Chapter Thirty Four
1197 Words
♠ Kim Stans ♠
I still hadn't gotten over the kiss as one would expect me to.
Worse of all, it was Friday so we were forced to see each other, though I wasn't sure how he'd act.
We hadn't talked one bit. The only interaction we had was when a man had driven my car to me on Monday.
I knew I should have sent him a thank you message, but I just couldn't see myself doing that.
The dream I was constantly having didn't help the situation one bit.
Why?
Because it wasn't just any type of dream, but the same one where we were getting married.
Gosh, that was super frustrating.
The most annoying part of it all was the slight and undeniable glee that always overtook me every morning after the dream.
This was seriously stupid.
All the avoiding was going to come to an end because he was coming to pick me up soon.
Katie had told me he was going to pick me up.
Though I wondered why he wouldn't tell me that himself, I was at least grateful to not meet with him for a while.
Now to think about how to face him.
Remember your parents Kim, and every other person whose relationship has ended in shackles.
Most importantly, remember you're not supposed to get married.
Never.
That was enough to strengthen me to leave my room well prepared and feeling pretty in the red shirt I had on tucked in a blue jean trouser, with a sky blue overcoat that fell just below my knee.
“Woah, someone's ready to meet her in laws,” Oliver teased when I walked into the parlor.
Ignoring her comment, I grabbed my sky blue purse where I'd left it on the table, “where’s Layla?”
“Went out with someone,” she was eating the cookie she made, “I think she's going out with someone.”
“Hmm,” I assumed it was the guy she met at Thanksgiving, “I hope she introduces us one day.”
“Yeah,” she had a small smile on, “I guess it makes me the only single one around.”
Since she'd just broken up with Gorgy, I didn't want to comment on her having another guy yet.
“Maybe—” the sound of the doorbell cut me off, only leading to my heart racing billions of times faster.
Oh my, he was around.
Against my own will, I patted my hair, hoping there was nothing wrong with it.
“Don't worry, you look perfect,” Oliver chuckled like she understood what was going on.
“Not that I care,” it was the truth, and I certainly wasn't trying to convince myself.
“Hmm mmh,” she chewed on another cookie, staring like she didn't buy it one bit.
Ignoring her again, I moved to the door, opening it to reveal an extremely handsome Austin.
He was clad in a gray shirt with black winter coat and trousers.
His hair had been left to fall over his forehead, only adding to the already hot look he possessed.
Recalling the almost kiss, I found myself lost of words, “hi,” was what felt best to make out.
“Hey,” he greeted cooly, pocketing his gloved hands in his coat.
“Austin!” Oliver appeared beside me, a grin that could lit up the darkest place, planted on her lips.
Good gracious, I could sense this girl was going to embarrass me.
“Hey, uh…” he trailed off, probably forgetting her name.
“It's Oliver,” she stretched forth a hand, “the crying girl at Thanksgiving.”
Why would she introduce herself like that? I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“Yeah, I know,” he accepted the handshake, but didn't let it last long.
“I'm actually a huge fan of your work,” she pushed me out of the way to appear in front of him, “and if my friends are to find out you're dating my sister, it'll be the talk of the town.”
“Oh,”
“We're going to be late,” I stopped any further blabbering from her.
If I'd expected her to be annoyed, that was just dumb because instead, a smile wide enough to tear her face took over the grin.
“Yeah, you go enjoy your family meeting,”
Austin turned to me, obviously not sure what to say, while I rolled my eyes in embarrassment.
Would I ever be able to get over it?
Ignoring her comment, I waved her goodbye, leaving the house and moving very awkwards steps side-by-side with him towards his car.
What I hoped the most was that he didn't bring up the almost kiss situation.
I couldn't imagine how to reply to that.
“Where are we heading? Your parents' place?” I asked once we'd gotten to the car and settled in.
Anything to at least break the awkwardness.
“My parents,” he started the car, moving us farther from my house.
“Oh, will we stay there for a while?”
“Till tomorrow morning,” his gaze was fixed on the road as he spoke.
“Really?” I sighed, leaning into the chair. “You should've told me earlier.”
“Why?”
“I didn't bring extra clothes,”
“You can borrow Katie's,” he suggested what I'd have done, “you two are of similar size.”
“Yeah, you're not the first to say that,” a lot of people had told us that.
Some even told us we could fit as sisters.
“Is there anything I should know before getting there?” I didn't want to just enter some CEO position party or whatever and not know what to do.
What if I was called to make a speech as the CEO's girlfriend?
That made me shudder, because I was illiterate when it came to anything that wasn't novel.
I knew nothing in any subject (which was what made school days terrible), but novels just seemed easy to create and write.
So nobody should be asking me for speeches about business if they didn't want me embarrassing myself and Austin.
The horror must've been evident in my expression, because he added, “don't worry, all you have to do is stay by my side the entire time.”
Relief flowed through me, “that's something I can do.”
“I just hope you don't have stage fright?” He confirmed.
“Nah,” waving a hand, I brushed it off.
I'd done a lot of public speeches as a writer, so having that fear was not my thing.
“As long as I don't have to talk about anything related to your business or whatever you do,”
He nodded like he understood, “got it.”
I found a smile appearing on my lips, and had to look out the window to avoid him catching it.
We were acting so free. That warmed my heart.
And he didn't talk about the kiss.
- Writer
