Then You Saw Me by Carrie Aarons

20

Taya

“You’re late.”

It’s the first thing Austin’s grandfather says when he greets him, and I get the vibe that this whole affair is going to be awkward.

When Austin asked me to drive up to Webton in the middle of the week, I was pretty shocked. We were sitting at the kitchen table eating lunch together, he’d surprised me and picked up subs from a place I liked in the Commons, and he mentioned his grandfather’s retirement party. Then, he asked if I would go with him.

I’m not sure if it’s because he didn’t want to make the drive alone or because we haven’t left each other’s sight since the night we first had sex. Or maybe it’s because, now that I’m here and seeing his family, I realize these people are sharks out for blood. Yeah, I wouldn’t want to attend this thing solo either.

“Good to see you, too. Happy retirement.” Austin hands his grandfather a long-shaped gift bag in hunter green, and I know that there is a priceless scotch in there because he told me on the ride up.

“And you brought a date. To your grandfather’s party. Trying to upstage me?” His grandfather lifts a judgmental, bushy white eyebrow.

I feel my insides cower but paste an innocent smile on my face and extend my hand. “Mr. Van Hewitt, congratulations on all of your hard work. My name is Taya, I actually grew up in Webton. What you’ve done in this town and for it is a great accomplishment.”

The elder head of the family puffs out his chest at the compliment. “Well, thank you. Even if he did bring an uninvited guest, my grandson sure does know how to pick them pretty.”

God, gross. Austin reaches for my hand, laces his fingers through mine, and squeezes. Kind of as if he’s saying, I’m sorry about this, but thank you for being here. The secret form of body language meant only for me makes my heart skip a beat.

“We’re going to go say hi to the family.” Austin gives him a tight smile and leads me away by the hand.

But instead of going to see his family or be introduced to his parents, he pulls me into the hallway of the restaurant where his grandfather’s party is taking place. Gino’s, a local Italian catering company, is known for its penne vodka and cannolis. I’ve been here a number of times for various events but in a room full of Van Hewitt’s, I don’t feel much like chowing down or dancing. Not that they’re playing music that’s fit for anything but a funeral.

Austin pulls me in, his lips pressed against my temple, as he hugs me like I might be some escape from these people. “I should not have brought you here. These people are horrible.”

I chuckle into his chest, breathing in the scent of sage and cedar. “At least I have no desire to become a Van Hewitt now.”

He pulls back, assessing my expression, and then throws his head back and laughs. “Now, of all times, you decide to not only make fun of yourself but also my family and their ego? I mean, are you not perfect?”

The way my soul rises out of my body’s, dies, and goes to heaven at him thinking I’m perfect … the boob sweat is real. Although, anytime he looks at me nowadays, I start sweating. Because it’s either one of two ways, with a smile on his face because of something I’ve said or with desire so strong it nearly bowls me over.

I guess you could say we’ve been seeing each other? I’m not sure if that’s the right word, but for the last five days, things have kind of just fallen into place without us having a conversation about it. Since I woke up in his bed Saturday morning, after the most earth-shattering sex I’ve ever had, we’ve been inseparable. He refused to let me leave his attic bedroom, instead making a very convincing argument as to why I should stay there all day when he moved down my body and put his mouth between my thighs.

We spent the morning in bed, which bled into the afternoon, and by the time Bevan found us while wondering if I was going to the house party down the street, it was nearly nine p.m. Needless to say, the girls are thrilled. When they found out, they texted me every other minute about the sex, what he’s like, and everything in between.

I’m not one to kiss and tell, but I couldn’t not fill my best friends in on the fact that Austin Van Hewitt is, in fact, a sex god. Holy smokes, the guy is … I don’t know. Legendary? That seems a ridiculous word to use, but it’s the only one that comes to mind.

The sex. My god, the sex. I have to press the backs of my hands to my reddening cheeks in the middle of this retirement party just thinking about it. Austin is intense. Demanding. Dirty. I was not expecting that from the guy who washes his dishes immediately after eating off of them. I knew he was a good kisser, but Jesus Christ, I’ve never had better, more mind-blowing, more orgasmic sex. Obviously, my experience is limited, and he’s two years older. But he’s the type of guy I will compare everyone else to going forward.

Not that I hope I have to. I’m aware we’ve only been good and solid for four days, but those four days have felt better than any in my life. Which is why it’s not too strange that he asked me to come with him today, especially since I’m from his hometown.

