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“Ugh, whatever.” She glowered and rolled down the window from the passenger seat as the sun peeked through the clouds for the first time that morning.
Austin squeezed her thigh. “You okay?” He pulled the sunglasses from the top of his head and dropped them on his nose.
“Umm, yeah. Why?” She tipped her head back, letting her cheek rest against the seatbelt strap. Her heart flipped in her chest, toying with the revelation that struck her earlier.
What do you see in me?
The traffic came to a standstill. “You seem weird. Talk to me.”
“What if your sister doesn’t like me?” The words vomited from her lips, tumbling outward in a rush.
He grinned. “That’s what you’re worried about? That she won’t like you?” He snorted. “Case, she’s gonna love you!” He squeezed her leg again.
Unease gripped her gut and she frowned. “You’re gonna make me say it, aren’t you?”
He wrinkled his nose. “I’m so confused. Say what?” The traffic inched forward, and he released the brake, the car jerking forward ten feet before stopping again.
“I mean... I’m just not really like you, or her. I’m afraid she won’tapproveof me, you know?” Casey dropped her gaze to the floor, peering at the seam about to split in the toe of her shoe.
“Approveof you? What the hell are you talking about?” He yanked the sunglasses from his face and dumped them in his lap.
She huffed out a breath. “Austin, come on. You’re like this hot-shot lawyer. Your brother is a freaking doctor. And your sister owns this fancy restaurant in Los Angeles. I don’t even know what your parents do... but geez. I’m a fucking bartender taking gen eds at community college!” The distress poured from her lips, every ounce of insecurity tumbling from the truth in her heart.
“Where the hell did that come from?” Austin widened his eyes, reaching over to grasp her hand. He tugged her fingers to his lips and pressed a kiss to her palm. “Casey girl?”
Tears burned the back of her lids. “Never mind, just ignore me,” she choked out. “It’s just something stupid Mavis said.”
He shook his head and furrowed his brow. “First off, do me a favor and never listen to Mavis.” He tugged at her hand. “And second, there’s not a chance in hell I’m going to ignore you.” Austin squeezed her fingers, pressing her hand into his heart. “Tell me what’s really bothering you here.”
Anger flared, a mounting realization stirring in her soul. “I’m not good enough for you, Austin Templeton.”
“Who are you? And what did you do with my girlfriend?”
Casey rolled her eyes and pulled away.
I sound like a freaking psychopath right now.
“Casey,” he whispered, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “Look at me. Please?”
With her sleeve, she wiped the offending tears away from her cheeks and turned. His head swiveled, working to balance the heated conversation and the line of traffic as the terminal approached.
“You are absolutely everything to me, Casey girl. In every way that matters, you are my equal.” He tugged her hand back to his lips.
She scrunched her nose. “Be real, Austin. You’re like this wealthy, sexy, successful man with a glass castle on Michigan Avenue. And I’m just this paycheck-to-paycheck bartender failing general education courses at community college. You see the difference, right?”
“Is that what this is about? Your test today?”
She scrunched down in her seat and rested her knees against the dashboard like a child. “No... I don’t know. I just can’t help thinking that your family won’t like me, that you should be with someone better. Someone more accomplished.”
The car crept beneath the overhang of the terminal. “Case, hear me when I tell you that you’re flat-out wrong on this.” He took a deep breath and exhaled. “People like you, people like Mavis... you’re survivors. I had every advantage growing up. I fully admit that.” He steered the car into an empty spot beside baggage claim five and six and waved to his sister. “If anything, you’rebetterthan me. You’ve accomplished way more.” He leaned over and placed a kiss on her damp cheek. “Let’s talk about this later, okay?”
Casey nodded and unbuckled her seatbelt. Plastering a false smile on her lips, she opened the door.
What did I just do?
––––––––
“So, Casey, have youlived in Chicago long?” Lauren shoved a bite of the Cheesecake Factory’s signature cobb salad in her mouth before wiping her lips with a satin napkin.
