Stealing for Keeps (Frost Lake High Book 1)
Stealing for Keeps: Chapter 30

Austin’s hands slide down the front of my shorts. His fingertips graze along the lace of my panties. I hold my breath as the ache between my legs intensifies. He removes his hand before going any farther and then rolls on top of me. His weight blankets my body, and the pressure makes every part of me vibrate.

We haven’t had sex again since the cabin, but I want to. And I can feel that he wants to too.

The electric hum of the garage door, followed by the sound of a door slamming shut makes us both freeze. My heart jumps in my throat.

“My mom’s home.” I disentangle myself from Austin, adjusting my bra and replaceing my T-shirt on the floor.

He sits up on my bed, looking frustrated, rumpled, and so sexy. I toss him his shirt with a smile.

“Sorry, birthday boy. I planned on letting you get to at least third base.”

“Kissing you is all the birthday present I need.” He hooks his shirt on over his head and then grabs me around the waist, kissing me and pulling me back onto the bed. I wish we could keep going, keep kissing and touching all night.

“If my mom replaces you in here again, she might lock me in the house forever.”

With a groan, he frees me. He looks so disappointed it makes me steal one more kiss.

“I’ll be by at eight with Lacey,” I tell him as I run my fingers through my tangled hair. Austin likes to run his fingers through it while we’re kissing.

“If you want to come early, I wouldn’t hate it. We could sneak up to my room and…” His mouth captures mine again, and one of his hands cups the back of my head, then fingers slide through the strands, making me laugh and sigh all at once.

“You have to go.” I step back and push at him playfully. “If you don’t go now, she’ll see you.”

I open my bedroom door and peer out, then we hurry down the stairs.

I pull him back to kiss him again. He laughs, then groans, lingering a second longer. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

I just get him out the front door and close it behind me when Mom appears in the kitchen. Ruby is behind her. Her cheeks are red from exertion. She was sick earlier this week and still looks like she’s recovering.

“What are you doing?” Mom asks, eyeing me critically. “Was someone here?”

“Austin and I were studying in the living room.”

Her gaze goes to the dark room that has no signs of anyone being in it.

I head for the stairs without meeting her gaze. “I gotta get ready.”

* * *

I pick up Lacey on my way to Austin’s house. She comes out of her house carrying a massive bundle of balloons that look like they could carry her away in a breeze. She opens the back door and then tries to wrangle them into the back seat.

“What is that?” I ask when she finally manages to force them in the car and gets up front with me. “I can’t even see out the back window.”

“I couldn’t decide what to get him. I wanted to get condoms, but you said his family was going to be there, so I thought that might be awkward.”

“And it wouldn’t be awkward for me?”

“I was doing it for you.” She beams.

“We’ve got it covered. And since when are you in favor of sleeping with high school guys?”

“I’m still not, but if you’re going to keep having sex with him, I need to make sure you’re being safe. Do you need to borrow my book on the female body?”

A laugh escapes from my lips, but my stomach does a funny flip, thinking about that night with Austin.

When we get to the birthday boy’s house, the guys are out back. Some are playing cornhole, others Ping-Pong, and everyone else is sitting around the firepit to keep warm.

When Austin spots me, he tosses his last remaining bag and then heads for me. He hesitates like he was going to hug me, then does, letting go too quickly. He hugs Lacey too.

“You guys made it.” His smile stretches across his face.

“Happy birthday,” Lacey says. “I left your present inside.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” he says.

“I know, but I’m just that kind of girl, Disco.”

“Here.” I hold up the little gift bag with the present I got him.

With a grin, he digs into the bag around the tissue paper and pulls out the disco ball key chain. He palms it, smile widening. “I love it. Thank you.”

“Austin!” his dad yells, beckoning him back to the game.

“Your dad’s here,” I say as his presence finally clicks. Austin said he wasn’t going to make it.

“Yeah.” Austin looks happier than I’ve seen him look in a while. “He surprised me. Staying through the weekend.”

“That’s great.”

His dad and the other guys playing cornhole call for him again. “I’ll catch up with you guys later. There’s pizza and cake inside, stuff for s’mores over on the table, and drinks in the cooler.”

After he runs off, Lacey looks at me. “They really do have a whole Disney family vibe going on here, don’t they? Are you sure they aren’t all secretly serial killers?”

I feel a hint of defensiveness creep in. “They’re just one of those rare families who all get along.”

“Weird,” she says. Her voice drops. “I wonder what that’s like.”