I shrug, flipping my hair. “I guess I really am.”

“If only we could just drive back to school and forget all of these bastards.” Austin rests his forehead on mine.

“Can’t we?” I suggest, very much wanting to be in his bed right now.

“Not if I don’t want to hear about it for the next twenty years.” He rolls his eyes. “We should get back in there. I have to make appropriate appearance time or my dad will bring the thunder.”

He straightens, rolls his shoulders, and I see the Van Hewitt mask slide into place. I can’t believe I haven’t realized it all these years. He’s not the Austin I truly know and want to be with when he’s in this mode of carrying his family’s last name.

We make our way around the room, fielding questions from his relatives ranging from snarky to downright rude. The whole lot of Van Hewitts is just competing against each other at what should be a laid-back family party. I know my brood has issues, but Christmas isn’t a volleyball match of conversation to see who dropped the most money on a car this year or who opened more businesses.

Austin hasn’t let go of my hand, and I’m not sure if he’s holding it because he wants to feel my fingers laced with his or because he needs an anchor in the middle of all these assholes.

“Son, nice to see you showed up, though you’ve avoided me all night.” I turn as Austin does and see Mr. Van Hewitt, his father, standing before us.

Of course, I’ve seen the guy around town, I’ve seen most of these people around town. Especially Austin’s two cousins who were in my grade, Miley and Cassandra. Their jaws nearly hit the floor today when they saw me walking around with him. Those two were so snooty and popular growing up, simply because they had money. It wasn’t like I, or Bevan, or Amelie, were lacking for attention in school. But we were second-tier popular, under the shiny stars of the kids who would peak after we all grew up and left our hometown.

But Austin’s father, well, you’d have to live under a rock in Webton not to know him. He owns one of the biggest real estate firms in the area, is the top donor to the high school basketball teams, and is generally involved in any big construction project you hear about in town.

“Dad.” Austin sticks out his hand and his father shakes it.

Then he leans into the woman standing next to his father, kisses her Botoxed and filled cheeks, then straightens. “Mom.”

His parents look like they’re attending a comedy show put on by the grim reaper. Either that or his mother is a walking poster child for how smiling gives you laugh lines.

“This is Taya North. She grew up here in Webton, and I’m currently subletting the room in her and her friends’ house,” he explains.

His father gives me a once-over, then dismisses me without a single word. The mother barely even lets her gaze wander over me.

“I want you to talk to Uncle Gene tonight about possibly coming in on the strip mall deal. They could use you on the project after graduation, but right now they’re ramping up and—”

“Dad, we talked about me helping Aunt Miriam at the TV network. I want to put my degree to good use.” Clearly, by the tone of both their voices, this is a fight they’ve had many times.

As best as I can, I watch Austin in my peripheral. His face is stone, the frustrated clip to his voice betraying how he feels about his father’s request. I know he’s a radio major, obviously, but it never occurred to me that his family would try to stop him from going into that field. I guess this is what he means when he says the last name comes with strings.

Now that I think about it, I don’t know a single Van Hewitt in Webton who works outside of the family businesses.

“And I told you, you had four years to play around with your little passion and then it was time to get to work.” His father sneers at him.

“Dad.” The word is a barely hidden growl of a warning.

“Let’s not do this here.” His mother lays a hand on his father’s arm. “We don’t want the family getting any sense of tension, do we now?”

I want to roll my eyes at how Stepford Wives they’re being but try to remain neutral. It’s clear that I’m not the only person in this pairing with mommy/daddy issues.

“Your uncle is expecting your call. You need to respect that.” His father’s parting shot is a command.

Austin lets out an audible sigh, then turns to me. The Van Hewitt mask has fallen, and in those captivating eyes I see only the guy whose bed I’ve spent four days barely getting out of.

“Come on, let’s sneak out.”

“Won’t you get in trouble? They haven’t even cut that massive cake, which I’m sure none of your girl cousins will even eat.” Such a shame, since the frosting looks three layers deep.

“Nah, no one will notice. I showed my face, they got their punches in, so we’re golden.” The way his sarcasm doesn’t reach his eyes makes my heart hurt.

“Let’s go then. You can blame it on me, one of Webton’s flooziest.”

Austin leans in close as we exit the catering hall, his lips tracing the outer shell of my ear. “Only for me.”

