Yes, Sir

6.8

•- Laine Bennett -•

Synonyms. A joyous term that gave so many different choices of words that I could use to my advantage for the current state of mind I was containing; anxious, jumpy, tense, highly strung, nervous, agitated, timorous, there was not a word I could not list in relation to the current wave of uneasiness wafting through the entirety of my body.

Austin and I were released from work moments ago, and on our way to his apartment to change from the grimy work clothes that smelled of poor coffee and dried blood from filing papers with a little too much of a sharp edge. Although the latter only pertains to me I'm sure.

My leg was violently shaking as Austin pulls into his apartment, and the tenseness in my shoulders was just beginning.

I feel Austin's hand gently rest on my knee, causing the excessive jumping to pause momentarily.

"Lainey, there is nothing to worry about. I met your family and it was perfectly fine," he shrugs nonchalantly as if the opinion of his family truly didn't make or break this entire situation.

Chris, Eric, and the kids were one thing. They were forced onto me, but not even in the slightest form of bad. This side of his family however, the more immediate side, could judge our working and romantic relationship and Austin could easily call it quits if all goes to hell tonight.

"Austin," I deadpan the sentence as I try not to remember the fateful day of Thanksgiving, "I blew you in my bedroom while my family sat in the kitchen."

Austin, not being able to contain his laughter, erupts into the loudest and wildest fit of overpowering laughter as he pulls the car into park. I sat impatiently waiting for his snorting laugh to diminish to nothing.

Once it does, he lifts his ring clad finger, which I'd forgotten he owned out of comfortability to his hands, in a PG way, and he wipes off a tear from his cheek.

"Best head I ever got too," he smiles, causing my eyes to roll to the back of my head as I unbuckle my seatbelt.

I go to open the door, but the sound of the lock rehabilitating itself casts my eyes back over to Austin who now supported a warming smile, "Lainey, my parents are nothing like you'd expect. My father can be a misogynistic man sometimes, but that's only because he was brought up with Chris and naturally, he still points out guys to the man even though he's married with two kids. And you've met my mother, she adores you. She told me to keep you around, and I'll be damned she was right. You know Chris, and Eric, the kids will be there for your entertainment, all you need to worry about his my brother, Adam."

I gulp down air as I try to figure out at least the look of him before the quick memories of Austin's confession just months ago.

I feel my head lower and I could tell Austin's body had tensed dramatically. His hand rests carefully on my cheek, drawing my attention back to him. His features were painted with worry as I lean into his soft palm.

"So," I begin with annunciation to each word, "If he's there, Hannah will be too."

Austin's thumb grazes my cheek soothingly as his head falls. He mumbles profanity under his breath before meeting my eyes again.

"I'm not sure. I didn't want to worry you, or bring up the past, or really do anything that could make you change your mind tonight. Please, forgive me," he pleads softly like this would be the breaking point of our relationship.

I smile faintly before covering the back of his hand with mine, "Austin, you do not have to apologize to me. I'm not going to leave you any time soon. At least let me get some money out of this first," I try to joke, which only causes to corners of his lips to curve upwards so I continue, "Yes, this woman makes me uncomfortable for what she did to you especially, but trust me when I say, there is not a bone in my body that wants to leave your side tonight. I'm nervous, a little scared, and sure, booking it for the woods to live amongst the wildlife has most definitely crossed my mind, but I'm going to be fine, and so are you."