Sweet Fall (Sweet Home 2)

I looked to my doorway and Cass was leaning against my doorframe, arms folded across her chest.

Threading my spiked silver earring through my ear, I fixed it so it wouldn’t come out, then pulled at the loose material of my black floor-length dress to check it wasn’t clinging to my figure.

“I’m just going out with some friends from the team,” I replied, hating telling my best friend such a barefaced lie.

Cass entered my room and shut the door, moving to take her usual seat on the loveseat. “Oh, good.”

I sighed at her dejected tone and walked to where she sat on the edge of my bed. “What?”

Cass shrugged and said, “I just feel like you’ve been pulling away from me over the last few weeks. You don’t seem as happy lately.” She studied my reaction, but my expression never changed. “Has something happened to you?”

I shook my head. “No.”

Cass leaned forward and rubbed her hand down her cheek. “You never eat with us anymore, ever. You’re out all the time, and the peppy Lexi I know seems to be losing her spirit.”

“Cass—”

“You’re my best friend, Lex. You’ve been my sister for over three years here at this school, and I know something’s up. Molly and Ally have their own thing going on—studying, other groups of friends—but you and me… well, we’ve always been tight.”

My stomach rolled with guilt. But I just couldn’t tell her I was struggling with eating. And I definitely couldn’t tell her about Austin.

Standing, I laid my hand on her cheek and said, “Cass. I’m all good. You’re reading too much into things. I’m busier this year with the squad, and you’re not used to it. You’ve also got Jimmy-Don now too. Nothing’s changed, okay? I promise. Especially between us.”

Cass stared at me for a second too long, and I worried she was seeing through my façade. But when she slapped her hand on her thigh and stood up grinning, I knew she was back to her usual self.

Throwing her arms around my neck, she pulled me in for a hug. My eyes clenched and I worked on not panicking. Cass suddenly wrenched me back and eyed me weird. “Fuck, girl! You losing weight? I swear I can feel your friggin’ ribs!”

My voice got stuck in my throat with fear and my pulse began to race. My secret has been found out. It has been found out!

Luckily, Cass dismissed her comment with a wave and, walking out my bedroom door, shouted, “I know this amazing burger joint. We’ll make plans to go out and feed you up! Too much exercise, girl. Just tone it down. I don’t want you gettin’ sick.”

She left me standing in the middle of the room, trying like hell to calm down. That was too close.

Once I’d stopped shaking, I reached for my purse and made my way toward the summerhouse, all the time thinking up a plan to get out of going for burgers.

Austin was waiting for me outside the summerhouse door and immediately led me to Rome Prince’s Dodge. As soon as I entered the truck, the smell of barbeque hit me and my stomach recoiled.

I can’t eat that. I need to make an excuse. Say I’ve already eaten my dinner or something. I can’t face eating in front of him.

Austin jumped in and immediately frowned at my weird behavior. “You okay?”

I brushed back my hair and tried to hide my anxiety. “Sure. Just curious where we’re going. And, erm… I’m afraid I’ve already eaten.”

I pointed to the bag of barbeque in the back.

Austin shrugged. “No problem. Picked it up because I haven’t, and it’s a bit of a drive to where we’re going. I’ll eat your share too. Don’t worry.”

I sighed quietly and tried to relax as we pulled out of the campus. “So where are we going?”

“Out of town,” was all he said.

Switching on the radio, Austin turned it to my favorite rock station. Marianas Trench’s “Ever After” began blasting through the speakers. “I love this song,” I murmured as I stared out the window, watching the world go by.

“Me too. Nice to meet someone who appreciates real music, not that hillbilly shit I can’t get the f**k away from ’round these parts.”

Butterflies swirled in my stomach, and I couldn’t help but smile. I had no idea how sitting here with Austin Carillo, after everything that had happened over the last few weeks, felt… right.

Chapter Twelve

Lexi

An hour later, and seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Austin pulled the truck to stop at a river and hopped out. “We’re here, Pix.”

I scoured our surroundings outside of the window and frowned. I had no idea where ‘here’ was. There was nothing ‘here.’

Austin appeared at my door, and taking my hand, pulled me out of the truck and led me to its bed. He went to put his hands on my waist to lift me up, but I immediately jumped back and Austin startled in surprise. I shrugged and said, “I can climb up myself.”

If he was questioning my strange reaction, he never let it show.

As I stood in the bed of the truck, I saw a blanket already spread out and, when I turned to sit down, I couldn’t help but gasp.

The truck rocked as Austin jumped up with me and he ran his hand through his hair almost in nerves as he stood beside me, staring at the view that had me so entranced.

“Austin… the moon. Why’s it so big?” I whispered in awe.

The orange-hued moon seemed impossibly large, so impossibly close. So close that I could almost touch it; it’s hazy reflection spanning the entire width of the river before us as it sat happily on the horizon. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”