I woke up the next morning feeling guilty because of the dream I had. I decided to go for a jog and to pick up my car from the bar to clear my mind.

I put on my sweats and tank top and grabbed my phone and headphones on my way out of the door. As I opened my running playlist, I begrudgingly noticed that Anne texted me, telling me to have a good day.

I rolled my eyes as I launched myself off of the cement stairway outside my apartment building. I knew I would have to text Anne back eventually, but I wasn't ready to yet. Was my dream some sort of sign from God that I am wrong, and she is right? Or was my dream just that, a weird dream?

I didn't want to think about it anymore. I turned up the volume on my music so I couldn't hear my own thoughts.

xxx

I ran into town, stopping to restart my playlist in front of a small grocery store about a block away from the bar and my car. 

As I was about to hit play and continue my run, my phone began to ring. My father was calling me.

This seems innocuous but he has a rule. He never calls or answers his phone during his working hours, Monday through Friday, 9-5. I immediately knew something must be wrong.

"Father?" I answered the phone, trying not to let my voice falter. My face dropped into a frown as he spoke. "I'll be there in about 15 minutes."

Without bothering to put my headphones back on, I sprinted the rest of the way to my car, throwing the door open, sliding in and speeding off toward that hospital.  Anne was involved in a car accident. She was in the hospital. I felt even worse now. Was this a vengeful God's way of punishing me for my independent thoughts? I should have texted her back.

I whipped into the hospital parking lot. At that moment I wished I had a take home cruiser so I could park in the emergency zone and run in. I finally found a parking spot and sprinted into the emergency department, flashing my badge at the receptionist so she opened the Emergency Department doors for me without question. I'd been to the hospital quite a few times for various reasons on various types of calls - car accidents, domestic violence, assault... so I found Anne's room with no problem. 

I turned the corner expecting to see her laying on the bed, intubated, hooked to numerous machines. I was relieved to see her sitting upright on the gurney, completely in one piece. The only outward sign of her accident was that she was dressed in a hospital gown. 

"Gabe!" Her face brightened immediately as she saw me, but then she looked at her feet and gripped her fishtail braid in her hands. "You didn't have to come. I'm fine." 

Pastor Dan and Samantha were there, looking at me with admiration. I was such a good boyfriend, rushing to her bedside. 

"Of course I had to come." It came out a little more flatly than I had hoped and I felt slightly guilty. 

Pastor Dan took a step toward me. 'We'll step out and let you visit before your shift Gabe."

"Thank you, Pastor. Samantha, nice to see you again," I said, approaching Anne as she sat perched on the gurney. Samantha nodded at me, then she and her husband both left the room in silence. 

The second they were out of earshot, Anne spoke. "Your father made it sound really bad, didn't he?"

"Maybe." I knew she'd feel guilty. 

"Sorry. I'm really fine. Just a little banged up. God was really watching out for me today," she said, once again twisting her braid in her hands and looking at her shoes. 

"I'm glad to hear that, Anne." I hesitated before adding, "I'm sorry I haven't texted you back."

Anne looked startled that I had actually acknowledged that. "It's okay, Gabe."

"So, what happened?" I asked. 

"Someone ran a stop sign and hit my car." Anne shrugged before continuing. "I'm literally just waiting for some test results to come back now. Nothings broken, just bruised, and making sure there's no internal bleeding. My car is in worse shape than I am."

"Well, I am glad you are okay. Sorry about your car."

"It's okay. Thanks for coming Gabe. Were you out for a jog?" She asked sheepishly, as if she were ashamed of the fact that she could see my sweaty body. 

"Yeah, sorry, I'm kind of sweaty and gross."

Anne laughed and blushed. "Well, I know you work today, right?"

 "Yes."

"You don't have to stay, I'll text you when I go home, okay?" she said. 

"Text me, okay? I'll talk to you later. I'll send your parents back in," I said as I started to leave the room. 

Anne nodded and waved. "Bye, Gabe."

I was pissed off at my father. Didn't he remember the story of the boy who cried wolf? I literally thought Anne was on the brink of life and death from his call. 

As I grew older, I started to realize that my father would do things like this to manipulate me into doing what he wanted me to do. As a child, I took everything he said as gospel. I didn't question or second guess any of the words that came out of his mouth. But with age, I began to recognize that a person's intentions and motives were not always pure... even my father's. It is a hard reality to accept at first, that the person you've looked up to and emulated your whole life may not be as pure of heart as you assumed. I kept my realization to myself, I kept my dissenting thoughts to myself, but it was always in the back of my mind. 

