Love At First Sight / Post Malone

Chapter 14

"Oh. Right, of course you are. You're Po-"

"I'm sorry, Aria." Austin swiftly cut her off, his voice causing me to furrow my once raised eyebrows.

He was seeing someone. His words confirmed my suspicions as I remained silent, unsure if my lack of sight was currently to my advantage or if it were quite the exact opposite. I tried to control the rate of my breathing, disappointment weaving heavily through me as I almost felt as if someone had punched me right in the stomach. Why was I feeling this way? It's not like Austin and I had known each other very long and he had every right to date whoever the hell he wanted.

"Look, don't mention it. It was just a thought." She said quietly, her feelings clearly hurt over his unintentionally rejection. "Juliana, your fresh ice water is on your bedside table. Can I get you anything else?"

"Uh- n-no. No Aria, thank you so much." I tripped over my words with apprehension, the awkward tension shifting around the room as I could suddenly feel all eyes on me.

"Okay, just buzz the call bell if you need me."

I simply nodded in response, her footsteps trailing off just before I heard Austin rise from his seat to close the door shut. I heard him shuffle around in silence, presumably picking the fallen French fries from the ground before I heard him throw the package into the trash bin and wash his hands at the sink nearby.

"So, I take it your date went well."

There it was. Word vomit. Jesus Juliana, couldn't help yourself, could you?

"My date?" Austin asked, making his way back towards the hospital bed, his warm presence returning as he sank down beside me. "What do you mean? What date?"

"What do you mean? Your date from last night." I stated matter of factly, wondering why he was behaving so clueless all of a sudden.

"Last night? I didn't have a date last night Jules."

"You said you had a dinner thing. That's why you had to leave so soon and didn't come with me during my transfer." I shrugged my shoulders in confusion, a feeling of uncertainty creeping up on me that just maybe I had the wrong idea entirely.

I heard that infamous low chuckle that never failed raised the hairs on the back of my neck while sending a rush of nerves to my core all in the same second.

"Jules I had a business dinner last night. I didn't mention it because you were so proud of me for standing up to my manager. I just didn't have the heart to tell you I got roped into a meeting with some very important people that I couldn't get out of. I was going to tell you about it but- I didn't want you to think less of me." I listened to him clear his throat, his voice dipping in tone as he opened up to me.

"Austin I could never think less of you. I think nothing but good things when it comes to you." I shook my head from side to side, my heart unable to take how highly my opinion mattered to him.

"How come you thought I was on a date last night?" His voice was much lower than it previously was and it held a softness, almost as if he were afraid to hear my answer. His tone was filled with nothing but curiosity as he waited patiently, my cheeks certainly red with just how shy he was making me.

"I-I don't know." I stuttered nervously, "You're wonderful, why wouldn't you be out on a date on a Friday night?"

There was a comfortable pause before he spoke, his words confident yet somehow hesitant at the same time.

"Because the only woman I want to be on a date with hasn't been released from the hospital yet." He almost whispered, the rasp in his voice more prominent than ever as I felt his strong hand grip the side of my waist.