He hated how small his voice sounded.
“Oh, honey.” Ava placed her arm across Austin’s shoulders. “Rachel asked us not to say anything. You have to understand, she has lived nothing but cancer and treatments for the last year. She just wanted a time where nobody treated her differently.”
“Fuck, Ava. I don’t know if I can do this.” Austin sighed.
“Do you like her?”
“Of course. Way too much for the short time we’ve known each other.”
“Well, I guess you need to decide if pursuing a relationship with Rachel is worth the risk.” Ava shrugged .
“This whole situation …” Austin swallowed a sob. “Angie ...” He put his head in his hands and cried. He felt like an idiot for losing it in front of Ava, but she just sat there and rubbed small circles on his back, giving him time to get it all out. “I can’t fall in love with someone who could die,” Austin whispered more to himself than to Ava as he wiped his hand across his eyes.
“ Oh, Austin.” Ava sighed. “What did Rachel say after you found out?”
Austin shook his head. “I didn’t give anyone a chance, I just walked away.”
Ava took his hand and squeezed. “I think it is important to remember that you aren’t the only one who is vulnerable in this situation.”
Austin nodded. “I know.”
“Honey, losing Angie was devastating. God, she shone so bright, and her being gone is going to leave a void, but you did everything you could to try to keep her here longer. It was out of your control, Austin, but this isn't, and if you care for Rachel like you say you do, you need to sit down and talk to her.”
“Somewhere along the way the real you—the vibrant, happy man—took a vacation. It’s time to find your way back. You can't keep hiding behind your work, Austin. It's time for you to learn to live again, for both of you.” Ava stood up and kissed him on the head.
Austin sat there for several more minutes before he went to his room and lay down. He had a lot to think about, and he was emotionally exhausted.
When he woke, he realized he’d been asleep for hours. Obviously he had needed it. Austin could hear voices in the living room, so he decided to get up and see what was going on. He needed to apologize for running away.
Talia was the first one to see Austin as he entered the great room. “Hey,” she said softly as she pulled him into a hug. “You okay?”
“I think so. Shit, Talia … I’m so sorry I walked away like that.” Austin looked around and saw someone was missing. “Where is Rachel?”
“She’s okay. She just went for a walk through the village.” Talia squeezed his arm as Trevor walked over to him.
Austin prepared himself for big brother’s wrath, but Trevor just put his arm around Austin and pulled him into a sideways hug. “Talia told me about your sister. I’m so sorry.” Trevor swallowed hard before continuing. “I can’t imagine … I couldn’t even when Rachel was so sick. I get it. I understand.” Trevor nodded and clapped Austin on the back as he headed into the kitchen.
Chelsea, Ava , and Talia started heating up dinner as the guys ventured out onto the balcony. They each drank their beers in silence, which had to have been quite a feat for Nick. The mood was laid back, almost reflective.
Shortly before dinner was ready, Rachel walked through the door, cheeks flushed from the cold. The room seemed to stop as everyone looked at her. Austin wanted to go to her and pull her into his arms. He knew he owed her an apology for the way he had acted, but there were too many eyes right now.
Austin’s eyes locked with Rachel’s, and they seemed to have a silent understanding, and if her subtle smile was any indication, He was thinking she just might listen to what he had to say.
As soon as dinner was over, Austin approached Rachel. “Can we talk?”
“I’m kind of tired, Austin, but I was hoping you would be willing to spend the day with me tomorrow. There is something I
“Oh, honey.” Ava placed her arm across Austin’s shoulders. “Rachel asked us not to say anything. You have to understand, she has lived nothing but cancer and treatments for the last year. She just wanted a time where nobody treated her differently.”
“Fuck, Ava. I don’t know if I can do this.” Austin sighed.
“Do you like her?”
“Of course. Way too much for the short time we’ve known each other.”
“Well, I guess you need to decide if pursuing a relationship with Rachel is worth the risk.” Ava shrugged .
“This whole situation …” Austin swallowed a sob. “Angie ...” He put his head in his hands and cried. He felt like an idiot for losing it in front of Ava, but she just sat there and rubbed small circles on his back, giving him time to get it all out. “I can’t fall in love with someone who could die,” Austin whispered more to himself than to Ava as he wiped his hand across his eyes.
“ Oh, Austin.” Ava sighed. “What did Rachel say after you found out?”
Austin shook his head. “I didn’t give anyone a chance, I just walked away.”
Ava took his hand and squeezed. “I think it is important to remember that you aren’t the only one who is vulnerable in this situation.”
Austin nodded. “I know.”
“Honey, losing Angie was devastating. God, she shone so bright, and her being gone is going to leave a void, but you did everything you could to try to keep her here longer. It was out of your control, Austin, but this isn't, and if you care for Rachel like you say you do, you need to sit down and talk to her.”
“Somewhere along the way the real you—the vibrant, happy man—took a vacation. It’s time to find your way back. You can't keep hiding behind your work, Austin. It's time for you to learn to live again, for both of you.” Ava stood up and kissed him on the head.
Austin sat there for several more minutes before he went to his room and lay down. He had a lot to think about, and he was emotionally exhausted.
When he woke, he realized he’d been asleep for hours. Obviously he had needed it. Austin could hear voices in the living room, so he decided to get up and see what was going on. He needed to apologize for running away.
Talia was the first one to see Austin as he entered the great room. “Hey,” she said softly as she pulled him into a hug. “You okay?”
“I think so. Shit, Talia … I’m so sorry I walked away like that.” Austin looked around and saw someone was missing. “Where is Rachel?”
“She’s okay. She just went for a walk through the village.” Talia squeezed his arm as Trevor walked over to him.
Austin prepared himself for big brother’s wrath, but Trevor just put his arm around Austin and pulled him into a sideways hug. “Talia told me about your sister. I’m so sorry.” Trevor swallowed hard before continuing. “I can’t imagine … I couldn’t even when Rachel was so sick. I get it. I understand.” Trevor nodded and clapped Austin on the back as he headed into the kitchen.
Chelsea, Ava , and Talia started heating up dinner as the guys ventured out onto the balcony. They each drank their beers in silence, which had to have been quite a feat for Nick. The mood was laid back, almost reflective.
Shortly before dinner was ready, Rachel walked through the door, cheeks flushed from the cold. The room seemed to stop as everyone looked at her. Austin wanted to go to her and pull her into his arms. He knew he owed her an apology for the way he had acted, but there were too many eyes right now.
Austin’s eyes locked with Rachel’s, and they seemed to have a silent understanding, and if her subtle smile was any indication, He was thinking she just might listen to what he had to say.
As soon as dinner was over, Austin approached Rachel. “Can we talk?”
“I’m kind of tired, Austin, but I was hoping you would be willing to spend the day with me tomorrow. There is something I
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