My Player Bestfriend (Book #1)

Introduction:

Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Mary Gordon. And I'm about to tell you something you probably won't want to hear—but need to. Austin Mahone? He's a player. I know, I know. You're probably wondering, "How would she know?" Well, let's rewind.

It all started when Austin moved to La Vernia. That boy and I? Instant connection. We became best friends. Tight. Almost like we were meant to meet. We shared a group—Alex, Robert, Zach, Tyler, Jackie, Sarah, Andrew, Cole. We were the clique. Jackie's my ride-or-die girl, Austin my go-to guy. It was like we had this unspoken bond. And for a while, it was everything.

But then came Taylor. One of Austin's many flings. She decided to pick a fight with the wrong one—me. And Austin? Furious. He defended me at first, but it didn't change the fact that Taylor messed everything up. The dynamic shifted. The trust cracked.

We stopped talking. No fights, no closure—just silence.

Fast forward. Alex tells me Austin's back in town. Staying with him for two weeks. That same familiar ache creeps in. Do I go? Do I not? Curiosity wins. Maybe closure is waiting.

⸻

I walk into Alex's house, familiar and unchanged. Andrew and Cole are lounging on the couch like nothing's different.

"Hey, jerks," I smirk.

"Hey, Mare," Andrew grins. Cole nods. I tell them Alex invited me, and they point upstairs. My heart does this stupid little flutter, but I play it cool.

I push open the door. The room's full. Jackie. Sarah. The boys. And Dave. Everyone's here—except him. Funny how his absence still fills the room.

"Mary!" Jackie nearly tackles me. I laugh, but I'm scanning for him. And he's not here. Yet.

I drop next to Robert on the bed.

"That's Austin's spot," he warns.

"Not anymore," I say, voice sharp with something I won't name.

Then he walks in.

That familiar face. That damn smile.

"Mary, baby. Haven't seen you in forever," he says, with a wink that used to melt me. Now, it makes my stomach twist.

"Nice to see you," I force out.

"It's always nice to see me." Cocky. Confident. Unchanged.

We volley snarky remarks back and forth like old times. But there's a crackle in the air. Static. Everyone feels it.

Then, he says it.

"Well then I guess we're cuddling."

And I let him.

His arms wrap around me. Like they used to. Everyone's teasing, but I tune them out. I'm too busy wondering when things got so complicated.

Sarah brings up the obvious—I debated coming. She knows me too well.

Austin grins. "You know you missed me."

"I didn't," I lie.

We keep dancing around it. The past. The flirtation. The pain. Then, the line.

"Fuck you," I joke.

"Gladly. Where, when, and how hard?" he says.

Laughter. Shock. My face burns.

"You're disgusting."

"You love me."

He kisses my cheek, and the room erupts. Jackie. Sarah. Twitter jokes. But the truth is, it's not funny. Not to me. Not when he used to mean everything.

"Austin should stop," I say.

"Why?" he asks.

"Because it's not going to work on me." I try to sound strong.

"You're adorable, thinking that," he says. "You're wrapped around my finger."

I snap. I get up. Move across the room. I can't breathe next to him.

He whines. Jokes. But then I say it.

"We were best friends."

Everyone freezes.

The room is ice. Austin's voice changes.

"Were?"

"Yes, Austin. Were."

It hurts. It hurts more than it should.

The others jump in, trying to salvage us. But I've had enough. I say things I can't unsay. Names get thrown. I walk out.

The tears come fast. I'm halfway to the door when someone grabs my wrist.

"Boo?" His voice is soft. Cracked. Real.

I can't look at him. I don't want him to see me like this.

"Don't cry," he whispers, pulling me into his arms. His warmth wraps around me like it always has. I melt. Just like always.

"They didn't mean it," he says. "Stop crying. Please."

I press my face into his chest. His heartbeat steadies mine.

"I'm sorry, Austin," I whisper.

"I know. You can't stay mad at me anyway."

I giggle through the tears. Damn him.

He grabs my hand. "Come on, Mare."

We walk back upstairs. No one dares say anything.

He sits. "Come here."

I sit. He pulls me close. His arms around my waist. Like home.

"Adorable," Sarah coos. Phones are out. Pictures are taken. My heart is full and breaking at the same time.

Austin kisses my cheek.

And in that moment, I realize—I still love him. But he's a player. And I'm still the girl who thought she could stay immune.