After seeing how annoyed I was with Anne yesterday, I'm sure he took this opportunity to make sure I showed her that I cared. Obviously, I am concerned about Anne's well being... But did he really need to lead me into a blind panic? I rolled my eyes as I pulled into the parking lot of my apartment building.

Whatever.

I took the stairs up to my apartment in two's, eager to try to shower the day off. My day was just beginning. 

xxx

Shan already had the cruiser checked out and was waiting for me in front of the station when I arrived. I jogged over and slid across the hood of the cruiser, action movie style, causing her to lift her chin from resting on the steering wheel to giggle as she watched me with amusement. I then gave her a wave then held up one finger, signaling to her I'd be just a minute as I ran into the station. 

I felt like there were more eyes on me than usual as I strode through the reception area, past the cubicles and coffee room, and into the locker room. As well as clocking in, I wanted to leave a set of clothes for the bar after shift. 

I dropped my clothes in the locker, glanced at the ceiling to the photo of Drew in the back of Matt's cruiser and chuckled to myself before walking briskly back out front to meet Shan. I waved at a few fellow officers on my way out, but made it a point to look like I was walking with a purpose to avoid any conversation. As I opened the station doors, I noticed that Shan switched from the driver's seat to the passenger's seat. She preferred me to drive so she could use her phone, just in case her family needed anything. I didn't mind being the driver - she also served as a filter for the incessant messages that would come through the group text. 

I slid into the driver's seat and Shan didn't hesitate before she asked, "So... is your girlfriend okay from the car accident?"

I didn't flinch as I responded flatly, "My girlfriend wasn't in a car accident, because I don't have a girlfriend." 

Shan rolled her eyes, likely expecting that response. "Okay, your friend who is a girl," she shot back, cheerily, unphased by my attitude.

"She's fine," I said, then hesitated as a train of thoughts ran through my mind, leading me to ask the question... "And how did you know about the accident, you creeper?" I feigned disgust. 

Shan laughed at my dramatics. "Smith mentioned it to me, he responded to the call. He recognized her from the Policeman's Ball last year." 

"Okay, got it. Smith is the creeper," I proclaimed with finality as I pressed my foot on the gas pedal and started to pull out of the station. 

Shan let out another hearty laugh. "Tell me something I didn't know."

I laughed and then decided to fill her in on the whole story. "Anyway, yeah, my father called me from work to tell me." 

Shan looked as shocked as I was when I received the call. "He never does that."

"Right. Then all he said was..." I paused for a moment, to change the tone and pace of my voice to imitate my father's gravelly, no-nonsense speech, "Anne's been in an accident. She's in the hospital. You need to get there as soon as possible." I then continued in my own voice, "So obviously, I thought she was about to die. So, I'm freaking out, and panicking." We pulled up to a stoplight and as I braked I placed one hand on my forehead in a show of exasperation, as I said, "I get there and she's like... why did you come? I'm fine." 

Shan laughed as the light turned green and we continued on our way. "Sounds like you had a fun morning." 

I laughed with her. What else could I do? "That's one way to put it." 

Shan's phone went off and she glanced down. I could see in my peripheral vision that she was responding to a text.  A small black sedan turned onto the road in front of us. "Oh hey, run that black car's plates. Their taillight is out." 

"It's always a wild day down here in West River, Texas," Shan proclaimed with gusto, causing me to laugh once again. She immediately dropped her phone to type the car's plates into the system. 

"Never a dull moment", I agreed, as I flipped on the lights. We often didn't use the siren in our small town; most the residents were agreeable enough to pull over with just the lights. We most often used the siren during the day, if we were trying to pull over and that someone had failing eyesight... or in those rare occasions when something emergent was going on and we needed to get traffic out of the way immediately. 

xxx

Hours passed. We were sitting in an alley in the downtown area of town, radar on, lights dimmed, watching the vacant street in front of us. I didn't try to stifle a yawn as I glanced at the clock. "Is it 11 yet?" 

It was not. 

Shan looked in my direction before letting her eyes drift upward, as if she were daydreaming "Can you imagine what it's like to work in an actual city?" 

"I can imagine it must be more exciting than this," I stated, sighing as I let my eyes linger on the clock rather than letting them return to the empty street. 

Shan's excited voice cut through the silence. "Oh, headlight out! Sic 'em, Gabe!" I flipped on the lights and guided the cruiser out of the alley. As soon as the license plate was visible, I could see Shan typing in the numbers. "They're clean." Once I pulled up behind the truck, the driver immediately pulled to the side of the road.  

