Page 7 of Make No Mistake

“What about you, Austin? You’re pretty young to be a director of marketing. You must be good at what you do.”

“He’s the best.” Carter smirked at him. “He’s started social media campaigns for a few of the newer apps we’ve developed, and if things keep going at the pace they are, we won’t have to be doing consulting and developing for other companies’ ideas for much longer.”

I looked between them and smiled. “I didn’t know that was the goal, but that’s awesome!”

“Well Brandon and I have a list of programs and apps we want to work on but didn’t have enough to sustain a company without doing the outside work.”

“So you guys could actually be home more?” He nodded. “Great! Liv and Aubrey are going to love that!”

Aubrey nodded and grabbed Carter’s arm. “Enough work talk! Our table’s ready and we’re here to relax not conduct interviews.”

Austin and Carter gave each other a look and laughed, which confused me.

“We get this from her every time we go out.” Carter chuckled before giving Aubrey a kiss on her head.

The size of the group forced us to take a long table. Luckily, Dillan was on the opposite end of the table with Brandon and Liv. I was bummed I wouldn’t get to talk to them, but Carter and Austin kept me entertained through the meal. Between their commentary and fake dialogue between other tables and their attempts at using the correct utensils, I was bordering on inappropriate laughter the whole time.

Aubrey’s failed efforts to keep them behaved ended by the time our entrees arrived.

“Those two together are like watching toddlers.” She had her arms crossed over her chest, but I could see a smile slip from time to time.

“You sound like your mom.”

I received a death glare for that comment, but she loosened up through the rest of the meal. Aubrey was groomed and primed for high society in Chicago, but when she moved in with Brandon during our junior year of high school, she learned to relax. There were moments, like tonight, when her previous life showed through.

While the guys were distracted with their monstrous lava cakes—that were intended for sharing but they took that as a challenge to devour them in less than five minutes—I leaned over to Aubrey.

“Thanks for making come out tonight. I needed this.”

She shot me a huge smile. “I told you so.”

Her favorite words.

“Austin seems to like you. Any thoughts?”

I stole a look across the table, but the guys were still distracted and oblivious to our conversation.

“He’s definitely cute.”

She threw her hand to her chest. “That’s the most you’ve said about any guy in months!”

I nudged her and shook my head. I didn’t want anyone listening in on this.

“I’m not saying anything more than he’s cute.”

“Mckayla.” I looked over and saw Austin watching me. I really, really hoped he hadn’t heard. “Carter mentioned you surf.”

I nodded waiting for him to continue.

“It’s been a while since I’ve gone out around here, so I was wondering if you could show me some good places.”

I smiled and nodded. “You’re scared aren’t you?”

“Well, I considered myself a local when I was going to school, but I don’t want to go into territory I shouldn’t.”

Most people didn’t know that the majority of the prime surfing areas were not exactly open to all. They might be public beaches, but show up to a new beach and cut in on the wrong person and you’re in trouble. It nothing like gangs or anything, it’s more of a respect thing. Since he was new he might not have a warm welcome.

“I guess.”

Austin smirked at my attitude. “Well, I don’t want to put you out or anything.”

I looked over at Carter and saw him smiling. “How terrible is he?”

They both looked shocked. “What? He’s not bad.”

“Then why don’t you take him out?”

That stumped them both. Aubrey elbowed me in the ribs. “You know this area better than Carter. He mostly goes farther south.”

Carter began nodding quickly. I rolled my eyes and laughed. “Okay.”

“Okay? You’ll go out with me?” Austin looked pretty surprised. “I mean, not like a date or anything. Just two friends going surfing.”

“Right.” I hadn’t felt this awkward since … well, before dinner when Dillan used that line. What a night this had turned out to be.