The Unwanted But Inevitable Choice

Chapter 3

I decide since it's his birthday I will be nice. Since Adam has already found himself the captain of the w***e squad I deserve to enjoy Austin.. I pull myself out of Austin's arms and sit on the sidewalk. I grab his hard and pull him down beside me. He is still looking at me with a very serious face.

"Austin?" I say without looking at him. I lay my head on his chest and he wrapped his arms around me.

"Yes Lanie?"

"I don't want to lead you on, you know how I feel about your past with other girls and I'm saving myself for marriage, so I dont think it would work between u-"

"I would wait for you Lanie," I ignore him and continue.

"Anyway, I've never kissed anyone but Adam.. So... would like to kiss you.... As a friend" he laughs a full belly laugh that makes me jump.

"Lanie, a friend kiss is NOT a thing. That is definitely leading me on." He smiles at me like he is teasing but in my heart.. I know he is right, if he really does like me that's not fair to him to act interested. That would just be me using him. Just when I'm about to answer I get a call.

(BFF) Sarah is calling

hey where are you

Outside by the cafe with Austin, why?

Perfect, I've come up with a plan, be there in 2 minutes

When Sarah gets to us Austin and me tell her what he says Adam and Stacy did and Sarah is so upset for me. Thankfully Austin doesn't mention the kiss thing.

"Okay, let's do something to him," I say to Sarah and Austin's eyes get big. " What's the plan?"

"You and Austin pretend you are dating and come over to my house. Adam will be there and it will make him really jealous."

"I feel like that's using Austin.." And I look at him and he is.. Blushing? Weirdo.

"Austin would love to be used by you!" Sarah shouts. And Austin nods his head at me.

"Austin, you're okay with this?"

"Only if you let me take you on a real date after."

"Well….. okay then." I say and an Aura comes off of Austin. And he has a mischievous smile. I text my dad

Me-hey dad, I'm going to be coming home around 8. I know you wanted to give me a present so sorry something came up.

5 minutes later

Daddo- it's okay kiddo, I'm working late. We can do the present tomorrow. I love you Lanie Bugg.

Me-youre the best pops. I love you too

I turn to Austin and Sarah. "Okay, how are we going to make this believable?" Sarah gives me a mischievous smile and goes over her plan.

An entire hour goes by getting our story straight. Austin wants to pretend I was cheating on Adam with him but I can't do that. I did agree however to say there's been feelings for a while. I want to get back at Adam but I hate using Austin to do it. I did want to kiss him. But I just wanted to see what it felt like to kiss someone besides Adam. And Austin is definitely not hard on the eyes. "Okay guys, I want to go home and change so I'm not just wearing a hoodie and jeans."

"I think you look cute." Austin says but I just roll my eyes. "What?" He says as he puts up his arms, " I can't call my giiirlfriend cute?" I laugh and bump my shoulder into his. "Can I walk you home?"

"Yeah of course, Sarah we'll meet you at your house in half an hour." I ask Sarah. We walk in silence but Adam tries to hold my hand. I have an internal battle with myself because I don't want to lead him on but I know that this whole night will be exactly that… leading Austin on. Suddenly he stops walking. He grabs both of my arms and looks me in the eye.

"You don't need to feel bad Lanie, I know what this is but I want to enjoy it while it lasts.." He pauses and looks down. "I know you deserve better than me… I just.. I regret being such a player.. I know that's what makes you hesitant to be with me." He pulls my hand and starts walking again.

"Wait, Austin?" I stop and he looks back at me. "I'm sorry. Maybe we shouldn't do this? I don't want to hurt you. I know you care about me and I would be lying by saying I don't care about you. It's not just you being a player that keeps me from wanting to be with you. I just don't think I can make you happy.." It bothers me how many girls he has slept with but I've also thought, if I do give him a chance, will I be enough for him? Will he be okay with not having s*x with me..

"Lanie, I really like you. You're not like other girls. They are just easy, but you. You're worth waiting for and I wish I would have waited." I feel myself start to tear up but I push it back and he starts to hug me.

"Don't be sad Lane, we don't need to talk about this right now" we break apart and walk some more until I see my street. My dad is home? I mean. is okay, he really likes Austin. He actually comes over and hangs out with dad. And dad goes to his football games. He always tells me you can't judge a young man's past.. But, I thought he said he was working? I also see another car in the driveway. It's a blacked out SUV.

"I thought your dad was working?"

"He said he was, I don't recognize that car?" I look over at Austin and he smells the air? All of the sudden Austin gets stiff.

"Lanie we should go."

"What, why?"

"I just have a feeling your dad doesn't want you home yet. Call him real quick but don't say you are outside." I pull out my and dial his number, it takes a few rings but he answers.

"Hey Dad, are you okay" I hear him laugh.

"Yeah, Lanie, just catching up with a few friends. I came home early. Are you okay?"

I hear him say "It's my daughter"

"Oh I was going to come home early to get a change of clothes. Is that okay?"

"Yeah babe that's fine, where are you?" I look at Austin but before I can ask him he nods. Can he hear my conversation?

"I'm right down the street actually. I'm with Austin, I wanted to make sure I wasn't interrupting anything.. You know, with a lady" he laughs really loud.

"Austin huh, you move on quick."

"Dad! We are just friends!" I say getting flustered.

"Uh huh, okay see you soon."

"It's not a lady, just some of my dad's friends."

"I heard, Hey I'm going to wait outside." He says as we reach my door. He looks nervous.

"No Aust, it's okay! You don't have to hang out with them, just come to my room." I say and he grins at me.

"Not like that! You are such a p*****t!" I say and smack his shoulder and he grabs it like I hurt him.

I open the door and see four men and my dad sitting in the living room. I look at each of them quickly. They are all very big and muscular like dad, but one of them is even bigger than him. One of them looks my age, another looks like he is in his early 20's and the other two look my dad's age. The guy who looks in his early 20's has to be the most handsome man I have even seen. He is broad, has brown hair. I can't see his eyes because he is looking down. I can see a he has a huge scar across his right eye. I wonder what happened. Just as I am about to say hello he looks up at me and his eyes are beautiful. They are grey, I've never met someone with grey eyes. He looks into my eyes and huffs,

"Mate" I feel like my heart stops beating. He starts to stand up but my dad grabs his arm.

"Wait, she doesn't know yet." He says looking at the grey eyed man. And he sits back down uncomfortably. I hear Austin growl behind me and I turn around and he is breathing really heavily. My dad clears his throat, "Lanie you and Austin can continue what you were doing." Those words earn a growl from the grey eyed man. "They are just friends, please"

"Ah.. Okay, come on Aust." We walk back to my room and close the door. Austin looks really mad.

"Austin, what's wrong."

"It's not my place to tell you." I take a step back.

"Are you hiding something from me?"

"Lanie, your dad asked me not to tell you, can we please drop it for now?"

"Okay, but I don't like that you and my dad have secrets…"

"It's not really a secret Lane, it's just something that he wasn't ready for yet."

"Okay I'm going to go find something nice to wear for our date" He smiles and sits on my bed. I head to my walk in closet and step in. I start looking through clothes but nothing seems right, it's still cold out so I don't want to wear a dress or anything.

I sit down and can't stop thinking about the grey eyed man. I wish I knew his name. He is probably the most handsome man I have ever seen. I close my eyes and think of his features I wonder how he got the scar on his eye?