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“It is a big achievement, Case. You’re always so down on yourself, diminishing your schoolwork.” Eyeing her struggle with the cork, he pulled his hands from the soapy water and toweled them off.
“Austin. It’scommunitycollege. Save your pep talk.” With a wrinkled nose, she shoved the bottle across the counter in his direction.
He wrestled the cork free with a muscled tug and pushed it back. “Say what you want about it, but it’s a solid step toward your first degree.” He dipped his hands back into the soapy water and continued his attack on the pan.
“First degree?” Casey raised her brow as she moved around the counter to open a cabinet door, snagging two champagne flutes from the top shelf. She blew the dust from the plastic and dragged a finger along the one with a suspicious crack down the middle.
“Yeah, of course. You said you were almost done with your associates. A bachelor’s degree is next.” He snagged the flutes from her hands and cringed, tossing them into the sink and rinsing them clean.
“And then onto law school!” She chuckled and accepted the clean cups. Filling them to the brim with champagne, Casey admired the bubbles as they fizzed to the top.
Austin rolled his eyes and circled the counter, gripping her upper arms until she turned to face him. He pressed his lips to hers. “I’m not trying to pressure you. I just know you’re smart and you should keep going.” He handed her a champagne flute, tapping his own to hers. “To you, Casey girl. Congratulations on your exam.”
She sipped and swallowed, her eyes darting back and forth as she pulled the cup from her mouth and set it back on the counter. Biting her bottom lip, she lifted her gaze to his. “Maybe you’re right, Austin.”
“I’m rarely wrong.” He grinned, moving behind the counter to pull bread and butter from the grocery bag. “What do you think, Case? If you could do anything, what would it be? What’s the dream job?” Austin pulled a knife from the drawer and spread butter across the first slice of bread.
She huffed out a breath, tracing the cracks in the countertop with her fingers. “Did you always know you wanted to be a lawyer?”
He tossed the first piece of buttered bread into the clean frying pan. It sizzled as he increased the heat and layered a slice of cheese on top. “Unless you count the brief phase when I was six and wanted to be a garbage man, then yes.” He turned, pulling out the utensil drawer to rummage for a spatula. He tugged one free, and with wide eyes, grinned at the large bite that had been taken out of the rubber.
Casey snorted as her cheeks flushed pink. “Totally Mavis’s.” She shook her head as she reached for it, pulled it from his hands, and tossed it into the trash can. “Try that one.” She pointed to the drawer beside the fridge.
Austin searched, pulling from within an intact spatula, and smiled. He flipped the sandwich, revealing a crisp, golden brown piece of bread—not one drop of cheese out of place.
Casey scrunched her nose and eyed the sandwich. “Do you ever do anything less than perfect, Austin Templeton?”
“Huh?” He snorted and reached for a plate in the cabinet.
“Seriously. It’s kind of exhausting.” She rolled her eyes and drained her glass with a large gulp.
“Are we back to this again?” He flopped the perfect sandwich onto a plate and pushed it in her direction. “It’s just a sandwich, Case.”
Her gaze dropped to her lap, her fingers busy picking pieces of lint from her shorts.
With a sigh, Austin leaned forward on the counter. “Do I do anything less than perfect?” he whispered. “Need I remind you of the reason we met?” He took a bite of her sandwich with a raised brow. “Believe me, I do plenty wrong.”
Her face fell as she sucked in a breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
Austin raised his hand. “I know you didn’t. I just wish you’d tell me what’s really wrong here.” He drained his glass and refilled both their flutes. “Because I know it’s not this tasty sandwich that’s upsetting you.”
She smiled and picked it up, stuffing the first bite in her mouth—the warm cheese coating her tongue in gooey goodness. “It’s good.”
Austin reached forward and wiped the stray cheese from her bottom lip. “I know. I told you I make a mean grilled cheese.” He grinned and pulled back. “I mean it though, Case, you can tell me what’s bothering you. Talk to me.”
Setting her sandwich back to the plate, Casey dropped her elbows to the counter, her fingers twisting the two small silver studs in her ears. She huffed out a breath and lifted her eyes to his. “Where do I start?”
“This moment. What’s bothering you most?”
She snickered. “Oh. Well, I’m floating through life with no direction, barely surviving school.” She shrugged. “I pour drinks for strangers every night... Oh, and I’m totally falling for you when I know you’re just going to leave in a few months.” Her eyes widened as her gaze fell to her lap.
Falling for me...
Austin’s heart hammered in his chest as he reached across the counter and grabbed her hands, squeezing her fingers. “And just where do you think I’m gonna go, Casey girl?” he whispered, pressing his lips to hers.
His soul smiled, kicking the box of feelings for Mavis deeper into the void, further away from his heart.
“Home. You’ll go home, Austin. While Lauren was here, she reminded me that this whole thing”—she waved her arms around—“is just temporary. You’re going to be made a partner at your real law firm and move home to California.”
