Benefits of a Broken Heart

chapter 11 Friends

---Taylor's POV---

I smile across the room at Austin who winks at me before opening the door. It's his friends that I forgot I invited over.. dammit.. I wanted to see where this would lead because I have a good feeling with him. He seems like such a sweet man and I need one of those in my life.

I turn around opening the cabinet, looking for the pan to sauté with.. and I see it but it's on the top shelf.. the part I can't reach. I reach up to see how far it is.. I'm close but not close enough. I try to reach again as I feel a body press against mine from behind.

"Hey, Tay.. nice to see you again.. let me help you." Lewis says to me as he reaches the pan and pulling it down for me. "Lewis, thank you." I say to him as we hear. "Lewis, leave her alone." from Austin hitting him in the arm. "What? Why do you care? Is there something I need to know about?" He asks as I hope with all my heart that he will say he likes me.

He freezes, as he scoffs at Lewis then looking at me before saying in a threatening tone, "It's none of your business either way Lewis.. now leave her alone before I deck you for touching her." Lewis looks at me for a second before saying. "You don't have to yell." He leaves as I smile and watch him leave to the front room. "I'm sorry if he was bothering you." Austin whispers to me as I shake my head. "He just helped me reach this.. it wasn't that big of a deal." I explain to him as he nods agreeing with me. "I was just being a little over protective then, I guess.. sorry." He says to me as I shake my head getting his attention. "I liked it." I smile at him as he returns the smile then walking into the room with his friends as I continue to pull ingredients out for dinner.

I keep feeling eyes on me as I look up to see Austin and Lewis staring at me.. not at the same time, but enough to get each other's attention.. His friends are playing Mario kart now. They start going back and forth on who wins between the three of them until Austin joins and they groan complaining about how he always wins.

I smirk as I say outloud, "He doesn't always win.. I just beat him." I say as they laugh and scoff at that. "Sure you let her win right?!" one of the guys asks asks as Austin flips them off and says, "She did win, she won on her own merits Noah.. we had a bet going and everything.. she is just as good as I am.. she would win, then I would win, then her then I.. the whole time.. she gave me a run for my money."

I smile at them as they laugh asking. "What was the bet?" I answer pretty quickly. "Washing clothes for a week." Their mouthes drop open as Lewis is the one to respond, "I would wash your underwear anytime Tay." He receives a punch from Austin. "Shut the f*#k up man." He throws his hands up in surrender as he states. "Ok ok.. shit.. I didn't think you would get all territorial over her."

"This is my house and when you come in here you will be not only respecting me but her as well.. she is my roommate and deserves the same respect as I get." He declares as Lewis spats. "Just roommates huh? So that means I can take her out sometime?" That earns him a other punch as Austin doesn't answer, but after that physical response I think that was enough answer for now. . I don't want to push things with him but I do hope he is willing to make this official between us.. I would love to openly claim him.. but only if he is willing to do that with me.

---Austin's POV---

I watch Lewis throw himself at Taylor and it boils my blood. I don't want him touching her, but he won't stop until I fully out-right claim her as mine and he still might not even stop.. that's just Lewis for you.. but I don't know if I'm ready for something like that.. maybe.. I see how it makes Taylor smile when I protective of her to the guys.. and to say I love that smile is an understatement.. it's just as gorgeous as she is.. but I have never made a commitment to a woman.. I just date and leave that's it.. I'm single all the time and it's hard to change from that.. I don't know how to get out of the multiple-lady groove of things for this one lady.. is this what I even want to do?

"So you f*#k that fine fat ass of hers yet?" Lewis whispers to me gaining my attention as I glare at him. "Stop man." I warn him as he feigns shock. "What Tinman? I thought being locked in here with her all day would have definitely ended in sex.. or for me it would have." He states to me as I scoff and spat back. "It would take a whole lot longer for a guy like you to get with a real woman like that."

He shrugs at that and says, "Wanna bet?" I shake my head at him as he tilts his head to the side as his eyebrows raise. "Now why is that? Is it because your trying to lock it down?" He asks me as I groan out in annoyance before he adds.. "No, you could never actually lock it down.. that means committing to one woman and claiming her, for everyone to know and I don't think you have the guts to do that. but the only way to get a REAL woman like her is to show her she is the only one.. whether she is or not.. you have to show it.. and she will give you whatever you want.. so if your not going to step up and put your man briefs on to claim your lady.. I will." He says standing up as I quickly grab his arm and pulling him back down to sit again.

