Page 76 of Just Business

“So last week I started therapy. Cassie sent me some names a bit ago, but my first session was the other day.” My eyes cut toward where my sister is sitting, and hers have welled up. “Thanks, sis,” I say, giving her hand a quick squeeze.

We talk a bit longer about my first therapy session and more about Mom’s situation. Both are conversations I never imagined we’d be having. It’s like all these years we’ve been holding our breath and now, for the first time, we can finally exhale a collective release of tension that’s been building for far too long.

Before we hang up, Tyler reassures me, “As soon as you get that new number, I’ll take care of the rest. Everything that needs to change will be changed and everyone who needs the number will get it.”

We say our goodbyes and as the call ends, a flood of relief settles in. I feel like, for the first time in a long while, things might actually start to change.

"Well, now that that's settled, I'm going back downstairs. My head feels like it might explode from all that,” Cassie says, gesturing to the laptop where we just talked to Aunt Ashley. “I hardly got any sleep last night worrying about you and I’m not sleeping on your whiskey-sweat bed sheets.” She stands and heads to the door. “I love you with all my heart, but you look like shit. Go take a shower.” With that, she opens the door and walks out, her footsteps echoing down the wooden stairs.

I walk over to the bed and lie down, my legs dangling off the edge, feet still resting on the floor. The bed dips, and Penny lies down next to me.

"How do you feel?”

When I turn my head to look at her, her eyes are already on me. “You ever been to a monster truck rally? You know when the monster truck drives across the stack of cars?” I gesture with my hand, mimicking the bounce of those massive trucks over the smaller, crumpled cars. “Well, imagine my head’s the stack of cars.”

Penny gives me a small smile. "I didn't ask how's your hangover. I meant how do you feel about all this?"

I sigh thinking about all the thoughts running through my head. "Nervous. Overwhelmed. Pissed. Relieved. Pick one."

We sit in silence, the only sound the ticking clock on the wall and our breathing. Finally, she breaks the stillness, her voice full of sadness, addressing another elephant in the room. "You leave tomorrow."

"I do," I agree.

Reaching over, I clasp my fingers with hers. "This wasn't how I hoped we'd spend our last days together."

She doesn’t say anything, just nods, her gaze shifting back to the ceiling.

"But you know I’ll be back. My truck is here. I have to come back for her," I say, and that’s when I see it—a grin stretching across Penny’s face. She rolls onto her side and playfully smacks me in the chest.

Austin and I are determined to salvage what little time we have left together, despite today’s rocky start, but we need to get the apartment cleaned up for Cassie first. I start cleaning while he heads down to the driveway to clear the shards of glass littering the gravel.

Every now and then, I peek out the window at Austin as he bends down, picking up piece after piece. He wears a look of defeat, his shoulders slumping under a weight that seems too heavy for any one person to bear. My heart clenches in my chest as I watch him. This man who publicly moves through the world with such confidence, has been reduced to something so broken and small.

Behind that ache, though, is a surge of anger that burns hotter with every piece he picks up. I’m so incredibly angry at the man who did this to him, who caused this darkness to seep into his life. I hope Ashley is right and the whole family gets the justice they deserve. His dad deserves to rot in prison for the rest of his days.

Once everything is back in order, we trade places with Cassie, and head upstairs to savor what little bit of day is left. We’re both grimy and sweaty, so I lead Austin to my bathroom, quietly peeling off my clothes while his eyes rake over me. He doesn’t move an inch—he just watches me. I step into my shower while he undresses and gets in.

Silently we wash each other, allowing our fingers to map the shape of one another to carve into our memories. Once we’ve rinsed, I reach down and take his length in my hand, one firm stroke up then down, feeling him grow harder beneath my touch. A low groan rumbles from Austin’s chest, his hands tightening at my waist before pulling me to him and placing a searing kiss on my lips. I keep my grip on him, stroking as his body tenses against mine.

When we part, I sink to my knees, lowering my head to swirl my tongue around the tip of his cock. He bucks against me, and I raise my eyes to meet his. His expression turns molten and he grabs my hair, winding it around his hand to gently guide me back down. I take him deep, my hand pumping to the rhythm of my mouth.

“Fuck,” he hisses out, pressing a hand against the shower wall.

My head bobs up and down as his hips snap, so I allow him to fuck my mouth, causing my eyes to water.

Just when my jaws are starting to ache, I feel him lengthen imperceptibly in my mouth, and he tugs my hair to pull me up but I grip his thigh, keeping my mouth right where it is, sucking like my life depends on it. A hot, salty stream hits my throat and I swallow every drop, seeing him through his climax.

Once he’s caught his breath, he turns the water off and reaches to grab two towels, drying himself off first and then me. He wraps me in the towel and picks me up, carrying me to my bedroom where he lays me down and climbs in to lie next to me.

“We haven’t talked about the article yet,” I say once we’re lying there facing each other.

“I was waiting on you. Wasn’t really sure how you were feeling about it all.” His jaw tics, and some of that same defeat from earlier returns to his voice. “You were afraid something like this would happen. I get it if this is too much for you. Not sayin’ I’ll like it. But I wouldn’t blame you if it was.” His eyes are distant, like he’s already bracing himself for the answer he’s afraid to hear.

With a deep breath, I lock eyes with him, feeling the weight of my decision, but I know with all my heart it's the right one.

“I’ve decided I don’t care what anyone thinks. If tabloid articles want to write about us, let them. What right do any of them have to judge us? There’s nothing scandalous about our relationship. We did nothing wrong and I don’t want to hide. I just want to be with you.”

My voice comes out steadier than I feel. Putting myself out there for the world to judge will take some getting used to. Even with the fear gnawing at me, one thing is crystal clear: for every bit of uncertainty, every ounce of courage I have to muster, Austin is worth it.

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