“You’re going to Tennessee this week, yeah?” Austin asked as we walked down the path to my sorority house. He was seeing me to my door again.

“Yeah, of course. The Crimson cheer team goes to all the away games.”

Austin darted his eyes to me and nodded. “Good.”

My lip twitched in happiness. “Yeah, good.”

As my sorority house came into view about a hundred yards away, Austin pulled on the sleeve of my shirt, causing me to stop as he checked around us. Seeming happy that we were alone, he said, “I’ll watch you get to your house from here.”

We were hidden behind a mailbox. “Okay.”

Austin stared at me for a second too long to be just platonic and stepped closer, so close I could smell a hint of mint on his breath, the rainwater scent on his skin.

Swallowing back my nerves, I almost lost it completely when he looked into my eyes. “Thank you.” Austin dipped his head and cleared his throat. “Thank you for tonight. For last night. I kinda lost my shit there for a while, crying like a dick.”

“No thanks necessary, Austin. I’m happy I got to see this side of you. You know, when you’re being yourself like you were tonight, you’re not as scary as you often come across.”

Swallowing hard, Austin pushed back his messy hair from his head and asked, “So… do I still terrify you?”

That question made me take a step back.

Austin reached out and gripped my fingers. I gasped at the electricity shooting up my arm. “Before, weeks ago. You told me I terrified you.” He reminded me.

I was genuinely shocked that he’d even remembered that. I couldn’t believe it had even preyed on his mind.

“That depends,” I replied.

“On what?”

“On whether you’re gonna keep threatening me to keep my mouth shut. On whether our new friendship will end as soon as I enter my front door?”

My answer made him chuckle. And his deep, throaty laugh made my thighs clench together in need. I almost collapsed at the new sensation. I felt hot all over, as though I were on fire.

“Nah, no more threatening,” Austin said sincerely. “I know my secrets stay with you.”

“Then no, you no longer terrify me. Your brother, yes, but you, no,” I said in all honesty. I never wanted to cross Axel’s path again. Austin just said his brother was lethal. I just prayed Austin had persuaded him to stop dealing on campus.

Austin stepped closer to me, and the way he was looking at me made me tremble. “Axe could be a problem for us. He wants you completely off the Heighters’ radar. So we gotta keep us knowing each other between us. Us talking more… between us.”

“Another secret?” I joked, my heart soaring that he wanted to keep me around, period.

“Another secret,” Austin said in all seriousness.

I dipped my eyes. “So you wanna talk to me more? Get to know me more?” The view of our feet edging closer wasn’t exactly helping with the nerves.

“Yeah. Yeah, I do,” Austin rasped out.

Lifting my eyes, I caught Austin leaning down toward my face. Every muscle in my body ceased to move. His head lowered, so close I could feel the rough stubble of his cheeks against mine. Austin was breathing hard, where my breathing seemed to have paused. Goose bumps broke out all over my skin, and my arms ached with tension as they lay stiff along my sides.

Unable to cope with the closeness, I squeezed my eyes shut, Austin’s warm breath ghosting past my ear.

“Buona notte, Pix,” Austin whispered. I felt his lips brush past my lips. Then he moved away.

When I snapped my eyes back open, Austin stood a couple feet in front of me, an unreadable expression on his face.

“Get on now, Pix. I’ll watch that you get in safe.”

Nodding numbly, I turned away, only to glance back and say, “As bad as last night was for you, I’m glad I was there because it led us to tonight.”

Austin nodded once, a curt stoic nod. “Catch you later, Pix.”

I scurried down the path to my sorority house, when I heard Austin shout, “Pix?”

Halting, I turned around, and he moved from the shadows into the moonlight. My heart constricted at the beautiful sight.

“Why the war paint?”

I brushed back my bobbed hair and replied, “Why the tattoos?”

Austin smiled at my response, his white teeth illuminated, and he shook his head, flicking two fingers as his wave good-bye.

I set off again on the path and, closing the front door of the silent sorority house, I hurried to my room. As I walked into the bathroom, I had a definite spring in my step, until I looked at myself in the mirror and all my newfound excitement waned.

Staring back at me was such an eyesore.

I almost forgot about all my issues tonight. But my reflection brought it all back with a slam.

Reaching into my vanity closet, I pulled out my cosmetic wipes and began my nightly routine. As my dark makeup rubbed off, all insecurities crept back.

Seems the boy could like you, Lexington, but I can make him like you more. Those ten pounds we need to lose will make him want you like no one before. Imagine how impressed he will be if you are that little bit thinner.

As I listened to the voice, I felt myself agree. Austin would be impressed if I lost more.

Ten pounds off would make everything in my life just that much better… Ten more pounds off would guide me toward perfection…

Chapter Thirteen

Austin