The Step In Girlfriend

Chapter 3

"You know what Payton" he says whilst chewing his chip, little pieces falling from his mouth and landing on his lap. "This relationship is gonna be fine while Roman is gone, I can just tell" he says leaning his face down to take the chip right from my hand, I was gonna eat that one!

"Yeah, maybe we will" I laugh as he shoves even more chips into his cakehole, thankfully, without choking.

I had just changed his bandage when he gets a phone call, he excuses himself before walking into his bedroom closing the door behind him. I pack all the medical supplies and things from dinner away not wanting him to feel like I was eavesdropping. He soon emerges from his room looking rather flustered, I send him over a confused look while he begins to pace up and down.

"Is everything okay?" I ask leaning up against the counter, I did tell Roman I'd look out for him, so I guess I'm gonna need to find out why he's panicking.

"What I'm about to ask you is gonna sound so crazy and weird, but please you have to understand I wouldn't ask you unless I didn't have any other choice" he rambled on still pacing up and down which not gonna lie, was starting to really worry me.

"You and I need to date" he says which does make my eyes go wide.

What in the heck?!

Chapter 4

Best Friends Girlfriend

I stare Austin out for a few seconds, did I just hear him correctly? I stand there at a loss for words, has he just walked in the room and forgotten about Roman all of a sudden?

"What do you mean we need to date, if you haven't already realised, I've been dating your best friend for years now!" I exclaim not really understanding why I would need to remind him, Roman's only been gone for not even 24 hours, he can't have forgotten about him.

"I know but just let me explain, my boss has hated me for the longest time, whatever I do he strikes me down and I never knew why. But a few weeks ago, I was sat having my break when he walks over and starts having this weird conversation with me. He starts asking me questions about life and if I was with someone, I didn't want to feel lame in front of my boss, so I said I had a girlfriend" he starts to ramble not really explaining his point really, just because he told his boss he has a girlfriend doesn't mean I become her! "He started asking me questions about her and what her name was, I panicked and accidentally said her name was Payton. Now if that wasn't bad enough, he asked to see photos of you just in case he knew you" he says walking around the house but was really starting to bother me, can't this man get to see the point?!

"Austin, please just get to the point where you want me to date you!" I exclaim having enough of him telling me this huge story, just get to the ending!

"That was him on the phone asking if we wanted to go to dinner, I was about to say no but he told me it's there he'll go through the new promotion he's about to give me" he says while I just roll my eyes, this is such an Austin thing to do.

"I'm all for you getting a promotion and moving up in the world, but as I've just said I've been dating your best friend for years now, who probably won't take the little fact of me acting like your girlfriend too kindly" I tell him point blank, Roman's always been very protective over me, whenever I'm around a guy he constantly pulls me away. funnily, the only guy he doesn't is Austin, maybe he should have done.

"Roman isn't here, what he doesn't know can't hurt him" he shrugs like this was nothing, but I was seeing this as quite a big deal.

"That means I'll have to lie to him, Roman and I don't keep secrets" I say crossing my arms, he mumbles something under his breath before walking over to me.

"We won't have to lie to him if he never finds out" he awkwardly says coming to stand in front of me. "Please Payton, I really don't have any other choice, if I tell him the truth, he'll be pissed that I lied and will go back to hating me. Please, I could really do with this extra cash every month" he pleads with me, something was different this time though.

It was an expression that I'd never seen on his face before, he was generally asking for my help and looked so worried that I was going to say no. I sigh a little taking a look down at the floor, I didn't want to have to lie to Roman, but I knew how important this was for Austin. I did tell Roman I was gonna look out of Austin while he was away, if Roman does find out I can just tell him I was doing what I said I would.

"Okay, but we can't let this drag on for too long in case Roman comes back and finds all this out" I say with a pointed look, before I knew what was happening, he picks me up and twirls me around.

"Thank you, thank you" he says over and over again before placing me back down on the floor, where I was a little dizzy not going to lie. "I owe you one, now the dinner is tomorrow" he says before running back into his bedroom, well that just happened.

