The Thorne at My Side

CHAPTER 36

Wild Horses and Fire Breathing Dragons

MAGGIE

I shower and think of Austin.

I dry my hair and think of Austin.

I get dressed and think of Austin.

I do my makeup and think of Austin.

And at every step I think, what if he's the one standing at Stumpy tonight? It would certainly make everything easier! I wouldn’t have to choose.

And then I have to tell myself that it'll be a disaster if I have to recover from my disappointment by expecting or hoping for one person and another is there.

I guess I could always try to leave before DCFox sees me. I didn't tell him if I'd be there or not. I didn't tell him what I was wearing.

So I guess that is my plan. Head over there, spy and try to figure out if it’s Austin or not and make a game time decision. Not that I’ve gotten any better at making those in the last year.

Everything with Austin over the last few weeks has felt easy and natural. And, since we've taken sex off the table I've learned to be in a room with him and not immediately jump his bones.

I still want to, very much so, but I've been able to control my baser urges.

My body is still buzzing with anxiety by the time I’ve changed outfits three times and landed on the red dress from our first attempt at meeting that I had started with. I fluff up my hair and check the clock. I have an hour until DCFox said he'd be there. It's about an hour walk down to the Tidal Basin. And it's a pretty route that takes me past the White House and through the mall.

I pile my things into the Prada bag and head out the door. It feels like Austin is with me as I carry this bag. It’s comforting. Sam and I chat every so often now and I’ve gotten used to the regular check-ins with Liz and CJ, but Austin is probably my closest friend. Him, and then DCFox.

I never would have imagined such a strong bond with Austin and I really hope that DCFox and I share a connection in person.

But do I?

Because then I’ll have to pick one over the other and I don’t think I’m prepared to do that.

Outside the White House I see Ben leaving the grounds.

"Ben!" I yell in greeting, "Hey! How are you?"

"Maggie Collins! Hey. I'm good, exhausted. I'm headed home for the day finally."

"But it's Saturday?" I ask, and as soon as I do I realize how far out of the political elite loop I am.

"Is it?” He sighs. "You look nice, where are you off to?"

"To see the cherry blossoms."

"Ah yes, they're reaching their peak bloom this week I think. It'll be beautiful."

I smile warmly, "Yeah it will."

We part ways and I continue towards the water. It's funny, I never thought losing my job would have been a good thing but it forced me to change .

It forced me to let go of plans I had clung to. Expectations I was stuck to. It felt scary to let go of my fifteen year plan but in the last few months I haven't thought much about the future.

Not in a bad way, but in a, I'm happy with the present way.

The connection I’ve built with my students is rewarding. One asked for a recommendation letter for a job this summer. I don’t know if I can get another teaching job but there are leadership development organizations I can join. Honestly, I could start my own firm and teach seminars, coach people through career decisions, and provide the kind of support I never really found early in my career.

The ring of cherry trees looms larger with each step I take and the nerves settle back in. Although, I don't feel anxious exactly. I feel excited. It's anticipation.

These next few moments will alter my life path. And it’s a path I couldn’t have planned if I tried.

As I slowly make my way closer I realize that I am comfortable taking this risk. If it all goes wrong I’ll still be fine. I'm okay walking up to the little stump of a cherry tree with one branch left in bloom not knowing who is standing on the other side.

I’ve come back from losing everything I had ever worked for, and am happier than I could have imagined. The addition of a partner is the cherry on top. If this doesn’t work out I can still count on myself to recover.

Not just survive, but thrive.

When I approach the tree there are a few people taking pictures but I spot a figure sitting by the edge of the water.

His back is to me as I walk up but his hair is dark. His arms are propped up on his knees so I can't tell how tall he is but his back and shoulders look strong, sturdy.

A branch crunches under my foot and I glance down at it.

"Maggie, you came."

My head snaps up.

Time stands still.

Tears well in my eyes and I start shaking my head. This can't be. This is too much. This is what I wanted. This is impossible.

Austin stands and shrugs, bunching up the jacket of his steel blue suit, and steps over to me.

"You're late," he scolds and the tears spill over onto my cheeks. I go to wipe them with the back of my hand but I bump into his thumbs as he brushes them away.

