The past was the past. Our future was a blurry haze on the horizon. All we had was the present. This very moment.
No matter where we went from here, there was one certainty. Austin and I were as addictive as heroin and as combustible as gasoline.
I just hoped we didn’t go down in flames…again.
Sixteen
Austin
“So, you and Julia again?” Patrick asked the next week after work.
“Yep.”
“And it’s going well?”
I shrugged nonchalantly. “She screams at me in much better ways now.”
Patrick laughed. “Good for you, man. I knew no one else would ever really do it for you after Julia.”
“You never said anything.”
Patrick shrugged. I gave him a skeptical look as I poured us both shots of whiskey from the stash in my office.
“I told Julia I was going to give up alcohol. I should probably get rid of all this shit.”
“That’s…a big deal, Austin.”
“Yeah. I know.”
Patrick took the shot I’d handed to him, and we each knocked one back. I’d been feeling like absolute shit all day. Withdrawals were a horrible, horrible fucking thing.
“Clearly, you’re not going cold turkey,” Patrick said, setting the shot down.
“No. I’m cutting back. Try to wean myself off of it. Not drinking around Jules. It’s easier being sober when I’m with her.”
“Harder at home, I’d imagine.”
“And work.”
“Well, let’s trash this shit on the way to Jensen’s office then.”
We gathered up the last of my supplies and took them to the restroom. I felt a horrible pang go through me as we dumped the whiskey down the sink. The clink of the bottles in the trash can made my nerves shake. I knew I could do this. I was strong enough. But, fuck…
“So…” Patrick said as he pressed the button for the elevator, “I was talking to Mindi—”
I punched Patrick in the arm. “You are not seeing her again, are you?”
“She’s a really good lay, man.”
“She threatened to stab you with a butcher knife!” I cried in exasperation.
Patrick might be my best friend, but he was such an idiot sometimes.
“Okay. Well, that was…unfortunate.”
“Unfortunate,” I said with a snort.
“Anyway, Mindi said you stayed at their place.”
“I got wasted and crashed there. Mags wasn’t even around.”
Patrick shot me a look that said, I’ve been your best friend your whole life. I’m not an stupid.
“She wasn’t,” I insisted.
“All right, dude. I believe you.”
“Believe him about what?” Morgan asked, appearing at our side as we passed her office.
“That Austin isn’t going to fuck up with Julia.”
“You and Julia are back together?”
I nodded, as it was obvious. We’d spent all weekend together, getting reacquainted with each other’s bodies and talking through the night. I’d felt like absolute shit on Saturday morning. Cold turkey had not been an option for me, but I had significantly reduced the amount of alcohol I was drinking. It was a start at least. And, if I didn’t get wasted, then I couldn’t do something stupid like end up at Mags’s apartment again.
“Great!” Morgan said with enthusiasm. “I actually like her. She’s not a dipshit or fucking crazy.”
“I’m so glad I’m being met with Her Majesty’s approval,” I said sarcastically.
“Hey, dickface, don’t make me kick your ass.”
“Bring it, Mini Wright.”
She glared at me. I knew she hated the nickname that Patrick had bestowed upon her.
“I will end you.”
“Oh, Jesus, what trouble are you two getting into?” Landon asked. He had his arms crossed and was leaning against the closed door to Jensen’s office.
“Austin started it!” Morgan cried.
“What are you? Twelve?” I asked.
She stuck her tongue out at me as Jensen’s door opened. Landon stumbled back into the empty space.
“Calm down, children,” Jensen said sarcastically.
“Austin’s dating Julia!” Morgan said.
“I didn’t realize I needed to make an official announcement.”
Jensen stuck his hand out, and we shook.
“Congrats, man. I really like Julia.”
“Thanks.”
I laughed. I didn’t know what to make of all this attention. No one usually gave two shits about who I was dating or not dating. I glanced between Jensen and Landon and realized…fuck, they’d probably already known. Heidi and Emery had probably spilled the beans about the last week Julia and I’d spent together. They’d been waiting for me to say something.