“Now that you’ve offered your support, I’m going up for a shower,” Connor said, breaking the uncomfortable silence in the room. He didn’t do it to spare anyone aside from himself.
Connor stepped into the hall. Laurence and Nick bickered outside as they unloaded the boot of the car. He was surprised that Trevor had convinced Laurence to stay out there and help Nick; he thought he’d storm in here, bursting with curiosity.
Light footsteps pattered up the stairs after Connor. He glanced over his shoulder and scowled to see Austin following him.
“You’ve got some thick skin,” Connor said. He didn’t want to waste his energy on even a glare. He didn’t want to give Austin the satisfaction of seeing how upset he was at the sight of him. See how deep his betrayal had cut.
“Shut up,” Austin muttered. He shouldered past Connor, marching straight to his room.
Connor’s jaw worked over, infuriated, as he watched Austin stride to the bed and lie down.
Connor stood in the doorway, not stepping in. “Get out.”
Austin glanced at him, then returned his gaze to the ceiling.
“Austin, fuck off.”
“No.”
Connor resisted the urge to go over there and drag Austin off the bed. “We’re not getting back together. We’re not friends. We’re notanything.”
“Just get in and close the door, moron.” Austin cut him a glare.
Connor stared hard at Austin, not moving. Austin used to get his way with Connor all the time. Not because Connor was a pushover—he wasn’t—but because he never cared to tell him no. The only thing he’d adamantly held his ground on was waiting before they had sex. And by god, was he glad he’d done that now. Even with Austin glaring from the bed, Connor’s gaze was drawn toward the window and the ocean. He wondered if Adonis was waiting down there now. For Connor to meet him like he’d promised.
“Oh, for—” Austin got up.HegrabbedConnorand dragged him into the room, shutting the door and standing with his back to it. “I want to help you,” he hissed.
“If you wanted to help, you would have done that months ago.”
“I couldn’t. Okay? I couldn’t, and I don’t mean about the court cast either.”
“Then what do you mean?” Connor asked, at a loss.
Austin glanced nervously over his shoulder like he was afraid someone might be listening. “The case is the least of your problems, trust me. And I want to help, but you’ll have to start listening to me if that’s going to happen.”
“So if we get back together, you’ll help me? Is that what you’re saying?” Connor asked. And he knew that his voice came out mean, but he was more than glad for it. Fuck Austin. Fuck his cheating ass. Fuck Connor for caring so much about him for so long.
Austin reached out. Connor immediately stepped away, remembering the little stunt he’d pulled earlier. “How many times do I have to say it, Austin? This isn’t happening.”
Anger filled Austin’s eyes. “Why do you have to be so stubborn?” he snapped.
Footsteps came up the stairs. Connor recognised the heavier footfalls and moved around Austin to open the door before Trevor could even knock.
“Austin, Ben said you got a lift here with him. He’s heading out now,” Trevor said.
“Why were you here with my dad?” Connor asked, another bout of irritation filling him. They’d never met while Connor was dating him, and his dad had never had more than a vague interest in Connor’s life, even at the best of times. Even if Austinhadintroduced himself to Ben, why would he offer him a lift here? Where had they even met when his dad was usually stuck in his lab?
Cessair. It was the only answer Connor could think of. He bet Cessair was behind the lawyer that had screwed him, too, even if he still didn’t understand why.
“You want to give me your new number?” Austin asked.
“No.”
“Then you’ll just have to guess,” Austin snapped. He stormed past Trevor, his light body making a louder ruckus going down the stairs than Trevor’s heavy one did coming up them.
“Are you okay?” Trevor asked Connor.
“All good.”
