Dial Drunk - Post Malone

28

The week that follows makes him feel like he is going insane. His highs are too high and his lows are too low. His highs are simple, they are moments spent with Levi. Slipping between her thighs or having her wrap her arms around his waist while her head slips under his chin. They click and fall into an easy relationship and he has never been so close to anyone. Levi shares everything with him, she is an open book. Austin tries too but he has secrets and keeps them tucked away, just for now - he will share them with her one day. Maybe. Moments with Grassy are a high, Dre and Cecilia too. His music, his shows, most of his life, and his promises too are all highs that make him feel good. But, the lows come too - stolen moments in a bathroom or hidden corner, the lies and deception. The pretending.

It is getting harder and harder to hide his drinking from Levi. He no longer smells of whisky and keeps a roll of gum on him at all times, he is also very careful never to let her see what she saw in the hotel bathroom again. But she has started asking questions again and her eyes always search his body when he walks up to her after a day or even an hour apart. He does not drink in front of her now at all, not even a beer in the hopes of keeping her worries at bay. Grassy, too, watches him. Whenever Austin looks over his shoulder, Grassy's eye is on him - so he hides his drinking from him too. Not because he has anything to hide, it's just because Levi and Grassy tend to expect perfection from him. He is just a man for goodness sake.

So with that, his life feels like one big maze of hidden plans and attempting to balance the man at the end of a silver flask with the man Levi thinks she is building a life with. It only serves to drive Austin insane and spark his paranoia - one day, one day soon, Levi will inevitably leave him.

~

He heads to the bus after a long day with just enough time to spend a moment with Levi before he has a dinner he needs to make an appearance at. He has no engagements tomorrow and has planned a day just for Levi. All his focus will be on her. She stands by his side supporting him quietly, never complaining, always proud, and so now that he has the chance he wants to make it all about her. She fucking deserves it. He stopped to get beautiful flowers for her and a thin gold necklace. He will be pulling out all the stops and showering her with attention.

They pull up to the bus and he frowns when he sees a large black truck parked near it. Strange. This is a heavily monitored area and no one comes in or out without his or Dre's knowledge. What's going on and who owns that truck? Austin climbs out of the SUV and walks around the truck, inspecting it. He does not know who this truck belongs to. Feeling a little uneasy he takes a picture of it and sends it to Dre asking him to follow up. His paranoid mind is making him fret. He grips the flowers and chain then steps onto the bus, freezing when he sees Levi sitting on the couch with Colter Wall.

Fuck.

They are in deep discussion and don't notice Austin at first but then Levi's eyes flick to him and she breaks out in a bright grin. "Look who showed up out of the blue," she signs excitedly and rushes up to Austin. She looks excited, too excited for Austin's liking. "Hello, Colter," Austin says putting out his hand and smiling. He hates that he can't hate the guy and hates even more that he wants to hate him. He had always looked up to Colter. But, why the fuck is he here and why the fuck does he feel so threatened by him? "Hey, Austin. Great to see you again," Colter says shaking Austin's hand. "Are those for me?" Levi signs smiling as she looks at the flowers. Austin slips the necklace into his pocket and then holds the flowers out to her. "Yes, baby," he says smiling at her when her eyes light up.

"They are beautiful. I have been spoilt very much today. Like a princess," she signs then takes the flowers, kissing him quickly and turning to head to the sink where another bouquet is already sitting. A much bigger, more beautiful bouquet. They are from Colter no doubt. What the fuck is Colter playing at? And why the fuck is he here?