“I think it’s nice.” I turn and walk over to the cooler. I grab a sparkling water for myself and Lacey. Torrance and a girl I don’t recognize are sitting around the firepit roasting marshmallows.

I start toward them.

“Is that his sister?” Lacey whispers the question.

Torrance has on way more makeup than normal, and both she and her friend are in tight dresses and heels like they’re going to a dance or something instead of sitting outside at a family-friendly birthday party. And the girl with her…as we get closer, I finally recognize her. It’s Sophie, dressed up like I’ve never seen her before.

“Hey, Torrance,” I say as I take a seat across from her. I smile at the girl next to her. “Hi, Sophie.”

Lacey lifts a hand in a wave.

I wait a beat to see if Torrance will introduce herself, but she doesn’t, so I add, “Lacey, this is Austin’s sister, Torrance.”

Sophie’s phone rings. She rolls her eyes, “Oh my gosh. It’s my mom again. I’ll be right back.”

She takes off with her phone to her ear, strutting through the party in her heels. All the guys watch her go. I can’t even blame them. Her skirt is so short, I’m having a hard time looking away.

Torrance has never once spoken directly to me, but she leans forward like we’re the best of friends. “Oh my gosh, wouldn’t they be so cute together?”

“Who?” Lacey asks.

“Austin and Sophie. She’s so pretty, right?”

Lacey scoffs next to me. Torrance might be acting like a bitch, but I don’t want her to know she’s getting to me.

“Yeah, she is.” I swallow around the tightening in my throat. “Excuse me. I think I want some pizza.”

Lacey comes with me but doesn’t say a word until we’re inside.

“Okay, so not Disney.”

“She’s just pissed at her brother for uprooting her life.”

“More wicked queen than princess.” Lacey’s reassuring half smile makes me feel worse. “Since when did they become friends?”

“I don’t know.”

Lacey shoots a glare in their direction. “Do you want to go?”

“No way. It’s his birthday. Who cares if Sophie is here looking gorgeous and Torrance is playing matchmaker?”

“You’re gorgeous.”

A small laugh eases the tension in my chest. “Thanks.”

We avoid Torrance and Sophie, but I don’t get to see a lot of Austin as the night continues either.

Around ten, the guys lose interest in the games and all start to take seats around the patio. They have a game tomorrow, and curfew is eleven.

“We should play truth or dare,” Sophie says. I haven’t seen her or Austin interact much tonight, but she smiles at him now.

My stomach is a ball of nerves. What if someone dares me to kiss Austin? What if he gets dared to kiss someone else, like Sophie? The thought makes me want to throw up.

“Hell yeah!” Barrett says.

Most of the guys jump in as well. I catch Austin’s eye across the room. He shrugs. Maybe I’m making too big a deal out of it.

“What about you, birthday boy?” Rowan asks, slapping him on the shoulder.

“Yeah, all right.”

We get in a circle for the game. Sophie goes first and dares Barrett to take off his shirt. It’s cold outside, but he whips it off and tosses it at her.

“His nipples could cut glass,” Lacey says next to me.

We giggle, and the game continues. Barrett dares Brandon to kiss Torrance.

“No way,” he says. “I’m not making out with anyone but my girlfriend.”

“Fine, fine.” Barrett changes it to them kissing, and they go at it so long that we all cheer and catcall them.

Lacey gets dared to sit in Eli’s lap, and Andie has to tell whether she and Brandon have had sex—they still have not, but I know their anniversary is coming up soon. Torrance gets dared to prove she can shove her entire fist in her mouth. I’ve been happily left out of it so far, but I’m nervous because there are only a few of us left. I don’t want to kiss anyone, but all the truth questions have been really invasive. There is no good option.

I’m relieved when the next person called is Sophie. Torrance thinks for a moment and then says, “I dare you to kiss my brother.”

“No,” Austin says immediately.

Relief sweeps through me, but my pulse still races, and my entire body flushes.

“Why not?” Barrett asks. “You’re not dating anyone.”

There’s a moment where I think he’s going to say, “Actually, I’ve been seeing Claire, and I’m in love with her,” and I’m scared but excited. We’ve been living in this happy bubble where no one really knows, and it’s been great, but how much better will it be when I can kiss him and be with him all the time instead of little moments when no one is watching?

Torrance laughs. “Oh my gosh. I’m such a dummy. I forgot. My bad.”

The circle all looks from Torrance to Austin.

“Forgot what?” Eli asks.

Austin’s sister smirks as she meets my gaze. My pulse skitters to a stop as I inhale sharply. Blood pounds in my ears.