"Don't cry MC, don’t cry.” His touch grazes across my cheeks. “This is a good thing."

"I know it is," I wail and then we both start laughing.

"Sorry, I wouldn't dream of telling you how to feel."

"How long have you known?" I ask. Needing to know the answer while also dreading it.

"Since Lapis. I showed up and it was you and I panicked."

"Am I the girl from the podcast?"

"You heard that?"

"My sister sent it to me and I'll explain to you later why that's a stretch."

He laughs, "I can't wait to know everything about you. And, yes, you're the girl from the podcast."

I sniffle and he intertwines our fingers bringing them between us. Then he wraps his hands around mine and holds them tight. His bourbon eyes burn me as he holds my gaze.

"Thank god you’re here. I was so scared you wouldn’t come.” He exhales. “You make me better. You make me want to be the best version of myself. I want you to be proud of me. I want you to rely on me. I want to support you in everything you do. You're incredible and amazing and all the other adjectives you can think of."

I let out a laugh because he knows me well enough to know that I'm wordsmithing even as he declares his love for me.

His love for me!

"You're perfect, Maggie Collins and I can't pretend I don't love you for one more minute."

"Oh, Austin," is the only phrase I can get out before his hands dive into my hair and he pulls my lips to his with the hunger of a starved man. My arms wrap around him and I hold him to me.

This man has been a pebble in my shoe since we met. Always there in some way. Sometimes annoying, sometimes arousing, but always present.

He knows my deepest thoughts, he knows my body in ways no one else does. He knows my aspirations.

"I'm so glad you showed up tonight," he says again as he pulls me to his chest and holds my head against him. I can hear his racing heart beat through his jacket. Mine is pounding at a matching pace; again we meet each other in stride.

"I'm so glad it's you. All day I kept hoping it was you."

"I'm so glad you don't hate me anymore."

"I don't think I ever, really, hated you." I admit as I pull back to look up into his eyes.

"Because I'm so handsome?"

"And humble," we laugh.

He reaches up and cradles my head in his hand before slowly lowering down and kissing me gently. Reverently.

My body melts into his and the warmth of his embrace spreads through my body. My fingers thread into his hair and he inhales sharply at the contact. His hand slides down to grip my ass and visions of fucking against a cherry tree have me lifting my leg to wrap around him.

Austin breaks the kiss and smiles at me.

“Hold your horses MC, I’ve got plans.”

◆◆◆

“Really?” I look at Austin as the car pulls up outside of Lapis.

“I didn’t get to eat last time,” he says over the rim of his glasses which goads me into an affectionate eye roll. “Plus,” he reaches out and interlaces our fingers, “I wanted the chance to redo our first date.”

A blush blooms up my neck and settles in my cheeks as my smile widens. Greg opens the door for us and Austin climbs out first and then reaches back for me. I look up at the restaurant and then glance through the window to see that the table I sat at all those months ago is adorned with a large bouquet of flowers and a bottle of champagne.

“I can’t believe I get to see that smile whenever I want,” Austin says as we sit down at the table.

“You better love my scowl too because I have a feeling you’ll be seeing plenty of that.” I retort as I lift my menu.

“And your O face,” he adds with a finger pointed in the air.

I can’t help myself. I laugh.

The messages with DCFox always made me smile. I think back to the first one I received. He said he researched a list of questions to ask on a first date and found a post with 150 listed. He said he read them all and then picked his favorite to ask me.

If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?

I replied that I’d need to know if it was the Mega Millions Jackpot or a lucky scratch off ticket from a Christmas stocking. If it was a scratch off I’d just stick the cash in my wallet and probably forget it was there. If it was a big one I’d set up some automatic donations to national public media and maybe fund a journalism scholarship.

The memory makes me chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Austin asks as he picks up his menu.

“Nothing, I was thinking about the first text you sent with the 150 first date questions. I told you I’d donate to public media but I obviously had no idea who you were or who you worked for.”

“Yeah, I loved that. It made me want to talk to you more.”

“I’m glad you did,” I smile and then shake my head because I simply cannot believe I am sitting across from Austin Thorne on our first date when we’ve been talking since last summer and spent the fall together in a sex marathon.

