Sweet Fall

“Axel dragged Gio outside of the trailer, leaving me inside so they could ‘talk’. It felt like a lifetime they were out there ‘talking’. Eventually, the door opened and Axel came back without Gio. He joined me on the floor. Then he spoke the words I never thought I’d hear. “You’re out, lil’ bro.” I didn’t know what to say, so just stared with my damn mouth hanging open. Axel laughed at me. “You’re out. Gio ain’t gonna cause shit for you.” I asked him how he managed it, what he’d promised Gio, but he just said, “That’s no concern of yours, kid.” A few months later I left for college.”

I lay in stunned silence at the history Austin had just revealed. Austin’s brown eyes glittered at reliving the memory and I asked, “And what did he do? What did he promise Gio?”

Austin lowered his head. “I have no f**kin’ idea. Axe won’t tell me. But I’ll find out someday. I need to know what I owe him.”

It all became crystal clear. That was why he was protecting his brother. It was why he was trying to keep the dealing in campus so hidden. He felt he owed him for getting him out of the gang.

I squeezed his hand in mine, feeling a flicker of understanding and Austin slowly sat up. “We should get going, Pix. Long drive back.”

As I stood and jumped off the end of the truck, I drank in the vision of the Supermoon and prayed to remember its beauty forever.

Hearing the engine begin roar, I opened the truck’s door and sat back in the passenger seat, suddenly noticing Austin’s hands were frozen on the wheel.

“You okay, Austin?”

“I’ve never… I’ve never told anyone all that before.”

My breathing came fast at his confession and, when he looked up, his head tilted to the side. “It feels kinda good to get that off my chest… It feels good to talk to you.”

Releasing a shaky sigh, I said. “You can tell me anything. I’ll never judge you or betray your trust. You know, people in glass houses…”

Austin’s head dipped and his hands clenched the wheel even tighter. “Yeah, Pix. I’m starting to realize that you’re golden that way.”

As we drove away from the majestic Supermoon and headed back to school, Austin’s words lapped around my mind. I’m starting to realize you’re golden that way…

“You’re going to Tennessee this week, yeah?” Austin asked as we walked down the path to my sorority house. He was seeing me to my door again.

“Yeah, of course. The Crimson cheer team goes to all the away games.”

Austin darted his eyes to me and nodded. “Good.”

My lip twitched in happiness. “Yeah, good.”

As my sorority house came into view about a hundred yards away, Austin pulled on the sleeve of my shirt, causing me to stop as he checked around us. Seeming happy that we were alone, he said, “I’ll watch you get to your house from here.”

We were hidden behind a mailbox. “Okay.”

Austin stared at me for a second too long to be just platonic and stepped closer, so close I could smell a hint of mint on his breath, the rainwater scent on his skin.

Swallowing back my nerves, I almost lost it completely when he looked into my eyes. “Thank you.” Austin dipped his head and cleared his throat. “Thank you for tonight. For last night. I kinda lost my shit there for a while, crying like a dick.”

“No thanks necessary, Austin. I’m happy I got to see this side of you. You know, when you’re being yourself like you were tonight, you’re not as scary as you often come across.”

Swallowing hard, Austin pushed back his messy hair from his head and asked, “So… do I still terrify you?”

That question made me take a step back.

Austin reached out and gripped my fingers. I gasped at the electricity shooting up my arm. “Before, weeks ago. You told me I terrified you.” He reminded me.

I was genuinely shocked that he’d even remembered that. I couldn’t believe it had even preyed on his mind.

“That depends,” I replied.

“On what?”

“On whether you’re gonna keep threatening me to keep my mouth shut. On whether our new friendship will end as soon as I enter my front door?”

My answer made him chuckle. And his deep, throaty laugh made my thighs clench together in need. I almost collapsed at the new sensation. I felt hot all over, as though I were on fire.

“Nah, no more threatening,” Austin said sincerely. “I know my secrets stay with you.”