“Shit, what did I do?”
Pulling back from my hands, Austin paced into the room. He raked a hand through his hair. “Fuck,fuck. I didn’t want to do that in front of all them. What did I do?”
I folded my arms and leaned against the back of the couch there. “You lost your head. You had two amazing reviews and you just gave into it.”
“I can’t do that, Uriah. I can’t. There’s no way that I can come out right now. I have two major career paths going here and I just can’t handle being outed right now. Oh, God, if the media hears about this—”
“No one is going to say a word, Austin. No one. I vouch for most of my friends. They aren’t going to out you. Your guys knew, you said. It’s just a few of the guys in Robot Servant and I sincerely doubt they are going to go running to TMZ with this. Maddox is one of my best friends—he’ll keep them in line.”
Staring at me, he raked another hand through his hair and slumped. “You sure?”
“As sure as I can be,” I said.
“Goddamn it, Uriah. I’m sorry.”
“Why?”
He perked up and looked at me. “What?”
“Why? Why are you sorry? What did you do wrong to me?”
Confusion looked adorable on him. “I kissed you?”
“They all knew I was gay. No skin off my nose. I’m okay with being out. So, what are you sorry for?”
He stared at me. “You were being so patient with me, and I just blew that out of the water.”
“You didn’t though,” I said. “There are sixteen people in this apartment. All of them are known actors, and all of them are trusted. We have damage control. Just because you came out to a bunch of us doesn’t mean you came out to the world.” I stepped up close to him. “Austin. I like you a lot too. I’m not so sure I would have been able to stop myself from kissing you if our positions were reversed. It’s all right.”
I wrapped my hand around the back of his neck and pulled him in close to me, his forehead resting on mine. He let out a shaky breath.
“I’m nearly ready to stop hiding. You’ve changed me, you’ve changed how I think. How the hell is that possible in just three weeks?”
“My magical blow job.”
He snorted and pushed me away. “Asshole.”
“Haven’t gotten to that yet…”
The laughter escaped him, and I could see him relaxing. He stepped back up to me. “You’re good for me, Uriah. I don’t know if I would have made it through all this premiere stuff without you.”
“You would have. You’re stronger than you know. But being there to support you has not sucked at all. Or, it has, but in a good way. I like seeing people succeed when others think they can’t. And I was one of those who thought you were going to bomb. I apologize for doubting you.”
Smiling, Austin slipped his arms around me and pulled me in tight. “I’m happy to prove you wrong every night on that stage.”
“Good.” I smiled. “Now, the door is closed, so kiss me like you really wanted to out there.”
His mouth slanted across mine and the kiss was everything it should have been. Soft, but firm. His lips were strawberry and champagne, I was sure left over from the night before, and his tongue was curious but not demanding.
Austin Lowell was a very good kisser.
“Hey!” The knock on the door startled us. “Hey, lemme in?” It was Bryce.
“Let us in.” Hailey’s voice trailed after Bryce’s.
Austin sighed, and stepped back. “It’s unlocked.”
The two of them slipped in and pulled the door shut behind them. Bryce, being the good friend and good man he was hurried over to Austin. “You okay man? Angela sent us in here.”
