Chapter Thirty-One

I stay in my room just staring at the wall, what does Austin expect me to do with the information he just told me? What will Roman do if he found out? When he gets back are we just going to pretend none of this happened? As I've said before Roman is so good at catching the vibes of the room, he'll know something is off almost immediately and will ask what's going on. I couldn't help but feel bad for Austin, if he's telling the truth and he has been hiding the way he was feeling since school, that's been more than a few years. From the way he was telling me back there, I could just see how hard it was for him to tell me. Before I had time to dwell on those thoughts anymore, Austin starts to shout dinner was ready in the kitchen. How is he acting so casual after what we just spoke about?! With a little sigh I sit up from bed, I knew I couldn't avoid Austin forever. Firstly, because we live in the same apartment and second, we still have to keep up the couple act around Markus. I slide out of bed and head over to the door, where as I open it and walk down the hall I see Austin in the kitchen smiling. He hadn't changed from his suit yet but did take off his suit jacket, that must have been a little uncomfortable cooking in that. But I couldn't say much, I was also in the same dress as before. 'There you are Payton, take a seat" he smiles before he turns back around to face the counter, I do as I'm told and take a seat at the table as he turns and places a plate of food in front of me. 'This is another family recipe, my grandmother swore by it" he smiles whilst turning to grab some water from behind him, I thank him whilst taking the first bite and I have to hand it to him, this was delicious! We sit there in silence for what feels like forever, I really didn't have any idea on how to approach a conversation with Austin anymore. Were we going to just brush over what he told me, or sit down and have a conversation about it? Either one will be awkward. I was soon finished where he takes my plate with a smile moving them to the sink, while I remained where I was. 'What did you think of dinner?" He asks washing the plates off before sticking them in the dishwasher, so we are just going to act like nothing was said then? 'It was really delicious, you're a better cook than I first expected" I smile up at him before looking down at the table once again, even after Roman gets back Austin is going to have to cook more! 'It's one of my many talents" he smiles before starting to make his way back over to the table, he takes a seat in front of me smiling. 'I don't want things to change between us Payton, but those things had to be said" he tells me where I nod my head agreeing with him, he shouldn't have had to keep all of those feelings to himself for this long. 'It wouldn't be fair to keep this from Roman though" I say looking up to see his face, I didn't know which one of us was going to tell him but I hope it wasn't me! 'What kind of guy leaves his girlfriend alone for two months? Now that's the thing that's not fair" he tells me getting quite annoyed, Roman didn't have much choice but to leave for his work. 'He has to for work, he didn't have any other choice" I say sticking up for Roman, he didn't actually want to leave especially, when he thought something was up with Austin just before he left, but Austin just replies with a shake of his head. 'No, Roman is cool with leaving you for two months because he knows you probably won't even leave the house without him being here! He knows he has you under is thumb where you're like his puppet! You deserve so much better than him Payton!" He shouts actually angry over what we were talking about, I didn't know he was feeling all these emotions either, I'm either really unobservant or he's a master at hiding things! 'You're supposed to be Romans best friend Austin, why are you saying all this?" I ask rising out of my chair as he went, Roman would feel so betrayed if he found out Austin is talking like this behind his back! 'Yes I'm Romans friend but that doesn't mean I have to agree with everything that man does!" He exclaims also rising out of his seat, our voices doing the exact same thing. 'I've brought this up with Roman so many times, he just tells me I need to keep out of his business" he says which was news to me, I had no idea he and Roman spoke about the way Roman treats me before. 'Yeah well maybe he's right, you do need to keep out of our business" I shout before turning around and making my way into my bedroom, I didn't need to hear him stand there and insult my boyfriend. 'It becomes my business when it involves the woman I love!" He shouts behind me, this does cause me to immediately freeze but not turn around to look at him. 'You don't love me Austin, you just think you do" I say trying to get that into his head, again it's because we've had to fake being a couple for so long that it's messed with his head. 'No I definitely do, have done ever since I first met you in school" he says without shouting this time, but I shake my head again not believing him. 'I had feelings for you before Roman even knew you existed" he says which does ache my heart a little, I turn around to look at him where he still stood in the same place he was when I left. 'Why didn't you tell me at the time?" I ask raising my eyebrow at him, since I met Austin he's always been this outspoken guy, he would have definitely told me back then if he had feelings for me. 'I wanted to more than anything, but I was so scared you were going to tell me no. But the day I was fully prepared to tell you, was the day you and Roman became official" he sighs which I did remember that day so clearly, when I met Austin for the first time he didn't speak and just smiled at me slightly. 'If I did tell you, would you have said yes?" He asks with hope in his eyes, how does he want me to answer that question?! 'I can't answer that Austin, I'm with Roman now and love Roman" I say that being the only way I could possibly answer that question. 'Well maybe you should have told me before!" I say throwing my arms in the air as I went, this could have all been avoided if he would have! 'Believe me Payton, I did try" he says with a sigh where I shake my head, I don't know what he wants me to do right now! 'Well you obviously, didn't try hard enough!" I shout before I turn around and head towards my bedroom, slamming the door so he knows not to try and follow me this time.