 "Finally some more action," I exclaimed with exaggerated excitement, prompting  giggle from Shan. "Do you want to take this one?" 

Shan briskly nodded. "Sure. I'll be right back." 

I watched as Shan gracefully slid out of the cruiser, leaving the door ajar. I then shifted my gaze to the truck in front of us, to make sure they didn't make any suspicious movements as she was approaching. We typically take turns on stops - it can be intimidating to have two armed police officers approach your vehicle, so unless something unusual comes up when the plates are run, only one of us will initially approach on a stop. And let's be honest... it also would be excessive for something as minor as a blown headlight. 

Shan reached the driver's side window, and was talking to the driver. It looked like she was having a pleasant conversation with the driver, and she gave a little wave before she began to walk back to the cruiser with what I assumed was license and registration in hand. 

"His daughter is so cute! She wants to be a police officer just like me," Shan gushed as she took her place in the passenger's seat once again to run the license and registration. "She got homesick on a sleepover, so he went to pick her up."

"Cute." 

Shan looked thoughtful for a moment as she collected the paperwork once again. "Can I invite her to come sit in the cruiser?" 

"Sure." 

Shan looked thrilled. She loved kids, and practically ran back over to the truck. I watched her hand the license and registration back to the driver. Moments later, the passenger door swung open and two short legs swung out, the feet adorned in what looked like bunny shaped bedroom slippers. Shan walked to the back of the truck, gesturing happily, and a girl not more than 8 years old shyly met her, dressed in a set of pajamas adorned with rainbows and her hair pulled into pigtails. Shan led her over pushed her toward the passenger's seat.  

"Cynthia, this is Gabe, he is my partner," she said. 

Cynthia looked at me shyly then quietly said "Hi."  By this time, her father was standing behind Shan watching his daughter with a proud look on his face. 

"Hi Cynthia, would you like to turn on the lights?" I offered hopefully. She instantly lit up, and without any further direction from Shan leaped into the passenger seat, looking at me eagerly. 

"Okay, like this," I demonstrated, flipping the switch. She watched me, then glanced up to see the lights reflecting on the glossy paint of her fathers truck. "Got it?"

"Got it!" She squealed.  

"Okay, ready?" I asked, switching the lights off. You could no longer see the reflection of red, white, and blue on the glossy paint of her father's truck.

"Ready!" She beamed. I nodded at her to give her the go ahead and she flipped the switch then looked up to see the lights. She clapped her hands together in excitement, then looked at her father for approval and he smiled at her happily. I quickly glanced into the rearview mirror to make sure there wasn't any oncoming traffic then looked back to Cynthia. 

"Next, flip this one," I instructed. She immediately did as told and then squealed as the sirens turned on. Shan and her father cracked up. 

"That's really loud," she said, instinctively flipping the switch again to turn off the siren. 

"I suppose it is, with the door open," I laughed. 

"Thank you both very much," her father said. "We should get going before her mother wonders where we disappeared too." Cynthia obediently climbed out of the car before turning back to us. "Thank you Officer Shan, Officer Gabe." 

"Of course. Drive safe and have a great night. Get the headlight taken care of," Shan said, waving them off as they walked back to the truck, Cynthia still looking at her dad in awe of the adventure she just had. 

Shan climbed back into the car, closing the door behind her. "Well that was thrilling."

I glanced at the clock. "I think this is the first time in like, weeks, we've been out past 11." I paused for a moment before adding, "Well worth it." 

Shan nodded in agreement. "So what are your plans tonight? Are you going to go see Anne?"

I realized I hadn't checked my phone all day. I think I mentioned, I'm really bad about checking my phone. I don't really talk to anyone, so it's not a habit. I watched as Cynthia and her father began their journey home, then pulled out my phone. Anne had texted me hours earlier.

It said, "Hey Gabe, just wanted to let you know that I am home and everything's fine. Have a good night at work, text me or call me when you get a chance."

Shan was still looking at me, waiting for a response. "Nah, she's asleep by now." I guided the cruiser back onto the road to head back to the station. 

"Did you even open the group text?" she asked.

"I might have muted it." 

Shan signed in mock disappointment and dropped her hands to her hips. "Drew, Matt, and Austin are at the bar. Wanna go?"

"Of course."  

"I'll let them know we'll be there," Shan said, and I could see her texting out of the corner of my eye. Both of our phones went off simultaneously as someone responded to her message. 

xxx

Shan and I arrived to and walked into the bar at the same time. Drew, Matt, and Austin were conversing excitedly about something, beer in hand, when Matt glanced up and saw us approaching. 