“He’s hooking up with Claire.” She points at me like they don’t know who Claire is.

Everyone goes silent.

“Was that supposed to be a secret?” She smiles, all fake innocence. “I thought—”

“Shut up, Torrance.” Austin’s jaw is tight as he glances to me.

The world around me slows as everyone in the room looks from Austin to me and finally to Vaughn. The silence is heavy and thick. Vaughn’s face flushes and hardens. His usual mask has slipped and the hurt and betrayal in his expression makes my stomach twist with guilt.

He stands, glaring across the circle at Austin. “You’re hooking up with Claire?”

Austin gets to his feet and puts his hands out as he crosses toward him. “I’m sorry. I was going to tell you.”

My throat is thick with emotion and panic makes my pulse race. The moment stretches out and fills with tension. I can’t seem to do or say anything except hold my breath as they stare each other down.

Vaughn’s nostrils flair and the tension snaps as he lunges, punching Austin and sending him stutter-stepping backward. Austin looks shocked at first, then his rage seems to match Vaughn’s.

“What the fuck?” Austin goes after him and pushes his chest.

The movement throws Vaughn off-balance, but he recovers quickly and stalks toward Austin. “You know how I feel about her. How could you do that?”

The rest of the team is on their feet, quick to break it up. Rowan grabs Vaughn around the waist, and the other guys stand in front of Austin.

The back door opens, and his mom stands there wide-eyed, taking in the scene.

The fight is over, but I know the fallout has just begun. I barely notice my surroundings as I stand and walk away from the chaos. Unshed tears blur my vision and I’m hit with a wave of nausea.

When I get to the driveway, I let the tears fall. This is all my fault. I wanted to wait until the end of the season, not Austin. If we had just told Vaughn, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.

I hear footsteps behind me as I walk to my car, and I don’t even have to look back to know it’s Lacey.

“Are you okay?” She hugs me, and I bury my face in her shoulder as I cry. I am so humiliated and ashamed. I have told myself a million times that there was no reason to hide. I like Austin. He likes me. We weren’t hurting anyone. But if that was true and there really was no reason to hide, then why were we, and why do I feel so awful?

A second later, I hear Austin calling for me from the front door. I wipe my eyes and look up. Lacey blocks him from getting to me.

“I’m not going to hurt her, Lace,” Austin says.

“Do you want me to tell him to get lost?” my best friend asks without turning around.

“No. It’s okay.”

She glances over her shoulder at me, giving me a sad smile. “I’ll be right inside if you need me. We’ll go as soon as you want.” She rubs at her arms and then hurries back into the house.

“I’m sorry,” Austin starts as soon as she’s gone. “I’m so mad at Torrance. I had no idea she would do something like that.”

It’s hard to blame her. We did this. Not her.

Sophie is the next to come out. Her steps are hesitant as she approaches. “Austin, can we talk?”

“It isn’t really a good time,” he says, sounding exasperated.

“I didn’t know about you and Claire. Torrance invited me. She said…” She stops herself and then winces, looking embarrassed. “I thought you were into me.”

“I’m sorry she dragged you into this,” he says to her. “I think you’re a cool girl, but…”

“I get it,” she says quickly before he can finish his sentence. Her stare moves to me. “Sorry, Claire.”

I try to smile, but another cramp in my side distracts me.

Austin moves closer to me, concern marring his handsome features. His hand comes up to the side of my face, and his thumb strokes my hot cheek. “Come inside. We’ll figure this out.”

“I think I should go. I don’t feel well.” The pain in my stomach is almost unbearable.

More voices filter outside, but I double over in pain, unable to process who it is or what they’re saying.

Suddenly Vaughn is squatting down in front of me. Lines of worry crease his face. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.” I force myself to stand straight. Something is wrong.

Austin and Vaughn continue to hover. Plus their twins. There are double of them.

“You guys can go back inside. I’m gonna go home.”

“Please don’t go,” Austin says, taking me by the elbow. “I’m so sorry she did that.”

Vaughn pushes Austin aside to get between us.

“Haven’t you done enough?” he asks Austin. “Let her go if she wants.”

“I didn’t do anything,” Austin grits out.

They get in each other’s faces again.

“Stop it!” I yell, and another stab of pain takes my breath away. I’m hot, nearly sweating, and everything is spinning around me. I reach out to steady myself on my car, but when I lean, I miss it.

“Claire!” Austin yells. Or maybe it’s Vaughn.