Austin leans forward resting his forearms on the table and folding his hands together. “Alright, should we go through the 150 questions now…or…”

I laugh and he grins. “Did you really bring the list?”

“No, but now that you’ve brought it up I think we should just go through it item by item. Get it all out on the table.”

“Sure, look up the list, let’s see what you’ve got.”

◆◆◆

“No way!” I say with a laugh as Austin nods enthusiastically. “There is no way you actually believe that.”

“All I’m saying is that I’ve been in a room with all those guys and I can’t say for sure that it isn’t true.”

I laugh and shake my head as we settle down from our boy band conspiracy theory debate. Austin picks his phone up and scrolls for the next one.

“Oh, this is a good one. Do you consider a hot dog a sandwich?”

“No,” I state immediately. “Well…”

“Tricky one isn’t it. I say no. It’s more in the burger category than a sandwich.”

“But what about a torpedo?”

“We’re talking about sandwiches, MC.”

I laugh, “Yeah I know, a torpedo sandwich, it’s on a bun like a hot dog.”

“Wait, you mean a hero?” Austin asks.

“What are you from New York City or something?”

“No, my stepmom is though. And I’m just teasing, I knew what you meant.”

I smile, “so we agreed, hot dogs are not sandwiches. Now, I’ve got another important question. Pineapple on pizza?”

“Absolutely.”

“What?! No Austin! No, no, no, no.” I shake my head with mirth.

“Yeah, the guys give me shit for that one too but the sweet balanced with the spicy pepperoni and umami of the cheese? Yeah, I love it.”

“We have to move on from this. Maybe a less controversial topic, what Chinese Zodiac year were you born?” I ask before taking a sip of my champagne.

“1990…” he drags it out while he searches but I no longer care what year he fell into.

“You were born in 1990?” I asked because never once did the possibility of Austin being two years younger than me cross my mind.

“Yeah,” he laughs and sips his cocktail. “Why? When were you born?”

I swallow the lump in my throat, “1988. ”

He grins and I have a feeling I’m going to be annoyed by what he says next.

“Robbing the cradle Maggie Collins? Is 1988 the year of the Cougar?” He can barely contain his snicker.

“Dragon.” I reply flatly.

“That makes a lot more sense.” He nods solemnly and I kick him under the table. He’s saved from further harm because our food arrives.

I’ve never been on a date like this before. The ease of conversation between us is comfortable. The genuine laughter. We continue talking and asking random questions while we eat and I am really enjoying this casual side of Austin.

I saw a hint of it as we became friends these last few weeks. At first I wasn’t sure if I believed it but after tonight I can see that this goofy, light-hearted man is the truest version of Austin Thorne I’ve seen yet.

◆◆◆

“This is the best first date ever,” Austin says as our plates are cleared and he reaches across the table for my hand. I give it to him and watch as he brushes his thumb gently across the tops of my fingers. My gaze travels up his arm, over his shoulder to his neck, and the 5 o’clock shadow covering his square jaw. His whiskey eyes burn into me and I feel like I can read his mind.

“So, what do we do now?” I ask playfully.

“I can think of a few ideas.” Austin says in a low voice.

“No, not that, are we…well…dating?”

“Yeah MC, we’re dating. But we won’t be for long.”

“What?” I cough out a laugh.

“I’m not going to be able to wait very long to make you my wife. I need you at my side.”

“Does this mean we’re a power couple?”

“There’s something powerful happening here, that’s for sure.” Austin says with a pump of his eyebrows.

“Ohmygod you’re insatiable,” I joke.

“Maggie, you have no idea. I am buzzing with desire to take you somewhere private and cash in on the benefits of being your boyfriend.”

“Are we tossing out the no sleepover rule?”

“Oh, we won’t be sleeping but you and I will start our morning together tomorrow. Greg has a bag for me in the trunk.”

“No he does not,” I laugh and Austin laughs too. He never disputes my statement, he simply stands, and pulls me up with him. He plants a kiss at my ear that sends shivers down my spine before guiding me ahead of him toward the door by the small of my back.

As he opens the door for me I pause next to him.

I look up at the man who has proven himself to be exactly what I need. "Can I catch a ride with you?"

"Always."