"Everyone, shut up for a minute!" he proclaimed, causing Austin to look at him thoughtfully and Drew to cock his head quizzically. "Tonight marks a monumental occasion. Tonight is the first night in history that Shan and Gabe were the last off shift." Austin and Drew took notice of us and cracked up laughing and Shan rolled her eyes. 

"Hey, I don't want to hear it. That was the most intense headlight out I have ever encountered,' Shan chided, wagging her finger in the air. 

I laughed, once again picturing the little girl in her bunny slippers. "I don't even know how we made it here in one piece," I said dramatically, clutching my hand to my chest. 

Drew's arms defensively crossed across his chest and he looked at us with narrowed eyes. "Okay, but seriously now, remember that headlight out I stopped and they pulled a gun on me? You never know, guys." We all got somber for a moment before Matt broke the silence. 

"Thank you for the review of Policing 101, Drew," he said jokingly, prompting drew to roll his eyes. It looked like Matt didn't expect Drew to react so defensively to his comment, so he quickly added, "No but really man, I'm glad that stop worked out okay." He shrugged before continuing, "And you're right, we're lucky." 

Drew quipped, "Can you say that first part again?" 

"What? You're right?" Matt said, hesitantly. 

"There it is," Drew proclaimed, snapping his fingers and pointing at Matt in triumph. Matt sighed and rolled his eyes, prompting the rest of us to laugh. Drew poured Shan and I a beer. 

Austin took a sip of his drink before changing the subject, "So, is everyone going to the retirement party Saturday after shift?"

"Do you think the party will still be going on by then?" Matt asked. "It's a retirement party and that's like, way past their bedtime."

We all cracked up once again, before Shan stepped in to their defense, "I dunno, some of those guys can party real hard when they want to. Does anyone else remember what happened with Lopez last year?"

Drew shrugged. "Refresh our memory." 

Before Shan could speak, Austin interjected. "I remember! Well, that night Lopez got so drunk by himself..."Shan started laughing, sensing where this was going immediately. Austin continued. "He decided to walk through the drive through to get some tacos. He didn't want to stop drinking so he took them to a bar..." Drew sighed in frustration and crossed his arms across his chest once again. 

Matt picked up the story, "He ended up passing out face first into the tacos? And then the bar owner found him alone, drunk, and passed out in tacos and called the police. And I responded," Matt ended proudly. 

We all cracked up. "I see what you did there," Drew said with feigned annoyance, before pouring himself another drink. "I hate you guys." 

We were all still laughing when Shan corrected us, "I was talking about Sergio Lopez, not Drew Lopez." 

Austin winked at Shan before responding. "I know,' illiciting another roar of laughter from our table. 

"No but actually, I swear, Sergio had a whole bottle of tequila that night. He was out dancing with us till the club closed. Were you guys all that drunk you don't remember it?" Shan said thoughtfully.

"That sounds like a plausible explanation," Austin shrugged. 

"Oh, that's the party where they actually got us all hotel rooms, right? Yeah, that's probably the reason why none of us remember it."

"The perks of working second shift," Matt remarked before chugging the rest of his drink. 

xxx

I stayed out with them until the bar closed and everyone went their separate ways. I really didn't want to leave them. I really didn't want to walk home. I just wanted to go to sleep, or keep drinking. Walking home meant I had time to think, and I didn't want to think. The dream I had last night was still hanging over my head. I was still pissed at my father. And I felt guilty because I was relieved that Anne went to sleep so early so I didn't feel obligated to visit her after work to make sure she was okay. 

Is this what it's supposed to be like when you are dating someone? Aren't you supposed to want to see them and spend time with them? Not do it out of obligation?

xxx

Saturday, the day of the day of the retirement party. 

My shift on Saturday went quickly. I was busier than usual because I was on my own. At our station, we did 4 days on, 3 days off, and it was one of Shan's off days. Once again, it was almost the end of my shift and I was sitting in the same alley downtown where we first saw Cynthia's father driving  when I got a call from dispatch. 

"Car 14, are you available to check out a domestic disturbance?"

 "10-4." I responded. I sighed a bit, wishing that the call had come in just a little bit earlier, but I was also grateful that my boredom was broken by the sound of the radio. 

xxx

I ended up wrapping up that call about 30 minutes past shift. I immediately drove back to the station to log back in the cruiser and change before going to the retirement party. 

