Page 125 of Stealing for Keeps
“I don’t know.” Except I kind of do. I’ve had several days with nothing to do but think, and since obsessing about Austin wasn’t accomplishing anything, I switched gears to figuring out all the other things in my life. This project was the simplest one on the list.
“I like it. I can sketch a design for the frame tonight.”
“Okay.”
After another awkward beat passes between us, Austin picks up his abandoned paintbrush and gets back to work.
We don’t talk again until we’re cleaning up.
“Hey,” he says, pausing as everyone else heads out the door. “Are you free Friday night?”
My heart skips several beats. “Yeah, I think so. Do you want to work on the project together?”
I can tell immediately by his expression that I’ve guessed wrong.
“It’s Rowan’s birthday. We were planning on taking him to dinner.”
“Yeah, I think Lacey mentioned something about that earlier.” My face heats with embarrassment.
Of course he doesn’t want to hang out with me and fall back into our old patterns. I told him we should take timeapart, and he is respecting that while still trying to make things as normal as possible for our friends. It’s better than giving each other the silent treatment. Though that was easier on my heart. Talking to him and being around him make the reality of our breakup that much harder.
He’s still waiting for a response, so I snap out of it and force a smile. “I’ll be there.”
He nods. “Great.”
Except by his tone, I can’t tell if he means it or not.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Austin
I get to the restaurant for Rowan’s birthday dinner a few minutes early to see if we can get a table for a large party. Vaughn is already waiting out front.
“Hey,” I say, steps slowing as I reach him.
Hands in his pockets and face tipped down into the collar of his jacket, he tips his head slightly and gives me a muffled, “Hey.”
“Did you already check in with the host?”
“They said about ten minutes while they pull some tables together.”
I fall in next to him, shoving my hands down into my pockets as well. It’s cold out. I can see my breath in the night air. It feels good to be out of the house though. I’m still technically grounded, but Mom likes Rowan, and she has a real soft spot for birthdays. Begrudgingly, she let me come but told me if I wasn’t home by ten, I’d be grounded for another two weeks and she’d take away my phone.
Neither of us says anything. We’ve talked a little in practice, but things are definitely still strained. The airbetween us feels as thick as the big puffy coat I’m wearing. I wonder if I’ll ever get used to winters in Michigan.
I know Vaughn could stand here in silence forever, but every second feels like an eternity.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” I start. I’ve thought about how to apologize a million times, and there never seems to be a good time or place. Standing in the cold while I freeze my nuts off seems like as good a time as any.
He says nothing, but his gaze locks on me and doesn’t waver.
“I’m sorry that I wasn’t honest about how I felt about Claire. You are my friend, and I should have talked to you before I let anything happen. I owed you that much at least.” I apologized before, but it feels like it didn’t count since I basically yelled it at him.
I can’t tell anything about his emotions from the reaction on his face or body language. Vaughn is a stone wall when he wants to be.
“Anyway. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I am sorry for keeping it from you and for how you found out. I don’t blame you for getting pissed and decking me.”
“I wasn’t pissed at you.” His jaw tightens. “I mean, I was, but really I was just mad at myself.”
