Page 101 of Stealing for Keeps
“Did you have a good day?” Austin asks, leaning into me.
“I did, yeah. You?”
“Yeah, this was pretty cool.” His breath is visible in the cold night air. Mine too. “Wish we could have hung out more though.”
“Yeah, me too.” I don’t want to just hang out though. I want him to kiss me again.
He gives me a wicked grin like he can read my thoughts. “Uh-oh. Whatcha thinking there? You’re blushing.”
“Nothing.” I play it off, but he absolutely knows what I’m thinking.
I wonder if I should suggest that we just kiss right here and right now, let people realize we’re hooking up. What would happen if we just stopped hiding? Would Vaughn really be that upset? I wish I knew the answers.
“Yo, Disco!” It’s Rowan’s voice that’s yelling from the deck.
The two of us turn.
“Get your asses into this hot tub before you catch a cold. Tell ’em, Cap. He’ll get pneumonia out there.”
I don’t see or hear Vaughn’s response, but Austin pulls away. “I think I better go keep an eye on him.” He gets up and dusts off the sand from his shorts, then looks down at me. “Meet me later?”
“Meet you where?”
“There’s a small deck off one of the rooms. If you walk around the side of the house, you’ll see it. I’ll be waiting there as soon as everyone goes to sleep.”
“Okay.” My stomach somersaults as he winks, then backs away. He finally turns after he’s put a few feet of distance between us and jogs up to the house.
When Lacey is done attempting cheerleading stunts, we walk up together.
“I’m gonna go change,” I tell her. She already has her bikini on underneath her clothes.
I change into my suit, grab a towel, and am heading out to the hot tub when I spot Vaughn in the living room. I hesitate for only a second before I pull the towel around me and go to him. It feels like my chance to get a gauge on things between us.
He’s alone, head back on the couch, beer in hand. He never used to drink that often, but when he does, he’s the kind of guy who gets quieter and more reserved instead of turning into a party animal like Rowan.
“Everything okay?” I ask as I take a seat next to him.
His head slowly turns, his dark blue eyes locking on me. His lips curve up. “Hey, Claire. Yeah, I’m fine. Just taking a moment. It’s so loud outside.”
I doubt it’s the noise alone that has him in here. He’s used to the chaos of the soccer team.
“You don’t seem fine. What’s up?”
He doesn’t act like he’s going to answer, but then he heaves out a sigh. “I just found out I’m failing Algebra II.”
“Oh.” There’s a part of me that expected it to be about me, and it both relieves me and makes me feel like the most self-centered person for even thinking it. I angle my legs toward him. “I’m so sorry. Does your dad know?”
He huffs a strange, strangled noise—a mixture of a laugh and a groan. “No, not yet, but he’s going to be pissed.”
“Algebra II is no joke. Is there someone in your class who can help?” I’d usually suggest Lacey, but one, she hates tutoring people, and two, I’m not so sure she doesn’t still hate Vaughn.
“Yeah. Probably. I don’t know. I’ll figure it out.” Some of the fog lifts from his eyes. “How are you doing? How’s your foot? School? Your mom? I feel like we haven’t talked in ages.”
“We haven’t.”
“I’m sorry,” he says, dropping his gaze from mine. “I didn’t know how to be around you and not be us. But being apart has been good. It’s given me perspective.”
Sober Vaughn would never have admitted any of this, but I’m glad he is now. It makes me feel good about moving on. And it’s not like I blame him for not talking to me. I made it pretty clear that I wasn’t interested in getting back together. We both needed some space.
