Chapter Twelve
Rebecca
I looked at my red dress in the mirror, smoothing it with my hands. It was cute for a family dinner and not anything I would wear on a date. This wasn’t a date, but the sentimental part of my heart looked at it as though it was.
I went to dinners at Austin’s all the time when we were a couple. It was a regular Sunday thing, and I still loved his parents. We saw each other in town, though it was mostly his mom when she came in for her appointments. That was often shared with some of the other women in town, and the short time we had together revolved around town gossip and whatever was going on at that moment. We didn’t really get to talk about Austin, though I think she sensed that I didn’t want to.
I decided that the loose skirt and sweetheart neckline was perfect with the low heels that I chose for the night. I added a diamond necklace to the ensemble, remembering the night that Austin gave it to me. It was our one-year anniversary, and while the diamond was small and delicate, I’d been thrilled about the gift.
This wasn’t a date, and we weren’t rekindling our romance. I leaned in to check the light makeup I was wearing, pressing my matte nude lips together. I was just having fun getting a little dressed up. I ran a hand through my hair, clipped back from my face tonight.
Austin was going back to New York in a few short weeks. I knew that his life was there, and he knew that my life was here. It was that simple. I’d never entertain a long-distance relationship, but he also didn’t offer that.
It was suspicious that his mom called me last night to invite me to dinner. I suspected she was holding onto a little of the past and trying to keep Austin here. I couldn’t blame her for that. He was her son and he left here so suddenly, without any kind of return until now. She was likely desperate to lock him in his room and throw away the key.
I walked into the living room and made sure everything I needed was in my purse. My puffy black jacket hung by the door. I could grab that when I left. I walked nervously to the kitchen to sip the glass of wine that I’d poured earlier to calm my nerves. I wasn’t driving tonight, under strict orders that Austin was picking me up like any gentleman should do. I just thought that was part of the ploy that she had going, even though I knew it wouldn’t work. It was cute, though. She was a sweet woman.
Between the dinner tonight and my sister’s potential move, knots twisted in my stomach. Everything seemed uncertain to me at this point. The very thing I loved about North Reed was that it was comfortable and predictable. I didn’t have drama here, no issues. There were no big surprises, but life seemed to be throwing me a curve ball these days. I couldn’t do a thing to change anything that was happening though. All I could do was force my way through it. I finished the wine and heard a knock at the door. My stomach jumped into my throat.
Good grief. This was NOT a date.
I walked over and looked through the peephole to seeing Austin waiting. I opened the door and smiled at him, noting that he was wearing nice black slacks and a blue sweater. Even he looked like this was a date, and I licked my lips as I took him in. “You look good. Let me just get my jacket,” I said as I reached over for it.
I felt his eyes on me as Austin stepped forward to help me with it, just like he used to do. I shivered as his hand brushed against my neck and looked around for my purse. Was it the wine making me feel dizzy or him?
I walked over to get my purse and returned to the door. Austin took my keys and locked it for me before he guided me to the rental car with his hand on my lower back. He hadn’t changed at all in some ways, and I smiled as I looked at the car. “Why did you rent this?” I asked.
He chuckled. “I liked it. I guess I forgot where I was driving.” Austin opened my door. “I have an SUV in New York. I should have gotten one of those at the airport.” He laughed and looked at me for a long moment. “I use Dad’s if the weather is too bad.”
Austin closed the door, and I watched him walk around the front. Warmth rushed through me, and I pressed my lips together. Austin was so handsome, even more than before. Pictures that I’d seen didn’t do him justice. A lump formed in my throat, and I pushed the feelings I had for him down. I hated that he lived in New York, but there was nothing I could do about it.
“I hope you don’t mind, but Mom wanted me to get some stuff at the store for dinner. It will be quick.” Austin looked at me as he started the car.
I frowned. “She had this planned since last night without being prepared? That doesn’t sound like your mom at all.”
His eyes narrowed in the dim light from the street lamp. “Last night?” Austin asked. I nodded. “She suggested it this morning as if it just popped in her head.” He shook his head.
“What’s for dinner?” I asked.
“Steak and potatoes. Does that sound familiar?” Austin glanced over, our eyes locking.
“That’s her specialty, and one of your favorites. Do you miss home-cooked meals living in the city?”
He pulled away from the curb and headed to the local grocery store. “I certainly don’t cook. There’s a wide array of food available at any given time of night in New York, so I’ve expanded my tastes. I don’t think any of it tastes as good as Mom’s food though. There’s just something so comforting about it. Some likes and feelings don’t ever go away, you know?”
