Page 39 of A Man To Remember
I watch his gaze drift around my living room, taking in the chaos with fresh eyes. His attention settles on my coffee table, and his brows furrow.
"Are those… college applications?"
Shit.
I lean forward, trying to gather the papers, but it's too late. He's already seen them.
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"Okay, yes. They're college applications. Don't make a big deal about it."
"Why would I make a big deal? It's great."
I roll my eyes. "I'm twenty-nine, Austin. Most people finish college at twenty-two."
"Most people don't rebuild their entire lives from scratch and—" He stops abruptly, head snapping to study my face. "What did you say?"
I scrunch my forehead. "Which part?"
"You're…how old?"
"Twenty-nine?" I don't mean it as a question, but it comes out that way.
"No, you're not." He shakes his head like he knows better. "You're twenty-seven."
I blink. "I'll be thirty in November."
He tilts his head, and there's a hint of a smile on his face, the first one I've seen today, although it feels like it's been ages. "But… you were a year behind me in school."
"Yeah, well. My golden boy era was very short-lived, come to think of it. I had to repeat second grade. Twice."
The look on his face is priceless. Pure confusion mixed with dawning realization.
"Wait. You're telling me you're actually older than me?"
"Surprise. You've been lusting after an older man."
"Oh my God." He runs his hands through his hair. "You're a whole year ahead of me in life experience and you still don't know how to work a camera?"
"Hey, I was busy learning how to read chapter books while you were in kindergarten."
"This explains so much. You're practically ancient."
"Watch it, punk, or I'll tell you about the good old days when we had to walk uphill both ways to school."
Austin starts laughing—really laughing, not the polite chuckles he's been giving me. The sound fills my disaster of an apartment, and for the first time since last night, I feel like I can breathe properly.
"I can't believe I've been thinking of you as Jamie's baby brother this whole time."
"Technically, I am Jamie's baby brother. Just a baby brother who happens to be older."
"This is going to take some adjustment." Austin wipes his eyes, still grinning. "I've been condescending to someone who's more mature than me."
"Define mature."
"Point taken."
