Sweet Fall

Rome had been whipped away to talk football with some college boosters. Then five minutes later, Austin had too. The Tide had won the SEC Championship in Georgia and were heading to the National Championship in California. This dinner was to celebrate the win, but I felt like doing anything but celebrating right now.

How can you try and be happy when your world is crumbling?

Leaning over, and playing the role of ‘happy Lexi’ again, I rubbed my hand over Molly’s and grinned.

Molly sighed, and Ally and Cass leaned over to listen in. “I just can’t wait for this night to be over. Rome is on tenterhooks waiting for his psycho parents to say something to me, to us. But at least they’ve just ignored me rather than rip into me again.” Rome’s parents didn’t approve of Molly. They didn’t know she was pregnant. They were powerful and ruthless people. If they wanted you gone, they’d get you gone.

Cass tutted and threw her hair back. “I’ll kill the f**kers if they dare. I swear it, Molls. You stick with me!”

Molly laughed at Cass, but Ally hadn’t joined in the humor. As Rome’s cousin, she knew what his parents were capable of. If her searching eyes were anything to go off, she wasn’t letting Molly out of her sight either.

The whole gang now knew she was pregnant, but what surprised me was how little interest Austin had taken in it. He’d been distracted. Had barely been around campus except for training, and, worst of all, he wasn’t seeing me… at all.

Since we made love, he’d never been around, he’d barely called me, texted me, and we hadn’t once been back to the summerhouse like he’d promised.

I just can’t understand what I’ve done.

It is because he is disgusted by you, Lexington. Did you think once he f**ked you that he would not find flaws all over your body? Did you think he would want you again when you could not even take off your clothes?

With my stomach rolling at the voice’s words, I stood and decided to go for a walk. Molly grabbed my arm in concern. “You okay, Lex? You seem a little down. You’re worrying me, sweetheart.”

Leaning down, I kissed Molly’s head and patted her growing stomach. “I’m good. Just need a drink and a little fresh air.”

Molly went back to talking with Cass and Ally, and I wandered off in the vast plantation’s landscaped gardens until no one was around. As I found myself walking toward a huge water fountain, the sounds of hushed voices pulled my attention, and curious, I followed the voices around a long row of high hedges.

Peeping my head around the corner, my heart sank. Austin stood against the hedge with his hand in his black suit jacket’s inner pocket, and he was taking out packets… small plastic packets… filled with white powder.

No… no… no…

“Thanks, man,” said a student I didn’t know as he took the packet and walked off through a gap in the hedge. I watched as Austin began counting notes, put them in his pocket, and leaned back against a stone garden statue, running his hands down his face.

My feet were moving toward him before I even noticed. “You’re dealing?” I whispered, devastation in my voice.

Austin whipped his head in my direction and stood straight, his expression changing from guilt to forced indifference.

“Pix, you need to get the f**k out of here… now.” Austin was cold and really kind of aggressive. Just like he was at the quad when we first met months ago.

Standing my ground, I folded my arms across my long black dress and said, “I will not go away!” I reached out with my hand and pulled on the sleeve of his jacket. “You’re dealing drugs, aren’t you? That’s why you haven’t been around.”

Austin looked all around us and, gripping my arm, pulled me into the cutout spot in the hedge. We were completely hidden from view.

“Keep your f**kin’ voice down, Pix!” he whispered loudly, anger distorting his usually beautiful face.

I reared back. I didn’t recognize this person before me.

“Don’t you dare speak to me like that!” I snapped back, and I saw the flash of guilt ghost across his face. Stepping closer still, inhaling his rainwater scent, I asked, “How long has this been going on? Why haven’t you spoken to me about this? Why haven’t you spoken to me, full stop?”

“Because my mamma’s f**kin’ dying, Pix! She’s now on her final weeks, and we need the money to pay for it! This,”—he tapped his jacket where his pocket was situated underneath—“is what’s gonna give her the meds and care she needs to not die choking on her own spit because we ain’t got insurance to get her help. Can’t you understand that?”