* * *

There are a few main shopping areas or streets to be seen on in Webton, but none more than the Eastwick Mall. With its giant food court, floors and floors of stores, and warm place to adventure from the cold in the harsh Upstate New York winters, it’s always been a hot spot in town. Starting from the age of twelve, many a weekend nights were spent here. The girls and I would roam around in search of other Webton pre-teens or teens to hang out with or boys to flirt with. Or we’d catch a movie in the theater attached to the mall, or see who could fit the most pretzel bites in their mouth, or challenge each other to walk up the down escalator.

My youth had been spent here, but we would definitely see people we knew. What would they say when they saw me with Austin? I am relatively unknown in this town, other than being the sister of that girl who was going to the Olympics.

“Why do we need to come here?” I hedge, anxious as we walk into the building.

Austin and I fall into step side by side, but he doesn’t reach for my hand like he did at his grandfather’s party. A sense of rejection nestles into my bones like an old, prickly friend.

“I just have to pick up this mic I put on hold at an electronics store, it’s pretty rare, and I found it here. Sorry, we’ll get going soon.” He smiles down at me, and I get distracted by the sandy blond stubble on his chin.

“Well, I’ll have to get a cinnamon pretzel now that we’re here. Seeing as you didn’t let me stay for cake,” I joke as we walk through the mall.

“Remember the milkshake stand that had those awesome peanut butter chocolate milkshakes? I miss that place.” Austin references one of the most popular stands in the mall from our childhood.

Two girls from Austin’s grade pass us, then do a double take. I see them before he does, but he clocks them when they start to whisper loudly about what “that girl,” meaning me, is doing with Austin Van Hewitt.

That’s when he seems to snap out of the haze he’s been in since we left Gino’s, and I feel his hand reach for mine. The moment our fingers lock, my whole body is at peace. My skin flushes, my heart begins to beat double time, the butterflies in my stomach take off in flight.

We grab Austin’s microphone from an electronics store that has me scared to touch anything inside and then begin to make our way back to the car.

But as we walk into the department store we parked near, the pair walking toward us are two people I never expected to see on my short trip up here.

“Taya?”

My mother looks at me like she can’t believe I’m really standing in front of her, and Kathleen looks back and forth between my companion and me.

“Oh, woah. Hi, Mom. Hi, Kath.” I’m a little bit in shock, seeing them here when I wasn’t going to even drop in to check up with my family.

We hug and kiss, and the actions feel forced. Austin stands where he is until I introduce him, and he gives my mother and sister friendly smiles.

“Nice to meet you,” he says, holding my hand.

Kathleen won’t stop staring at the place where we’re joined.

“I didn’t know you were coming into town,” Mom says, smoothing her hair behind her ear.

She’s flustered, and I’m not sure if it’s because I caught her off guard or if it’s because I’m the daughter she never really connects with.

“Austin had a thing, and he asked me to come with him. Didn’t want to bother you guys if you had a training or practice or something.”

I try to keep the bitterness out of my tone, but it still creeps in. Austin squeezes my hand, as if he can sense I’m in an awkward family conversation now. How does he know, this soon, just what I’m feeling?

“Oh my gosh, honey, you could have called us! We would have loved to see you.” Mom laughs as if I’m making some sort of joke.

Meanwhile, they’ve barely called to check in since I got back to college in January.

“How is everything going, Kath?” I nod, asking the question out of politeness.

My sister blinks. “Good. I have a competition in London next week.”

Nothing about her personal life or how she’s actually feeling, just all about the horses. This is why we will never understand each other.

“Well, we have to get back to campus.” I shuffle my feet.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to grab coffee and sit and chat? Austin and I are in no rush. Normally, a girl would be so excited to introduce a guy like Austin to her family. A normal family would joke and walk the mall shopping, maybe do a stupid little try-on like those montages in the movies.

But we’re not most families. I feel disconnected, like an outsider to the people who are my blood. Now that I think about it, Austin and I have that in common.

“Okay. It was so good to see you, sweetheart. Let’s chat this week, okay?” Mom gives me a bright smile.

Yeah, right. She’s going to London with my sister, which means she’ll forget she ever promised that.

This trip to Webton has shown me some new things about Austin, but it has also exposed sides of me that I don’t know if I am ready to reveal to him.

As we get in the car, part of me wishes we could have just stayed in our Prospect Street bubble forever.