The party was nothing extravagant, it was at the bar of a steakhouse nearby. We'd get free drinks by flashing our badges, free use of the pool tables and dart boards. Because of this, I brought a plan black V-neck shirt, jeans, and sneakers to change into. What I'd usually wear when I went out to the bar after shift with the crew. 

I checked my phone when I got to the locker room. I had two new messages. The first was from Anne. "Hi Gabe! Can we get dinner on your next off day?" I internally rolled my eyes before decided that I would text her tomorrow. I was surprised as a sudden wave of sadness hit me as I remembered the lie I told her about working overnight tonight and felt momentarily guilty. 

But, I brushed it off as I changed out of my uniform and into my street clothes. There was a party I needed to get to. I finished tying my shoes and then checked the other message. It was from the group text from work, specifically Matt, "Gabe and Travis, where are you?" I didn't bother responding as I pocketed my phone and exited the station. 

I walked to my car, exited the secured station parking lot, and began the short drive to the restaurant. Once I arrived I saw everyone's car - it looked like I was the last to arrive. 

I walked into the restaurant which was remarkably crowded for a Saturday night - the usual townsfolk out celebrating the weekend, plus almost the entirety of the police staff. I knew we'd be in the back bar area, so I walked straight past the hostess and into the back of the establishment. I saw Matt, Drew, and Austin almost immediately and went to join them.  There were a few superior officers there. Everyone was in casual wear and it was a relaxed environment. "Hey, guys."

"Hey, Carpenter. Where's your drink? It's an open bar!" Drew said in disbelief. He and Matt both had a drink in hand. 

I laughed at his eagerness. "I just walked in the door." 

Austin turned to me. "I got you, Gabe. I'm getting a refill myself."  

"Thanks, Austin." 

"What do you want?" he asked, thoughtfully.  

"Surprise me," I shrugged. After the long boring day I had, I didn't care, I just wanted a drink. 

Austin nodded, "You got it. I'll be back." Austin slid past me in the direction of the backroom bar. 

I briefly scanned the room and noted Travis was still not there. "Where's everyone else?" 

 "I haven't seen Travis yet. Shan's around here somewhere," Matt said.

"Greta's by the main bar," Drew offered. 

Matt immediately turned to him and sighed. "Then what are we doing over here?" Drew laughed and I rolled my eyes. "Just kidding. I love you guys too. "

"Yeah, yeah," I said dismissively.

 "So you were out later than usual again tonight," Matt stated.

I shrugged. "My better half wasn't with me. What can I say?" Drew and Matt laughed. "I had to respond to a domestic disturbance. Drunk guy. Drunk guy, naked, alone in a half full kiddie pool, eating a bag of chips and singing Slayer at the top of his lungs."

Drew and Matt laughed even harder. "Classic Saturday night,' Matt exclaimed. 

We were silent for a moment as they both took a sip of their drinks before Drew asked, "So, who's retiring again?" which sent us all into a fit of laughter again. 

"Our station is so small, how do you not know this?" Matt asked.

Drew responded, "They're all old men, I can't tell 'em apart," which sent us again into  fit of laughter. 

As my laughter slowed, I felt someone enter my personal space. At the same time, the scent of aftershave or cologne began to tickle my nose, with an odor that I can't describe as anything but enticing. My hair stood on end as I slowly turned my head to find the source. 

Austin. 

He had come up silently right next to me, holding a full cup of beer in both hands. Even though I was now looking at directly at him, my eyes locked on his, he lightly nudged me with his elbow to get my attention so he could hand me my drink. A smile toyed at the corner of his lips as he did this. I ignored his gesture, I was too immersed in taking in the sight of his eyes. I had never noticed them before. They were like nothing I'd ever seen. They were light gray, almost white. Looking into his eyes was like looking into a kaleidoscope. They were a stark contrast to his jet black hair, which was long enough to be spiked in a style that looked effortless while also looking put together. I decided the inviting scent was aftershave, it looked like he had freshly shaved before coming to the party, although he already had a 5 o'clock shadow peeking through. It accentuated his strong, square jawline. But his eyes...  I couldn't look away.

Austin lightly brushed the back of his hand on mine to remind me to take my beer. He did this without breaking my gaze. I was grateful, because I still couldn't look away. I didn't want to look away.  He let one corner of his mouth surrender to the smile toying at the corner of his lips and I could feel my heartbeat quicken. He brushed the back of his hand against mine again. This time, it rested against mine just long enough that the breath caught in the back of my throat. The feeling of his warm, soft, yet hard skin against mine, while my eyes were locked intently on his... It actually felt like my heart was fluttering. It was a feeling I've never felt before. I continued to look longingly into his eyes before he broke my trance with his voice.

