Page 50 of Forever & Always You
“That sounds amazing!” I exclaim, but I study economics, not acting, so I’m not sure how well I pull it off.
Because what Austin doesn’t know is that I’m the organizer.
The past few days, in between my daily shift at the bar, I’ve been making far too many phone calls for a woman who fucking hates making phone calls. I’ve been in constant back and forth with Fiona from the shelter as together we work through all of the details. I’m in the process of finalizing catering, and I have an incredible pet photographer lined up to take new photos of the dogs for the website, hopefully wearing the adorable party hats I’ve ordered. I’ve hired the largest dog park in Wilmington foran entire afternoon, and I’m currently working on nailing down activities for kids, but finding bounce houses to hire during the summer is proving challenging. Hopefully, the event will draw in a good crowd and some of the dogs will find their new homes. Especially Teddy.
“We’ll definitely have to be there,” Austin says.
I smile. “Oh, for sure.”
Icouldtell Austin that I’m the one behind the event, but I’m rather enjoying doing something meaningful for once without seeking any praise. He won’t know it, but the conversation we had in his office two weeks ago about my father cast a terrible realization over me.
Twenty years from now, I don’t want the first thing anyone thinks when they hear my name to be “oh, that mean girl from high school” or “that bitch from the bar.” I want people to think of me the same way they think of my father, with respect and admiration, and I have a long way to go before I reach that point. I have to start somewhere, so I’m taking a page out of my dad’s book and starting with charity work.
“I hope lots of the dogs get adopted.”
“They will,” Austin assures me.
We scoff the remainder of our pancakes and since Austin made them, it’s only fair I do the dishes. The morning seems to fly by, not least because I need to be back at the bar for opening at twelve and Austin needs to head home to Wilmington to hit the streets for a sixteen-mile run, so the time to say our goodbyes rolls around much faster than I’d like.
On the drive to the bar, he clears his throat and says, “There’s something I’d like to ask you.” When I throw him a panicked glance in response to the seriousness of his tone, he laughs and adds, “Don’t worry. It’s nothing bad.”
“What would you like to ask me?”
His hands twitch with a hint of nerves as he toys with themin his lap. “I found out yesterday the firm is shortlisted for a business award, and the ceremony is over in Charlotte at the end of next month. Nice dinner. Nice hotel. I was hoping you’d come?”
“Congratulations!” I say, but my enthusiasm travels all the way to my hands and I accidentally swerve into the opposite lane.
“Gabby,” Austin says, grabbing the wheel. “I’d like to actually attend these awards, please.”
“Sorry,” I apologize sheepishly, glancing sideways at him. “Of course I’ll come, Austin.”
He exhales a deep breath of relief just as I pull up in the alley outside of the bar. His car is still parked around here somewhere, wherever he left it last night, and it’s time for him to head home after our impromptu sleepover.
“I’m sorry you have to run sixteen miles,” I say.
“I’m sorry you have to deal with the drunks,” he says.
“Hey, I made a fortune in tips last night thanks to some extremely generous bachelor. He was pretty cute, too.”
Austin cracks into laughter and gets out of the car. So do I, and we stare over the roof of the vehicle at one another, not quite willing to say goodbye yet.
“So I’ll see you next weekend? And the weekend after that for the adoption event? And the weekend afterthat?” Austin asks.
I pout at him, now hyper aware that he enjoys it when I do. “Are yousurewe can’t help out by adopting Teddy ourselves?”
“You don’t give up, do you?”
“Nope.” I drum my fingertips over the roof of my car and narrow my eyes challengingly, seductively. “Are you going to kiss me before you go?”
Austin strides around the car, clasps my waist, and kisses the hell out of me.
17
It’s becoming apparent that my life has very quickly spiraled into counting down the days until I next see Austin, and I was never one to be obsessed with a man. It’s a tiny bit terrifying and a tiny bit thrilling, but spending my weekends with Austin is now the highlight of every week.
As I make my now usual drive to Wilmington, my head spinning with my plans for the shelter’s adoption event this afternoon, I experience, for the first time, a moment of crystal-clear awareness. As I sing along to my playlist with the August sunshine warming my face through my windshield, I realize I’m happy. Not fireworks exploding kind of happy, but a calm and content and okay kind of happy.
And that’s a hell of a lot more than I’ve felt in a while.
