“Yeah, and some author writes that as they see fit. Do you think that they have explosive sex lives?” I challenged her, watching her giggle. Yep, she did.
Austin tried hard to make my first time good. It was after his junior prom at a local motel. He was sweet and gentle with me, soothing me through the pain of a first encounter with soft words and kisses. I knew that I loved him in that high school way a girl felt, and every time we slept together, it only got better. Sure, we had to find creative ways to have sex, but when we did, it was good. Austin was motivated to excel in every part of his life, and he always made me feel good. I saw that all his focus was on leaving when he ended things with me, and that I was a clear part of his past.
That was that. There was no point in thinking about the what ifs because there were none.
“Want to come over for some wine?” I asked Kim. She grinned and nodded.
We lived a few houses away from each other, and we did this often. We got the rest of our dinner into the bag, and I shut off all the lights. Then I started the diffuser for the night. I didn’t want anyone to walk in here in the morning smelling day-old deli sandwiches.
I locked the door, and we went to our separate cars to go to my house. It was decorated like Mom left it, with a few touches of my own. Kim walked in after she unlocked the door and headed to the small bistro table that I set up in the kitchen overlooking the backyard. It wasn’t as pretty as when Mom lived here since I wasn’t as much of a green thumb as she was, but I still felt a sense of peace when I sat here in the morning or evening.
I went to get the bottle of wine from the fridge and two glasses from the cupboard. Kim grinned as I filled them and set my sandwich in front of me. I returned to eating it, waiting for her remaining questions. Along with being sisters, we were best friends and confided everything to one another. Kim took a few bites before she scrunched her nose at me. “Are you sure that Austin being back for a while doesn’t mean anything to you?”
“I was shocked to see him,” I admitted. “It was his first day back, and he was a walk in, so I was surprised. That’s to be expected after over ten years, Kim. I didn’t want to fall to my knees and ask him to take me back though. I’ve made a life for myself here, and he clearly wants to get the hell out of here as soon as possible. He isn’t happy about being back. Why would he want anything to do with me?”
“You’re an amazing person, and you were back then as well. I know the women who he’s been with are superficially pretty, but I’ll bet that they have no soul.” Kim raised her glass, and I clinked mine to it with a giggle. “They all want him for his cash. You liked him for who he was and is.”
“I don’t know him anymore. I liked him then, though.” I sipped the wine and set it on the table before taking another bite. High school relationships broke up all the time when one or the other went to college. I knew that sometimes there was a second chance at romance, but I believed that mostly happened in books. Not so much in real life.
I was happy with my simple life working for the salon in North Reed. I was happy with the friends I had and the time we spent together when I wasn’t working. It didn’t end up being much more than dinner or maybe a movie, but we talked a lot. Places like New York seemed like they were so busy and nobody really knew one another. Did Austin even have any real friends, or were they just people looking for a handout?
“He is only here for a few weeks, Rebecca. I don’t know if he’ll be back for another visit, based on what you’ve said and how long it’s been since he left.” Kim gave me a long look. “Make sure that you have everything tied up inside when he leaves, because that might be it. I know how you felt about him before, Becs. Don’t let this chance slip away.”
“He’s not looking for a second chance at anything, Kim. Not here. Austin is here physically, but he can’t wait to go home. That was obvious to me. Case closed.”
“I hope that you tell me the same thing when it’s January and he’s back home.” She sipped her wine again and slipped a piece of salami that fell out of her sandwich into her mouth. “Life is too short, Becs.”
“Life here is just fine, sis. I’m happy.” I smiled as I spoke, but who was I trying to convince? Me or her?
I’d go on to work in the salon, talking to my regular customers and working towards becoming a manager. I had my friends and my sister. I had a great life, and when it was time for love to be a part of it, it would be.
Chapter Five
Austin
I pulled into the parking lot of the hotel that Preston was staying at. He’d rented a car of his own, though it was just a regular sedan. The hotel was simplistic compared to any place I stayed at, but the Travelodge was the best that North Reed offered. I shook my head and got out of the car to go to room 220, taking the stairs briskly. I had to ask him about our current project since there had been some time since we had any contact. I rapped on the door, and he answered.
I laughed. “What the hell is that, Preston?”
My wiry assistant wore a large cowboy hat with his gray suit and black tie, grinning broadly. “Do I fit in? I saw this at a store when I went to get some sunglasses.”
“I don’t think a legitimate Texan would even wear that,” I told him wryly as I walked inside of the small room. “It this okay for you?” I preferred suites with multiple rooms, and this was just a bed, bathroom, and the other basics. “I couldn’t get anything else close that was better.”
“This is fine, Austin. All I need it for is sleeping, and there’s a bed.” He closed the door behind me. He’d already unpacked some, and his MacBook was open on the table.
“I suppose,” I conceded. I sat down at the table.
“I don’t think your parents live in a fancy house. I know that you’ve never given them any money for anything for a large purchase. This is fine, Austin.” Preston sat across from me and adjusted his hat.
“You got that right. It’s the same house I was raised in. I want them to get something newer, bigger. I don’t know why they won’t let me do that for them.” I shook my head and glanced at the screen, taking in the numbers. “I know I trash their life here, but they’re great people. I mean, you’ve met them. They were the best parents they could be, and even my friends always wanted to be over at the house. Dad worked his ass off at the same company for years, and Mom always welcomed us with open arms. She made cookies every day for my friends and drove us anywhere we needed to go. They gave me everything, and I just want to give back to them, Preston. I’d never have been this successful if it weren’t for them, and I don’t know how to convey that.”
Preston took the hat off and tossed it onto the bed. “Just tell them. Your parents are not the people in New York, Austin. They know the real you, however deep he is buried. Just talk to them.”
“Yeah. I got into it with them at dinner the first night I was here. It felt so strained when I am just trying to relax with them. I am supposed to be here on vacation for the holiday, but I am almost tenser than I am at home.” I shook my head. “How’s the Singapore deal going?”
I’d been working toward getting a controlling interest in an electronics company over there for two goddamn years. It would be huge for me, and almost worth relocating to the area to oversee things.
“Very well. They are close to accepting the offer. Looking for a reason to leave already?” Preston teased me.