Dial Drunk - Post Malone

17

Austin wakes to the sun filtering in under the curtain above his head. While they had slept they had shifted places and now Levi is curled up in his arms with her back against his chest. She is awake because he watches as she lifts his hand gently. What is she doing? He smiles at her weird morning ritual then his smile drops. She is looking at how his hand shakes. It always shakes a little extra in the mornings. She brings it back down, kissing it softly before she tucks it under her chin, cuddling it and rubbing it gently. "Levi," he hums. He knows she felt the vibrations on her back from his chest. She stills for a second then turns around slowly to face him in his arms.

Holy fuck.

Austin had heard about people like her. The type that only exists in fantasies or written in books. They wake up looking like sunshine, with bright eyes and perfect skin while their lips rest in seductive pouts and their cheeks carry a soft warm flush. Levi is a fucking sight in the morning with her hair, like warm honey, falling in perfect waves around her. He would run his hands through her hair but he is hiding them now, keeping his arms around her but hovering his hands just above her skin in an attempt to trick her into thinking everything is fine. Her eyes search his face, she looks somewhere between scared and worried. "Why do your hands shake like that?" she signs. He lets his eyes slip shut when she runs the pad of her middle finger along his cheekbone in a whispering touch. He can't look at her when he lies. "Stress...work..." he whispers. He is not sure why they shake, maybe it's not a lie and it is just stress.

He opens his eyes and sees her looking at him, a small frown forming between her eyebrows. "I am fine, baby, I promise. I have you now," he whispers. It's true. Now that he has her he has nothing to chase away. He will stop drinking. He will stop. She smiles softly at him, but it does not reach her eyes and he can see that worry and fear for him swirling around in them.

There is a soft knock on the door then Dre's voice calls through the door gently. "Austin...sorry man but we have to get going soon...Austin..."

"Yeah. Thanks, I am getting up," he turns his head and calls out to Dre over his shoulder then looks back at Levi. "That was Dre. I have to get going," he says kissing the tip of her nose and sitting up. He goes to move off the bed but Levi's hand curls around his arm gently so he stops and looks back at her. She looks nervous now. "You said I could ask you anything. You said we needed to communicate. I would like us to be open and honest. Build on what we have," she signs. "Of course. Of course, baby," he says moving closer and cupping her cheeks when her eyes pool slightly. What has got her so upset? So scared? "Levi. You are the most important person in my life. You can speak to me about anything," he says. "I worry about you," she signs. "Hey, now," he says and then grins wide. "There ain't nothin' to worry about," he says. She looks like she wants to say something more and he should perhaps attempt at trying to draw it out of her but he needs to go. His hands are shaking so badly that they make her cheeks wobble slightly. "I promise," he says kissing her quickly and removing his hands just as quickly. "I will see you tonight at the show," he signs quickly and slips out of the room.

He heads to the bunk above his and pulls out the bottle of whiskey he knows he has in there and fills up his silver hip flask, taking a few sips and flexing his hands as the shaking slows like magic. See. It's fine. He grabs the clothing Cecelia had hung up in the bathroom and changes, shoving the hip flask into his waistband and then walking out to the front of the bus. Grassy is usually in his ear about living another day or just bouncing around but he hasn't seen him all morning and then is surprised when he sees he is seated in the car already. He is quiet. Grassy is only quiet when he is sick and even then he has never been this quiet. "I will meet you at the radio station. I need to take Cecelia into town and Levi has an appointment at a studio," Dre says.

"A studio?" Austin asks then looks over at Levi who is walking up to them with Cecelia. "You are going to a studio?" he asks. "Yes. I let a client know that I was here and she asked to meet up to do some writing," she signs. Austin smiles and pulls her into his arms. "Look at you, baby, they can't run fast enough to get a chance to work with you," he says kissing her lips. "Stop," she signs her shoulders shaking as she blushes. "You deserve the recognition," he says. He fucking means it.