Page 72 of More To Us

Chapter Fourteen

Kira

The four of us are at the bar, sitting at a round table that's so small our legs keep touching, but it was the only table available. The place is packed because it's Friday night and there's live music starting at ten. We're not staying for the music. Matt and Amber have to get to their movie and Austin and I might go with them. We haven't decided yet.

When Austin asked me about Matt and Amber, I didn't know what to say. I totally forgot I'd made up that story about them always going at it in our apartment, so when he made that comment, I had to stop and think about what he meant. I hope he didn't figure out I'd lied about that.

Now I wish I hadn't made up that story. I was just trying to keep Austin away from Amber so she wouldn't tell him what really happened to my leg, but she assumes I already told him so I don't think she would've said anything.

"So is the band playing this weekend?" Matt asks Austin.

"Yeah, on Saturday. You guys should come."

Amber tensed up as soon as Matt mentioned the band. I didn't even think about that. Of course Austin would invite them. But there's no way Amber would go and risk having Dylan see her.

Matt looks at Amber. "We don't have any plans. Let's go hear him play tomorrow."

"We can't," she says, shaking her head really fast.

"Why not?"

"Because um..." She's giving me this desperate look to help her out.

"Because she's making you dinner," I blurt out.

"You are?" he asks, smiling at her.

"Yeah." She glances at me, giving me a look that says she's not happy with my excuse, but I didn't know what else to say.

"I didn't think you knew how to cook," he says to her.

"I don't, but I'm learning and I thought I'd make you dinner."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was supposed to be a surprise," I say, answering for her as she downs her drink. "A romantic dinner. Just the two of you. I'm going to hear Austin play so I won't be home until late."

Austin puts his arm around me. "I was hoping you'd come."

"Yeah, but I'll need a ride there."

"I'll pick you up, but I have to get there a little early."

"That's fine." I pick up my beer and take a drink.

"Guess we'll have to come hear you another time," Matt says to Austin. "Last weekend we left during your first song. Amber wasn't feeling well."

"It was just something I ate," she says.

"You missed Dylan's song," Austin says.

Amber tenses up again because Austin said it just to her. Her eyes go to mine, and I know she's thinking I told him about her and Dylan. I shake my head just slightly.

Austin continues. "It's a new song. We'd never played it before. We had to play it early in the set because Dylan was so nervous about it. He wanted to get it out of the way."

"So Dylan writes songs?" Amber asks, trying to sound casual.

"We all do, but this is the first one that Dylan actually finished so we could play it. He usually starts a song and then never finishes, I think because he's afraid to let people hear it. But this latest one turned out to be a hit. Girls loved it."

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