“Such a… good boy.” Mrs. Carillo’s eyes closed and she whispered, “Ti voglio bene… Austin… Ciao, Lexi… Lovely… to meet you… Come back soon…” And then she drifted off to asleep.

The tenderness on Austin’s face when he stared at his sleeping, sick momma almost brought me to tears. And when he moved to an old record player in the corner of the room and turned it on, a stray tear escaped my eye and ran down my cheek. The soothing vocals of “Ave Maria” serenaded from the small speaker, and Austin looked at me and shrugged in embarrassment. “It makes her smile,” was all he said.

I lost a piece of my heart to him right then.

Austin motioned me out the door with his hand, and I covertly wiped my cheek. When the door to his momma’s room was shut, I rocked awkwardly on my feet.

“She likes you,” Austin said after a few tense seconds of silence, his lip sucked into the corner of his mouth.

For some reason, his momma liking me made me feel happy. “I like her too. She’s beautiful,” I replied.

Austin nodded, but it seemed like he couldn’t speak. It was like I could almost hear him add, But she won’t be around too much longer.

“You were real sweet with her,” I said and laid a comforting hand on his bulky shoulder.

“Sweet?” Austin said, looking horrified.

“Yeah, tough guy, you were sweet.”

“Well, I guess that sweetness of mine will have to last a bit longer, won’t it?” He began walking to the elevators and glanced back over his shoulder. “You coming, Pix?”

Wrapping my arms over my chest, I asked, “Pix? Why are you calling me Pix?”

Austin pressed the button for the elevator and tipped his head to the side. “My mamma thought you looked like a little dark pixie.” He regarded me intently, a sparkle of humor back in his eyes. “And I gotta agree.”

I tried to act affronted, but all I could think was that pixies were small and thin. They were tiny and skinny. Do Austin and his momma think I’m skinny?

That comment made me feel ten feet tall.

The elevator doors opened, and Austin and I stepped inside the empty car. “So where you parked?” he asked.

“Ground level parking lot. Where are you parked?”

“I’m not. I got the bus here. I ain’t got a ride like some.”

Playing with the sleeves of my shirt pulled tight over my palms, I asked, “You wanna ride back to school?”

Austin lifted his hand and dangling from his fingers were my car keys. He smiled. “I’m driving, so technically, I’ll be giving you a ride.”

My mouth dropped, and I checked my purse that was strapped across my body. The top was open. I looked back up at a smirking Austin.

“How—”

“I grew up in a trailer park, had to steal for money and food, and I was in a gang. Believe me, Pix, picking your pocket wasn’t too hard.” He looked down at the keys and shook his head in disappointment before looking at me again, then added, “But a Prius? Fuck, Pix! With a doctor as a daddy, couldn’t you at least have a Porsche?”

I tried to be pissed. I really did. But I was enjoying myself too damn much to really care.

And with Austin Carillo of all people. Whoever would’ve guessed?

The car pulled to a stop at my assigned parking spot on campus and Austin cut the engine. We hadn’t really spoken the whole way here, just listened to Lacuna Coil in companionable silence. One of my favorite bands.

“Let’s go,” Austin said and got out of the car.

Opening my door, I got out and spoke over the roof. “I can walk from here. I’m okay.”

Austin searched all around him, his face serious. My stomach tightened somewhat. I wondered if he was looking for any Heighters.

“I’m walking you to your sorority house. No arguments.”

Shrugging, I joined him on the footpath. I realized I would like that.

A few minutes later, Austin pulled me to a stop by my sleeve, and I spun around to see a strange expression on his face. “So you gonna meet me tomorrow night?” he said, not meeting my eyes.

Shock filled my every cell. “Meet you tomorrow night?”

Stepping closer, I smelled his unique scent. It reminded me of rainwater. That addicting smell you get after a summer storm when the rain has pounded against hot asphalt. It was bewitching.

“Yeah. You. Me. Out. Away from here. Alone.”

I took a huge swallow and said, “Like… Like a date or something?”

Austin froze and his gaze narrowed on mine. “Like us talking more. Just you and me, on our own… like we did tonight. Not a f**kin’ date. I don’t date.”

I didn’t think it was such a good idea. “Mmm… I don’t—”

“I just wanna hang out again. Talk.”

Tingles ran down my spine and my head felt light. I knew I was blushing deeply, but I nodded slowly in response and whispered, “Yes. I would like to meet you tomorrow.”

Austin seemed to exhale in relief, stepped back from me, and began walking away, only pausing to shout back, “Summerhouse. Seven p.m.”

With my fingers playing over my mouth in nerves, I dipped my head in agreement and walked to my door.

Austin Carillo was the first guy in my life to ever ask me out on… mmm… whatever we were labeling it.

Chapter Eleven

Lexi

“And where are you going all spiffed up?”

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