Page 23 of Stealing for Keeps
Another student enters the classroom. This one is holding a piece of paper, which she hands to Mrs. Randolph, who reads it and then sighs. “It’s the first day and already somehow filled with interruptions. Give me two minutes, class.”
She steps out into the hallway, and quiet chatter starts around the room.
I squirm in my seat and try to ignore the pain in my foot.
Austin stands, and I watch in confusion as he goes to another table and takes one of the empty chairs. Is he moving seats? I kind of hope so, but then I’ll also feel like an asshole. Instead of sitting, he moves the chair over in front of our table.
I stare at him blankly.
“For your foot,” he says finally. I don’t make any move to prop up my leg, and he adds, “I can tell it’s bothering you. I had a broken foot once, and by the end of the day, it hurt like a bitch if I didn’t elevate.”
“Thank you,” I say, heat flaring in my chest. “How is your first day?”
“Good. Better now that I know I’m going to see you every day.” He flashes a charming smile that I’ll bet works every time. Except this one.
A laugh tumbles out of me. “Have you been using that same line all day?”
“Nope.” His grin inches higher. “Just came to me.” He comes back around and takes his seat next to me again. “So are you going to Boone’s party tonight?” he asks.
“I’m not sure,” I say.
“Why not? Something else to do? Not your scene? Hate fun?” He grins. “I can’t make you out yet.”
“Why do you care? You already have a date.” I stare at Sophie’s number scribbled on his hand.
He glances at it and looks back at me. “Jealous?”
“Hardly.” I scoff. “By all means, date the entire school. I couldn’t care less.”
His hard stare makes me want to squirm in my seat for an entirely different reason. This guy is just…too much. I know his type, and I’m not going there again.
Austin leans closer, bringing a sweet, smoky scent with him. I hold my breath.
“Yeah, well, at least kissing her won’t get me blackballed by my entire team,” he says with a smirk that seems to contradict the seriousness of his words and then moves away, finally tearing his gaze from me.
Chapter Seven
Austin
I’m in the kitchen later that night, looking for something to eat. I settle for sour cream and onion Pringles and I’m peeling off the lid when the back door off the kitchen slowly opens.
It’s dark in the house. Everyone else is asleep. Or so I thought. When Torrance quietly shuts the door behind her and turns, I say, “Welcome home, dear sister.”
She yelps and jumps, then presses a hand to her chest. “Dammit, Austin, you scared the shit out of me.”
I look over her outfit—short skirt and tight shirt. “Where the hell have you been?”
“Bobby Boone’s party,” she says as she leans down to take off her sandals. She tosses them onto the pile of shoes by the back door. “Are you going to tell Mom?”
“No.” I pull out a stack of chips from the container. “But she’s not an idiot. She probably already knows.”
“Are you kidding? Since we moved here, she’s too busy to notice anything.” She takes the Pringles can from me, then moves to the counter and pulls herself up to sit. “You were a hot topic at school today.”
My brows lift. “I was?”
“Rumor has it you broke up Vaughn Collins and Claire Crawford. Impressive work for your first day, bro.”
“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