"Gabe," his smirk was almost knowing. Like he knew how beautiful and captivating his eyes were, like he knew what I was thinking as I awkwardly stared into his eyes, speechless. I looked away quickly, slightly embarrassed. 

"Thanks, Austin."I looked back to meet his piercing gaze again just as quickly as I had looked away. God, his eyes. He met my steady gaze and stared back at me intently as he handed the full cup of beer to me, guided by peripheral vision only. My open hand met his reach and I took the cup in my hand. He didn't immediately let go of the cup, allowing my fingers to gently wrap around his as we both grasped the cup. I sucked in a sharp breath and I swear his smirk grew even larger. Time seemed to stop in that moment and all I could think about was the feeling of his fingers in mine, the fact that he was standing so close to me, and, his fucking eyes... 

As he released the cup into my hand, his eyes never leaving mine, his fingers gently caressed mine and I got chills. They started at my fingers and moved throughout my whole body, leaving me with a feeling of yearning. Whether that touch was intentional or unintentional, it didn't matter to me. My heart skipped a beat in that moment. This feeling, I've never felt this before. It was an unusual feeling, but a welcome feeling... At least, for the moment.

I noticed from the corner of my eye Drew and Matt were now looking at us, like they were waiting for something to happen. I began wondering if they had been watching us which made me uncomfortable. Even though our interaction lasted only a few seconds... It seemed that time slowed down when I looked into Austin's eyes. 

I reluctantly broke my gaze away from his beautiful eyes. 

"Anyways, it's Smith retiring," I said, diverting their attention. 

Drew put tapped his temple with his index finger and looked toward the ceiling thoughtfully. "Oh, Smith. Doesn't ring a bell." 

"Dude, there are like, five Smiths at the station. Can't think of just one?" Austin chimed in, before raising his cup to his lips, taking a sip, while looking at me from the corner of his eye. I could see that subtle smirk still on his face and when he realized I was looking at him once again he raised his eyebrows at me then dropped them quickly, the smirk growing once again. My heart once again felt like it was fluttering. What is this feeling? 

 Drew shrugged, and spoke again, prompting me to turn back in his direction. "Nope, sorry." 

"So, has anyone heard what are they doing to fill his position?" Austin asked. I was grateful to have another excuse to turn back to him, to drink in his presence. Every time he took a sip of his beer, the way his jawline moved, was mesmerizing. And his eyes... 

Matt spoke up. I reluctantly turned away from Austin and looked back in his direction. "I've heard. They're doing nothing. It's the same thing that happened when Benson retired, and Williams. They're basically eliminating the position and combining it with another. That's what we get for living in a small town."

"Lame," Austin said, rolling his eyes, obviously simplifying his real feelings on the matter. I let myself look into his eyes again, although this time he was looking off into the distance. I knew he was likely very disappointed that there wasn't room for promotion. His beautiful eyes looked thoughtful as he pondered the news that Matt broke. 

Drew's eyes traveled the room and landed on the set of pool tables in the back. He quickly turned back to us. "Anyone up for a game of pool? Morano's waving us over." 

"Yes!" Matt exclaimed, to which Austin immediately agreed. 

"Carpenter?" Drew asked, looking at me. 

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other as I tried to think of an excuse. I felt like I needed a minute to recover from looking into Austin's eyes. They were intoxicating, and I didn't trust myself after drinking them in for so long. "I'll head over in a minute. I want to say hi to a few people."

"Okay," Drew said, before gesturing at Austin and Matt. They all started walking towards the pool tables. Austin suddenly paused, looked at me over his shoulder, shot me that gorgeous smirk, then continued on his way. 

I took in a deep breath. If Austin's eyes were intoxicating, that smirk was just pushed me over the edge and I was now black out drunk. I couldn't take my eyes off of Austin. Whatever moments we just shared over the stupid cup of beer I now held awkwardly in my hand made me realize there was something intriguing about him. 

He carried himself the same way in uniform as he did out of uniform. Confident, strong, like he was in control. Almost intimidating. Tonight, he was wearing a red tank top over a pair of tight-fitting white jeans. I could see how muscular he was. He was built, I could tell he spent a lot of his free time in the gym. His broad shoulders and perfect physique just added to the intimidation.

I didn't really know Austin that well, but suddenly I felt like I wanted to get to know him more. And most of all, I wanted to gaze into his eyes again.