I did know. I felt the same way.
Austin parked in the lot and walked around the car to let me out. I loved this little market and the way that everyone greeted us when we walked in.
I knew they looked at us together and assumed it was more than it really was. That didn’t matter. This was just dinner. Austin went to the butcher and asked for the best cuts of steak he had. My eyes widened at the price that Barney quoted. I told Austin I’d go across the store and grab some baking potatoes while he waited. He nodded, and I started across the store.
Christmas music played over the speakers as I walked, feeling Austin’s eyes on me the entire time. It made me wonder how my ass looked in the dress after eating so much junk with Kim lately. I wasn’t a small girl by any means, but I wasn’t fat. I had curves, and Austin liked them in the past. Did he now?
I ran into Mrs. Grandy and asked her how she was. I bagged four large potatoes in a plastic bag before tying it off. I walked over to the salad area and grabbed a couple of bags of the Caesar, since that was also a favorite of Austin’s. I imagined that he ate as much as he used to, so I made sure there were large servings of everything.
I was feeling hungry as well. I didn’t cook for one too often, and a home-cooked meal sounded perfect tonight. I turned to go back to where Austin was getting the steaks, but he was already walking toward me.
“Need anything else?” he asked, looking at the salad with a smile.
“I know that you like it,” I said. Austin eyed the potatoes and lifted his eyes to meet mine. “Do we need to get wine or anything else?”
“Mom made some fresh sweet tea for dinner. My parents aren’t drinkers to begin with, but after Dad’s heart attack… Mom keeps everything out of the house.” He shrugged as a shadow crossed his face. “I hope that’s okay with you.”
“Of course, it is. I barely drink myself.” I smiled, longing to stroke his cheek gently. I wanted him to smile again, the way he used to with me. The moments seemed to drag before I blinked. “Shall we? I’m getting hungry.”
Austin led me to the front of the store and paid for everything, not even phased by the total cost. There was a reason I didn’t eat like this all the time. He handed the cashier a large bill. It would only confirm all the local gossip about his wealth, but I remained quiet as the manager asked him all kinds of questions about New York. Austin answered politely as he was given change. Then he took the bag of food and looked at me. “Are you ready, Rebecca?”
I felt everyone’s eyes on me as I nodded with a fake smile. “Sure am.”
I could hear it now. Since we were seen together at the store, Chelsea would tell her friends, and we would suddenly be back together. Austin would sweep me off my feet and take me back to New York, and we’d live happily ever after.
Even though none of that would happen. His mom invited me to dinner, and more than likely, he didn’t want her to. He didn’t look happy when I mentioned her call last night. We told them all good night and walked back out to the car, where he let me in first again.
We continued to his parents’ house, and I looked around at the many places that reminded me of Austin. That was the bad part about staying in a town where your high school sweetheart used to live; all the memories. I leaned back against the comfortable seat and wondered if they’d hit him all since he returned. I wanted to ask him if he missed it here, missed me, but I didn’t want to go back there. We’d talked, and it was what it was. It was over, and tonight was just some lingering nonsense.
Maybe it was the wine I had before leaving my house. I was feeling too nostalgic tonight. I took a deep breath as we turned down his parents’ street. It was one of the quietest parts of town, and I cursed my memory as so many nights played through my mind. Damn it.
This wasn’t a date.
I looked over at him and saw him staring at me. “I haven’t been here since you left town,” I said.
“Yeah, they miss you. Mom mentions it from time to time.” Austin smiled gently, and our eyes locked. My breath caught in my throat.
“She does?” I asked, wanting to know if he did as well. He mentioned feelings not going away earlier. I wondered if he’d been thinking of me.
He leaned over and kissed me. My mind spun as I felt his lips on mine. I hadn’t been kissed for a long time, and I was surprised at how natural it felt to be kissed by Austin again. I tilted my head, and he deepened it slowly. I let out a soft moan.
Heat rushed through my veins as our tongues danced together. I felt the ache in my breasts and the throbbing between my legs. I moved closer to Austin, needing more. I was ready to crawl across the seat when he pulled away gently, breathing heavily.
“I’m sorry, Rebecca. I don’t know what came over me.”
I heard the regret in his voice and frowned as the bubble burst between us. I moved away, assuring him that no apology was necessary. I liked it and didn’t push him away, but I felt the ache in my heart as he slowly made his way to the side of the car.