Page 36 of The Holiday Boyfriend

I didn't push the question since it wasn't really a big deal where we sat. Besides, sitting across from Austin gave me the best view. I wouldn't have to develop a kink in my neck turning to look at him all night.

I placed the pitcher and glasses down, then settled in the seat across from them. Levi filled the glasses and distributed the drinks for us. “We should cheers,” he said, raising his glass.

“What are we cheering to?” Austin asked but raised his cup anyway. I followed suit.

“To us! To everlasting friendship,” he said with a laugh.

I smiled as I clinked glasses with them. While Levi had started off as Austin's friend, I thought we'd gotten closer over the years, though he was still closer to Austin than me.

We all chugged our beers and poured the rest of the pitcher into our glasses. A waitress showed up then, looking more than a little frazzled by the crowd tonight. She took our order of more beer and some food before rushing off to her next task.

“So, who was that pretty lady who was chatting you up? Your target for tonight?” Levi asked as he nodded his head back toward the bar.

I noticed Austin was looking everywhere but at me when the question was asked, and him thinking that I was flirting with some rando when I'd promised there would be no one else while we were exclusive was the last thing I wanted.

“No,” I said, and Austin finally looked at me. I locked eyes with him, trying to convey that I meant the words when I said, “I'm not interested in anyone else.”

His gaze flicked to Levi before landing on his lap. Perhaps my words let on more than they should have, but I didn't care. The most important thing right now was making sure that Austin knew exactly what I wanted—and that was him and no one else.

Levi brought his glass to his lips, but I managed to catch the smile on his face. He wasn't stupid and must have caught something from when I tried to kiss Austin on the cheek earlier. Thankfully, Austin had saved the situation even if he had to call mebud.

I wrinkled my nose in distaste. Austin and I were friends, butbudwas much too casual a term to be used between us, especially after all we’d experienced together in the past couple months.

Levi locked eyes with me and his smile grew wider, my guess proved true.

Heknew.

The idea of someone knowing about my more-than-friends relationship with Austin should have had me panicking, but it strangely didn't. It was the opposite, in fact. I was relieved that someone else knew about us, that it was out into the world instead of this being something that only existed between the two of us.

A tiny voice inside of me screamed to claim Austin in front of the entire world so that nobody could steal him from me. He was mine, even if it was only until the holiday magic ended, and I wanted everyone to know that I was lucky enough to get this time with him.

Conversation moved on to the events our town was hosting this year. Our town's event planner had been preparing for the winter holidays for months, and he always made sure one year was never the same as another. Because of that, we got many repeat tourists.

“By the way, Ethan texted me their itinerary this morning. He said they booked with your B&B,” Austin said.

Ethan and Kingsley had been stranded in town last year due to their plane being rerouted during a heavy storm. They'd stayed for the weekend of the last dance, and had fallen in love by the time they'd left, sharing a kiss that promised forever under the blessings of the Doves of Destiny.

During their stay here, we'd become friends and had kept in touch even when they returned home. They’d mentioned wanting to make a trip to Wintertown a yearly tradition, and it seemed they were serious about it.

“Yep, they booked in the same room as last year. Had even insisted on it.” Levi took another sip of his drink. “Ethan even mentioned that the number nine represented longevity in Chinese, and that them being assigned to that room in the first place meant that their love was meant to last forever,” he said with a chuckle.

“I didn't take him to be sosuperstitious,” I said with a smile.

Austin smiled too. The expression on his face morphed into one full of longing and hope. “I think it's sweet. They obviously love each other and want to do everything to stay together, even if it is with the help of the supernatural, be it a number or a legend about doves.”

His eyes had a faraway look, and I wondered if he was thinking about our town's legend. The Doves of Destiny were said to bless couples with a lifetime of happiness together, and I wondered if Austin was imagining a forever with someone. Someone other than me.

Jealousy for a man that didn't exist overcame my senses as I imagined Austin kissing them under the Doves of Destiny during the last dance.He deserved his happily ever after with the man of his dreams, but I couldn't help but wish that the man of his dreams was me.

Which was a thought that had totally come out of left field. I'd never been with a guy before or even remotely wanted to have a relationship with one, but with Austin, I could imagine us together in the future. That has always been the plan, either as roommates or best friends who were as close as ever.I hadn't seen an alternative to that plan, or more like I’d never opened my eyes to what was right here in front of me.

Austin laughed at something Levi said. The lighting inside the pub was kept dim to create an intimate setting, but I could still see the way his eyes sparkled when he laughed. His lush lips flattened as they turned upwards in a smile, and a rush of need shot through my veins.

All I could think about was how those lips tasted and how much I wanted to feel them against mine again. My longing for him was so strong it resulted in us naked and making love basically whenever we were alone.

The realization shocked me from staring at Austin, because that was what we'd been doing for the last couple weeks.

Making love.

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