"I don't have to commit right this second.. we just started talking I don't want to push her into something she might not want or be ready for." I whispers yell at him as he laughs at me replying.. "Oh how thoughtful of you.. But.. Every girl I have ever met is always ready to lock down and by the look on her face directed at you I would say this is what she wants.. but you tell your chicken ass, whatever excuse you need to hear before you drop and run full speed... but for me I'm trying." He stands up and walks across the room.

Lewis walks up behind Taylor as he leans in and whispering something into her eat that makes her smile and biting her lip before she shakes her head. He keeps whispering in her ear as she turns around with a spoon in her hand. It has something on it as she puckers her plump luscious lips, blowing on it carefully before she feeds it to him. I watch his eyes roll back and he moans out. "That's amazing Tay.. but not as amazing as you." She shakes her head as she continues cooking.

He leans in again whispering as she giggles. I feel myself getting jealous.. yes she is shaking her head telling him no but he keeps trying.. why is he trying so hard?.. I thought he didn't like her? I'm glaring daggers at him just wishing his head would explode with the imaginary laser coming from my eyes. "Come on Tay?" I hear him day to her as she keeps shaking her head but I can't hear what she is saying. I want to know what she is saying.. is she claiming me?.. is she saying she likes me so she can't?.. Is she telling him later? is she even interested? I find myself not even paying attention to the race I'm playing in at all.. to the point that I lost. "Oh I beat the king!" Tyler runs around flaunting his victory as I throw my controller to the table before glancing over at Taylor who is looking over here curiously, but Lewis is also looking over here smirking as he winks at me then saying something to Taylor again making her smile and shake her head. She turns away from him as she continues to cook.

Maybe he is right about her.. actually I know he is right about her.. I need to man up of this is what I want.. because acting like a jealous fool looks bad on me and makes my heart race a million miles a minute but not in a good way. I don't know if I can do this though.. like he said he doesn't think I can either.. I roll my eyes as I huff and sit back trying to watch the guys race more. But I keep finding my gaze trailing back across the room to her and Lewis who are now joking and talking back and forth. She playfully slaps his chest as he feigns shock.

I get mad watching this flirting happening right in front of me.. what could I do to stop it.. claim her in front of him? That's probably what she wants.. or maybe what he wants, because he thinks I'm going to chicken out and maybe he is right.. now I don't want to run anymore.. I want something special that gives me something to work and be there for.. right?.. I don't know what I want. I hear my phone ding as I open it up to see that I have a message from Michelle. It's a picture of her and her friends in their bikinis hanging out at their house. I check out their hot bodies.. but.. it's not the same.. how do these bikini bodies not do it for me when they were yesterday.. it makes no sense. I keep staring as Noah yells. "Oooh s**t did the girls send you sexy pictures Austin! let me see.. oh yeah they are in bikinis! we should head over there." He exclaims as I put my phone on my lap and away from prying eyes.. I look up to see Taylor looking a little sad as she looks away from me. I feel bad and guilty.. I didn't do anything and I'm not even in a relationship.. how can I feel bad about this. I open the picture again as I look at it.. but as I stare at this picture, my mind keeps going to the gorgeous voluptuous tattooed and pierced curves I saw earlier.. but those are not flat like these ladies.. but that's exactly what I like and want.. suprisingly enough. I delete the picture and don't even text back before putting my phine away in my pocket.

I look back up to Taylor and she still looks sad with Lewis in her ear, making her shake her head again before looking at me, then turning her gaze from mine. Is she mad? It's not like I asked for the picture.

"You guys can go back to that place if you want.. but I don't.. I would rather stay here.. I have had more fun here than what I ever did there." I say to them loud enough in hopes she might hear me.. no particular reason why.. who am I lying for? I don't want her to be mad at me.. so I'm making sure she hears me.. for some reason the thought of her being mad at me hurts worse than any others.. wonder why? I'm so confused about how to feel about all of this. I look up to make eye contact with Taylor. She is not smiling but doesn't look mad.. she just turns her head to say something to Lewis as he nods and says more to her.. she smiles for him but when she looks at me, her smile is gone.. that thought alone makes me mad.. what could Lewis be saying to her? He needs to back off before I punch him in the face.. ugh I need to slow my roll before I get into real trouble. I'm getting hung up.