I knew they looked at us together and assumed it was more than it really was. That didn’t matter. This was just dinner. Austin went to the butcher and asked for the best cuts of steak he had. My eyes widened at the price that Barney quoted. I told Austin I’d go across the store and grab some baking potatoes while he waited. He nodded, and I started across the store.
Christmas music played over the speakers as I walked, feeling Austin’s eyes on me the entire time. It made me wonder how my ass looked in the dress after eating so much junk with Kim lately. I wasn’t a small girl by any means, but I wasn’t fat. I had curves, and Austin liked them in the past. Did he now?
I ran into Mrs. Grandy and asked her how she was. I bagged four large potatoes in a plastic bag before tying it off. I walked over to the salad area and grabbed a couple of bags of the Caesar, since that was also a favorite of Austin’s. I imagined that he ate as much as he used to, so I made sure there were large servings of everything.
I was feeling hungry as well. I didn’t cook for one too often, and a home-cooked meal sounded perfect tonight. I turned to go back to where Austin was getting the steaks, but he was already walking toward me.
“Need anything else?” he asked, looking at the salad with a smile.
“I know that you like it,” I said. Austin eyed the potatoes and lifted his eyes to meet mine. “Do we need to get wine or anything else?”
“Mom made some fresh sweet tea for dinner. My parents aren’t drinkers to begin with, but after Dad’s heart attack… Mom keeps everything out of the house.” He shrugged as a shadow crossed his face. “I hope that’s okay with you.”
“Of course, it is. I barely drink myself.” I smiled, longing to stroke his cheek gently. I wanted him to smile again, the way he used to with me. The moments seemed to drag before I blinked. “Shall we? I’m getting hungry.”
Austin led me to the front of the store and paid for everything, not even phased by the total cost. There was a reason I didn’t eat like this all the time. He handed the cashier a large bill. It would only confirm all the local gossip about his wealth, but I remained quiet as the manager asked him all kinds of questions about New York. Austin answered politely as he was given change. Then he took the bag of food and looked at me. “Are you ready, Rebecca?”
I felt everyone’s eyes on me as I nodded with a fake smile. “Sure am.”
I could hear it now. Since we were seen together at the store, Chelsea would tell her friends, and we would suddenly be back together. Austin would sweep me off my feet and take me back to New York, and we’d live happily ever after.
Even though none of that would happen. His mom invited me to dinner, and more than likely, he didn’t want her to. He didn’t look happy when I mentioned her call last night. We told them all good night and walked back out to the car, where he let me in first again.
We continued to his parents’ house, and I looked around at the many places that reminded me of Austin. That was the bad part about staying in a town where your high school sweetheart used to live; all the memories. I leaned back against the comfortable seat and wondered if they’d hit him all since he returned. I wanted to ask him if he missed it here, missed me, but I didn’t want to go back there. We’d talked, and it was what it was. It was over, and tonight was just some lingering nonsense.
Maybe it was the wine I had before leaving my house. I was feeling too nostalgic tonight. I took a deep breath as we turned down his parents’ street. It was one of the quietest parts of town, and I cursed my memory as so many nights played through my mind. Damn it.
This wasn’t a date.
I looked over at him and saw him staring at me. “I haven’t been here since you left town,” I said.
“Yeah, they miss you. Mom mentions it from time to time.” Austin smiled gently, and our eyes locked. My breath caught in my throat.
“She does?” I asked, wanting to know if he did as well. He mentioned feelings not going away earlier. I wondered if he’d been thinking of me.
He leaned over and kissed me. My mind spun as I felt his lips on mine. I hadn’t been kissed for a long time, and I was surprised at how natural it felt to be kissed by Austin again. I tilted my head, and he deepened it slowly. I let out a soft moan.
Heat rushed through my veins as our tongues danced together. I felt the ache in my breasts and the throbbing between my legs. I moved closer to Austin
, needing more. I was ready to crawl across the seat when he pulled away gently, breathing heavily.
“I’m sorry, Rebecca. I don’t know what came over me.”
I heard the regret in his voice and frowned as the bubble burst between us. I moved away, assuring him that no apology was necessary. I liked it and didn’t push him away, but I felt the ache in my heart as he slowly made his way to the side of the car.
Chapter Thirteen
Austin
We brought the food inside, and Mom hugged Rebecca tightly. I still felt fuzzy from the kiss and wondered what the fuck I was thinking doing that. It just happened, like everything always did where Rebecca was concerned. Our first kiss was quick, too, and damn it all if her lips didn’t feel just as good as back then.
Rebecca rushed into the living room to greet my father with a big hug, conscientiously leaning down to do so. Dad always had a soft spot for Rebecca. I stared at her ass while he asked her how her family was doing. She chatted with him, laughing most of the time before she asked Mom if she needed help cooking.
“I got it, sweetheart. It’s easy to cook these steaks up in my pan, and I’ll bake the potatoes in the process.” Mom gave me a happy smile and hurried into the kitchen.
I joined Rebecca and Dad in the living room. It came to my attention that he was a little more enthusiastic about this meal with Rebecca here. They were always close. She smiled brightly as she described her parents’ house in Arizona.
I knew she missed her family a lot. It was obvious in the way she talked about them. Still, she seemed happy sharing stories about them with a family friend. Our parents always got along well.