Page 135 of Stealing for Keeps
“I have a coat at the house, but after the game, I was still too hot, and I didn’t think I’d need it.” When he shivers, his entire body shakes.
“It’s Michigan. You always need a coat. And a real winter coat, not the one you’ve been wearing.” I reach up and tug on his thin beanie. “And a hat that will keep your head warm.”
He takes my hand, lacing his cold fingers through mine. “Or I could just steal your body heat.”
“You made it!” Rowan greets us as we walk into thekitchen area. He has a bottle of Jack Daniel’s in one hand, and he looks like he started partying the minute the game was over. “And you came together.” He puts one hand over his heart and speaks in a dreamy voice. “Young love is so sweet. Our Disco is all grown up, winning games and getting the girl.”
Laughing, Austin shoves his shoulder playfully. “Shut the fuck up.”
“You want something to drink?” Rowan asks, walking over to the counter where a variety of liquor and mixers is set up next to a stack of cups. “Beer and hard seltzers are in the fridge.”
“The only thing I want right now is some hot chocolate or coffee. I’m never going to be warm again.” Austin’s shoulders hunch as he folds into himself.
“Take a few drinks of that, and you’ll warm right up.” Rowan holds out the bottle of Jack.
Vaughn walks in through the back door. He eyes the bottle and huffs a laugh. “Yeah, it’ll keep you warm all right, until you’re resting your head against the side of the toilet later tonight.”
Briefly, Vaughn’s gaze drifts to where Austin and I are still holding hands. My body tenses. I know I shouldn’t feel bad, but I don’t want to hurt him either. But Vaughn doesn’t look mad or even surprised.
“Ah, lighten up, Captain. We won.” Rowan’s grin doesn’t falter. I’ve actually never seen him sick or hungover. His tolerance is either high or he manages to cut himself off before he reaches that point.
A small smile creeps onto Vaughn’s face, and he takes the Jack from Rowan and tips it back as everyone else in the small kitchen area cheers and hoots while Vaughn drinksstraight from the bottle. He only gives a small grimace as he passes it back.
“Yes!” Rowan exclaims, grinning ear to ear. “Now it’s a fucking party.”
As more people arrive, the cabin gets crowded. There’s a bonfire outside, but Austin refuses to go outside into the cold. It’s going to be a very long winter for him.
I’m standing between his legs with my back to him. He leans forward and rests his chin on my shoulder, then slides his hands under the hem of my shirt.
I jolt at the contact and inhale sharply. “Your fingers are so cold!”
“I’m never going to be warm again,” he whines quietly, sliding his palms along my rib cage.
My stomach flutters, and I melt under his touch. It feels so good to be with him, not hiding, hanging out with our friends, celebrating the game and this time in our life. I want to reach out and capture this feeling, this moment, and lock it away, so in five or ten years, I can remember every detail.
Rowan’s laugh and ability to put everyone at ease, Lacey’s smile and bubbly personality that never fails to make me feel better, the way Andie and Brandon are always teasing and flirting like they’ve been dating a week instead of a year, and the feel of Austin’s body brushing against mine, his laughter vibrating through him to me. These are the things I want to remember instead of the classes and grades, the awards, and the failures.
Eli is sharing footage from the game, including Austin’s game-winning goal.
“It was a great pass,” Austin says, dodging the compliment and tipping his head to Vaughn.
“Who said I was passing?” He smirks. “I was aiming forthe goal, and it just happened to get deflected to you.”
Everyone laughs, and then Eli has to play it back again to determine if Vaughn is lying, even though we all know he is. It was most definitely a pass.
“It was a great end to a great game.” Barrett holds up his beer in a silent cheers. He finishes it off and tosses the bottle in the recycling. “In fact, I think we should reenact it outside. Ten bucks says you two can’t pull that off twice.”
Austin’s body shakes against me as he chuckles. “Oh no, I’m not going out there. Not even for soccer.”
“Wow, you really do hate the winter.” I swivel around to look at him.
His green eyes are lit up with amusement. “I’m sure I’ll feel differently tomorrow, but tonight, I just want to be warm.”
He pulls me against his chest and wraps his arms around me. I’m okay with being used for warmth like this. I dreamed about what this would be like, but the reality is even better.
“Ten bucks?” Vaughn scoffs, and the corners of his mouth pull down in a frown. “At least make it worth our while.”
“Okay.” Barrett is more than happy to up the ante. “Let’s make it fifty.”
