Page 58 of False Start

I laugh. My friends are for sure using me for my boyfriend, and I honestly have no problem with it. Austin is pretty fond of them too.

“Ugh. I guess you guys can hang out for a bit, but then it’s naked time and only a party for two.”

They all laugh as we head to my dorm, my stomach full of excited butterflies. I just saw him this morning on a video chat and was with him last weekend, but I still can’t get enough. I’m starting to suspect I’ll never get enough.

But Austin isn’t alone when we all reach my dorm. He’s standing outside my door with Vanessa who pulls him into a teary hug. I watch them for a moment, a little afraid of what this means until they both turn to me.

Vanessa walks over to me carefully, and I feel bad that she’s nervous. “Hey, Van.”

Does she know about Austin and me? She must. But she doesn’t look upset. She actually looks really happy with a hint of nerves. “Hey, how are you?”

She acknowledges my friends with a quick nod, but her attention is on me. I can feel Austin’s cautious eyes on me, but he doesn’t need to worry. “I’m good. You?”

“Good.” She smiles back at Austin, then looks at me. “I hear you’re really happy.”

I look over at Austin, who shakes his head, holding his hands in front of him as if to say he didn’t tell her.

Vanessa laughs. “Our moms are friends, and the whole town is full of little old gossips.”

“Oh.” I grin and then grip the back of my neck. “Is that...” I don’t want to ask her if it’s okay with her. It really doesn’t matter, but I also don’t want her to think I cheated on her. “I am really happy.”

She’s smiling brightly. “Good. I’m glad. I had no idea you were...” I wait for her to say gay, and my hackles rise because I’m not, and it’s wrong to assume, but I should know Vanessa better than that. “In love with him.”

“I didn’t know it until after we broke up,” I say quickly.

She smiles and hugs me. “I know that, Vaughn. I miss you.” She pulls back and looks over at Austin. “I miss you both. As friends. We should catch up sometime.”

“Well, we’re going to hang out for a bit. You should join.” Jacob shoots his shot, eyeing Vanessa up and down, and I smack him on the back of the head.

“She has a boyfriend.”

Vanessa just laughs. “Fiancé.”

“What?” I look at her, shocked, and she shrugs.

“When you know, you know, right?” There’s that nervous look again, and I laugh, hugging her again. Genuinely happy for her.

“Congrats.”

“Thanks.” She looks over at Jacob. “And thank you for the invite, but I have to get going. I’ll see you all around.”

Austin comes to my side, and I pull him into me, everyone else forgotten because I’m finally touching him again. “Take care of yourself, Vanessa.” She waves to him, and then we all go inside.

I pull Austin onto my lap instantly, and my friends groan, but they’re good sports. We have a good time, catching up and hanging out, but I’m still happy as hell when they each dip out and finally Austin and I are alone.

When Jacob leaves the room with a click of my door, Austin turns around in my lap and kisses me hard. I hold onto his hips and just breathe him in, my world settled with him here with me.

I start to pull his shirt up, but his hands stop me, and he chuckles. “Wait. I actually want to talk to you first.”

I kiss along his neck, meaning to use words and give him some distance between our bodies, but my hands wind up under his shirt and over his smooth bare back. Oops.

“Vaughn,” he laughs. “Seriously.” But he tilts his head to the side and gives me better access to his neck. I lick along one of the chords there, and he moans, grinding his hardening cock against mine. “I had a meeting today.”

“What?” I pull back and look at him, trying to catch my breath. “Are you okay?”

He smiles and shakes his head at me. “Forever my biggest protector.”

“Always,” I growl, my fingers digging into his hips even more as I sit here and worry about all the things he could have had a meeting about.

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