Page 6 of Austin

But in the interest of getting past these two lovebirds without provoking a fight, follow it up with a less-sarcastic, “There are all sorts of things you don’t know about me, Dale.”

Which is true, even though I lead a pretty boring life. He’s just too self-centered to care about anyone or anything that doesn’t directly involve him.

Britney’s perfectly manicured brows draw together as she gives me an appraising look. “I always forget the two of you used to be an item. That’s so strange…” She looks over at Dale and whispers just loud enough for me and anyone else in a five-foot radius to hear, “She’s really not your type, love bug.”

He doesn’t even pretend to hide his amusement as I roll my eyes. “Never was my type,” he agrees. “I was only with her for so long out of… well, pity, I guess.” He gives me a pointed look, then glances back to his girlfriend. “I mean, there’s no comparison, right?”

God, are they both really talking about me like this right in front of me? Like I can’t hear every disparaging word?

I open my mouth to tell them what I think about their rude commentary but my usual, reliable sarcasm is failing me because I know they’re trying to provoke me, trying to make me say something hateful and vindictive so they can both play the victim. Then I’ll just look like the crazy ex-girlfriend who is all alone and miserable while they’re both apparently living their best lives together. It’s a lose-lose situation for me and I realize in the span of these excruciatingly uncomfortable two or three seconds that the best thing I can do—the only thing I can do, really—right now is to turn and walk away.

And that’s exactly what I intend to do until I see Dale and Britney both perk up and look past me with big, fake smiles.

Dale is the first to speak as I take a self-conscious look over my shoulder. “Coach Gauthier, that was a hell of a game.”

He pushes past me to shake Austin’s hand while I silently wish for the ground to open up and swallow me whole. While I really would like the chance to talk to Austin again, the last thing I want to do is add to an already awkward situation with my ex and his girlfriend.

“Thanks.” Austin shakes Dale’s hand and gives a polite smile, but doesn’t take his eyes off me. “I hope I’m not interrupting, but I just wanted to come over and say hi to this beautiful lady.”

For a split-second, I see Dale bristle and Britney preen, sticking her chest out and nibbling at her lip in a way that guys probably love. And then, in the same instant, we all realize he isn’t talking about Britney.

He’s talking about me.

“Cassy?” Dale asks, not even trying to hide his disbelief.

“Cassy,” Austin repeats my name as he leaves Dale standing with his mouth hanging open and takes another step closer to me. “That’s right. I’d like to talk to Cassy.”

Oh my God, I think I’m going to pass out. Hearing his deep voice say my name has made my knees weak and my cheeks feel really warm all of a sudden. And if I’m being completely honest, it’s also kind of nice to know that at leastsomeonemight prefer me over Britney. Someone sexy and handsome. Someone who is standing so close to me now that I’m super tempted to reach out and touch him just to make sure this is really happening.

“Why do you want to talk to her?” Britney echoes Dale’s incredulous tone. “I mean… really?”

Austin’s brows furrow and I feel my back stiffen. “You’ll have to excuse my ex, Dale, and his new girlfriend,” I sigh, my eyes still locked onto Austin’s. With him here next to me—knowing he’s here specifically for me—I’m starting to feel like myself again. My normal, sarcastic self. “They’re still working on their people skills. Right before you got here, they were both telling me how they feel sorry for me.”

Austin fixes Dale with a hard look. “Is that true?”

“I, um… well, I…” Dale swallows hard and scoots a little closer to Britney. “I don’t think it was quite like that.”

I snort. “Oh, I think it was exactly like that. You said you were with me out of pity, right? That there’s no comparison between me and Britney.” I look from Dale to Britney and back again. “Isn’t that what you said?”

Am I being petty? Maybe.

But I also want to prove a point—to them and maybe to myself, too—that I don’t have to look like Britney to be attractive. My curves, my height, my hair color, my personality… all of those things are what make me who I am and there really are men out here who prefer women like me. In this case, it’s a man who has a lot more to offer than Dale ever will.

Before Dale can sputter out another half-hearted denial, Austin puts his arm around me and pulls me in close. I’m honestly shocked, but I don’t fight it. Instead, my body seems to melt against his as if this is exactly where I’m meant to be. “There is no comparison,” Austin says, his deep voice rumbling right through me as his arm flexes protectively around me. “Cassy is beautiful and funny andclassy. I knew as soon as I laid eyes on her that I wanted to get to know her better, and now,” he flashes that handsome grin I’ve become addicted to, “now I guess I’m thankful that you didn’t appreciate her, Dale, since you’ve given me a chance to show Cassy how she deserves to be treated.”

I can’t help but smile right along with Austin as we turn to walk away, his arm still pulling me tight against him.

5

AUSTIN

“Sorry,” I whisper as soon as we’re out of earshot of Cassy’s piece of shit ex and his new girlfriend. “I hope I didn’t overstep back there, but I just… I couldn’t stand by and let him disrespect you like that. That’s not gonna happen as long as I’m around.”

She looks up at me with a smile. “You don’t need to apologize. I appreciate everything you said, even if it was all for show. Seeing the look on Dale’s face made it all worthwhile.”

Being this close to her and seeing her beautiful, sweet, upturned face makes me want to kiss her so badly that I almost forget how out of line it would be. For all my talk back there, sheisn’tmy girlfriend. Not yet, anyway. But even though I can’t kiss her the way I want to—or the way she deserves—I can at least let her know I wasn’t acting when I said those things.

“I meant everything I said.” I stop walking and turn so we’re facing each other, so she can’t possibly mistake how serious I am right now. “Back there when I said you were beautiful and funny, when I said I wanted to get to know you better? I meant it, Cassy. It wasn’t all for show. I’ve been thinking about you since that first day we met and I might just go crazy if I don’t hurry up and ask you over for dinner sometime really soon.”

---