Page 16 of Back to Me
“You still do that?” I looked up to Austin who was watching me, trying not to laugh. I nodded with a grin.
“Hell yeah, I do. It’s the best way to eat them! It means you get equal parts to the whole thing. Not just frosting or cake.”
“Why don’t you just make them that way then?”
“Because not everyone likes to eat them like I do.” I made a face and laughed as he shook his head. Taking a bite of mine, I looked over at Beau and Belle, seeing that they had decided to try it my way too. Belle swallowed the bite she had taken.
“I’m siding with Ally on this one, it is a good way to eat it.” A throat cleared at the end of the table and the sound of a chair being pushed back followed.
“We’re going to call it a night. I have work early tomorrow.” Thomas and Christina both stood up and walked them out. I let out a small sigh and wiped my hands on my napkin.
“Well, that was fun.” Austin placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it softly.
“Let me talk to Savannah tomorrow at work, I will see if I can’t get some answers out of her about what Cash’s problem is. Clearly whatever it is, it’s him or she would be up your ass during the day, but she leaves you alone while we are at work.”
“Thanks, Belle but I think I will try. I don’t want you and Beau getting caught up in this. Whatever it is, it’s between the four of us and while I appreciate Ma and Pops trying, it’s on Cash.” I looked down at my hand as the others spoke around me and began twisting the ring on my finger. It was a nervous habit I had picked up. I needed something to play with, so unless I was cooking, I always made sure to have a ring on my finger. It helped me focus my thoughts on one thing when I had a million running through my head. Although right now, I only had one.
“Ally? Are you okay? You went awfully quiet.”
“I told you that I didn’t want to come between you and your family. What if he is never okay with me being back?”
“Then that is his problem to deal with.”
“So, what, we can never all be in the same room together? It’s me or him?” Christina spoke before any of the others could respond.
“Let’s just give it some time and we will try and talk to him again. If he still can’t tell us what his problem is, then there is nothing more we can do, and he will have to accept the consequences of his actions. Under no circumstance are you to feel at fault for this, Ally. We wanted you here tonight, because long before you and Austin started dating, you were best friends. We always considered you one of us.”
Reaching over, I picked up my drink from the table and took a sip, trying to clear the lump from my throat. Christina was right; Austin and I had grown up together and were best friends most of our life. He was there when one of the guys in our high school thought it was a good idea to harass me and none of the teachers would do anything about it. That was the shift in our relationship from friends to more. I saw him as my imperfect prince and decided he was the one for me. The night I told him I loved him, I took him to our spot just outside of town. We were lying in the back of his truck, looking up at the stars when I got the courage to get the words out. To my relief, he kissed me and told me that he’d loved me for years but didn’t want to lose me if I didn’t feel the same, so he didn’t say anything. From there, Dallas joined our group, followed by Tye.
Turning my head, my eyes met Austin’s. He knew where my mind was and just smiled. Closing my eyes, I laid my head on his shoulder. “Well, I’m not going anywhere again, so Cash will just have to learn how to coexist. He wasn’t the one whose forgiveness I was looking for.”
ChapterTen
Austin
We hungaround Ma and Pops a little longer before calling it a night. I drove Ally back to her shop to get her car in silence. While the talk with my parents was comforting to her, she was lost in her thoughts. She needed to process what happened. Pulling up beside her SUV, I squeezed her hand. She looked over at me.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, just tired.” She gave me a small smile and undid her seat belt. “Are you still picking me up in the morning?”
“Yep, what time do you need to open the shop?”
“Ten but if you need to be at yours earlier, you can drop me off whenever.”
“I have a client at ten so I will pick you up about nine thirty?”
“Okay, I will be ready.” I got out of the truck as she opened her door and walked around to meet her.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” She nodded and leant in, pressing her lips against my cheek.
“I’ll be fine after some sleep, I promise. You know how much I hate confrontation. I should have listened to you and just gone home after work.”
“I’m sorry, I thought he would behave around Ma and Pops.”
“It was good to meet Belle though and see Beau again. It’s a relief that they don’t hate me.”
“Nah, Belle is a good person. Unless you give her a reason to dislike you, she will give you a chance.”
