread his hands as if that explained it. Then he started giggling. It was a reminder that he was stoned, just like we were.

I felt shocked. Part of the fun of what Theo and I’d done was the fear that we might get caught, but actually learning that someone had seen us in the act…

I expected to be horrified, but strangely, I wasn’t. Maybe it was the weed, but the thought of Austin watching us having sex gave me an excited tickle.

“I don’t believe you,” Theo said slowly.

“Believe whatever you want, partner,” Austin drawled. “I was there, and I saw what I saw. Hell, you two barely got back to the reception in time to give your speeches. That made the whole thing funnier: knowing why you were late. Glad you pulled the speeches off, though. I was rootin’ for you. Anyway. Figured I’d ask if I could sit in and watch the whole thing up close this time. Y’all wouldn’t even know I’m here.”

Austin seemed totally calm about this entire thing. He just relaxed back in his chair and sipped his drink, waiting for our responses.

I glanced at Theo again. He didn’t seem alarmed, now. If anything, he was considering Austin’s proposal.

What do I want? I wondered. Thoughts were still difficult to focus on, but my body? My body practically buzzed at the idea of someone watching us.

Especially Austin.

“Eh, it was worth a shot,” Austin said, rising from his chair. “Wasn’t trying to impose or make it weird. I’ll leave you two to have your fun…”

“Wait!” Theo said before I could.

Austin froze, raising a questioning eyebrow.

Theo glanced at me. “You cool with it?”

“Are you?” I shot back at him.

He shrugged. “It might be kind of hot. Wouldn’t bother me. And we did talk about this the other night in the hot tub…”

---