'I'l drive you to work if you want. Pick you up after. We
can swing by and get Arty and go visit your mom. Get
your car.'
I studied my ceiling as Austin's warmth trickled down my
thighs. 'You don't have to do that.'
'I know that.'
I turned my head to look at him. 'What about work for
you?'
He yawned and stretched. 'That's the benefit of being the
boss.'
I sat. 'Since when are you the boss?'
'Since I bought the business,' Austin said with a strange
look. 'What's the big deal?'
'You just never told me, that's al.'
'Paige,' Austin said. 'You never asked.'
This changed things, and I didn't know why. I got out of
bed and stripped out of my pajamas, tossed them in the
hamper and got into the shower, where I contemplated my
stubbled knees and underarms and thought about the ways
life could sneak up on a person.
Just yesterday, Austin was eighteen, captain of the footbal
team, apple of his mother's eye. My boyfriend. A day after
that he'd been my husband, and for a while but not too
long, my enemy. And now…now he was a man who
owned a business and was there when I needed him.
Yesterday I was a scrappy, tough-punk girl who had no
money and wore too much eye shadow. Yesterday I was
young and stupid and thought love could take care of
everything else. So who was I today?
Austin joined me in the shower and I soaped his back. He
soaped mine. He used my razor to shave his face and cut
himself in a few places. I didn't make him breakfast, but I
did make him coffee. It was the nicest morning we'd had
together in a very long time.
Even so, I braced myself for him to question me about 'us'
when he dropped me off at work, but Austin didn't say
anything. He only kissed me and tweaked the single strand
of hair escaping from my braid. He waved as he drove
away, and I stood at the front doors and watched him until
he was gone.
Paul didn't ask my reasons for why I'd changed my mind
about the job working for Vivian. If he had, I'd have told
him the truth. That even though I hoped I wouldn't ever
have to take custody of my brother, I had to be prepared
in case I did. And that I was meant for more than being a
secretary, even if I'd never believed being a secretary was
being less of anything.
'Do you want me to cal her?' He was already reaching for
the phone, but put it back in the cradle when I shook my
head.