The next morning was spent with Austin telling me what he's told his boss about us, apparently, we'd been dating for a year and met at a market. No idea why he chooses for us to meet there, couldn't he just say we met online or something? One little thing Austin forgot to tell me was this dinner wasn't just with his boss, the whole company are getting together in this huge mansion for a fancy party. If he would have told me that last night I probably wouldn't have agreed, the thought of the whole company being there was intimidating. What if me or Roman know someone that someone else is bringing? They'll either think Roman and I broke up and I've moved on rather quickly, or I'm out cheating on Roman while he's away. I've been accused of that fact already anyway! Austin told me this wasn't a big deal, and the time is just gonna fly by, I was hoping what he was wishing is true.

I walk out of my bedroom ready for this fancy dinner/party, I wore a black skater skirt mini dress, with just normal black heels. I didn't know how much effort I really needed to put into this, let's be honest all these people are just car mechanics. Austin was stood in the kitchen in his black suit, I've never saw him this dressed up before.

"Come on Payton" he shouts whilst turning around where he spots me, he immediately freezes just looking me all over, which does make me paranoid.

"Am I wearing the wrong thing, I didn't know what I should wear?" I ask nervously looking down at myself, yes, I didn't want to be associated with these people, but I still wanted to make a good impression, what if I want my car fixed in the future? But I guess that would need to involve me owning a car and knowing how to actually drive.

"No, you look perfect" he says looking at me once more before smiling, woah that's the biggest relief! I thought he was gonna demand that I go and change or something! "We-um need to leave now, the place is about half an hour away" he says picking up his keys from the counter, I smile making sure I have everything before walking towards the front door.

Austin was close behind me as we walk down the steps of the apartment, the neighbours smile at us as we walk down the stairs and towards Austin's car, which was parked in Roman's space. I don't know why, but it kind of upset me to see it there. I know it's just a parking space, but it just confirms that he's not here, I know he hasn't died or anything but I'm still gonna miss him. He hadn't called me from his trip, yet which was worrying, but he's probably so busy making everyone fall in love with his product.

"Now I understand why Roman likes to park here, it's so much easier" Austin laughs unlocking his car, I laugh opening up the car door and climbing in beside him. "Now it's time to act like a couple" he smiles switching the car on, yeah, a sentence I never thought he'd say.

Chapter 5

Pulling The Strings

We were soon pulling up at the huge house the party's being held in, Austin keeps calling it at house, but you could fit our apartment a hundred times over in this place. In my mind I knew this was a company event, but I didn't anticipate how many people from the company would turn up. There were cars and people everywhere, which does make me rather nervous.

"It's gonna be okay, I'll be with you the entire time" Austin smiles pulling the car up in an empty space, which were really hard to find in this huge courtyard.

"What if someone asks me a question that I have no idea how to answer?" I ask while he takes his seatbelt off fixing his suit, I didn't want to look dumb by saying something that was the total opposite to what he's already told them!

"Hey, you're gonna be fine" he smiles taking my hand in his smiling, I nod my head taking a deep breath in to get my head in the game. "Thank you for doing this Payton" he smiles before opening up his door, I nod my head about to reach for the handle, but Austin was already standing there.

I laugh taking his hand as he helps me out of the car, the cold wind was the first thing that hits me as he closes and locks the door behind us. This did give me a chance to look around at everyone else arriving, there were some expensive cars pulling up here, these people must be getting paid a heck of lot! Austin holds his arm up letting me take it, where he begins to lead me into the venue. I'm not that experienced in walking in heels in the first place, but on this stony courtyard was proving it to be a challenge! Lucky, I had Austin there to keep me from falling onto my face, that would not be a good first impression!

Austin nods his head at people as we continue on our way, finally making it off the stones and into the beautiful building. The place inside was full of people too, everyone looking so smart which immediately, causes happiness to take over knowing I picked the right dress!

"What are we supposed to do here?" I whisper to Austin still walking past people, I've never been in a situation like this before, I had no idea how I was supposed to act.

"We just need to mingle with everyone and talk to my boss when we walk over" Austin replies quietly as we reach the patio doors at the back, please say he's taking us out there as this place was so crowded, but I was hoping and praying the floor out the was smoother than the stony courtyard! "You won't have to talk to him, just stand there and look pretty on my arm" he smirks down at me which does make me roll my eyes, I see Austin is still Austin in these situations.