Page 140 of The Forever Vault

Remy held the door open for the exiting Van der Berg and Fox baby caravan. I assumed the one guy I didn’t recognize that left with the Foxes was from the same company as Remy, but I didn’t have time to ask because my phone was ringing.

“Hey, babe, congrats on the bronze medal!” I tried to sound chipper.

“You didn’t answer my text. What happened?”

“Yes, okay? Erika’s in labor.”

I watched and heard him tell O.

“Are you talking to Cam?” Austin asked, stepping over the chairs to reach my row.

“You’re not missing the medal ceremony, Cam, and Austin stayed to watch.”

“Austin stayed? Is he there with you?” Cam asked.

“Yeah.”

“Give him your phone.”

I did and decided not to remind them that they both had their own phones.

“They’ve already left. I’m watching you get the medal," Austin said.

I had to agree, and hoped Austin could convince O to stay.

“No one’s ever missed an Olympic medal ceremony.”

I wasn’t sure if that was true, but Austin made it sound good.

“It’s your first individual gold medal. You’re not missing it. You’d really leave and take that moment away from your family? From me?”

Oh shit, the guilt card. Snap. I waited with fingers crossed to see if Austin’s tactic paid off. After all, it would only be about twenty minutes before we left. Surely, Erika wouldn’t give birth that quickly. I wasn’t an expert, but I thought it usually took hours.

“Thank you,” Austin said, pausing to listen. “I won’t regret it. It was my decision. I don’t need to see my sister’s dilated…vagina.”

I could hear O’s laughter.

“Trust me. She has Isaak and our parents. She’ll be fine.”

Another pause.

“Yes, Remy’s here, I’m fine. Now get off your phone. You just won a gold medal, it looks weird!”

I sat down, feeling relieved, only to notice that Heather and Cecilia were staring at us. “They’re staying?” they both asked in unison.

I nodded and Austin said, “Yeah, they’re staying.”

“I would’ve whooped his ass if he left before the ceremony,” Cecilia said. “No offense to your family, Austin.”

“None taken, ma’am. I would’ve been right there with you.”

I tried to not think of Austin spanking O, but the power of suggestion was too much. It was also a bit taboo, since they were pretty private about their sex life. I couldn’t help it. Whenever I saw a gay couple, I always wondered if they switched, or if they were strict with their roles. They just weren’t quite as open as the rest of our friends, which was fine.

Curiosity killed the cat. Curiosity killed the cat.

“I still can’t believe Orion won the gold.” Austin brought me back to reality.

“He’s put in the work,” I said, questioningly.