Until the Sun Burns Out by Amber Garza Read Free Book Online Page B

there was a genuinely nice guy, and I trusted him.
    Pity splashed across his face, but it quickly faded as if he knew that was the last thing I wanted from him. “Grades,” he blurted out. “My grades slipped, so I had to quit the team.”
    I cringed. It was obvious from his tone that he wasn’t happy about it, and nothing I could say would make it better. As we sat in silence, something hit me. Nobody’s life is perfect. When I’d first seen Austin with his family, I’d felt irrational jealousy at what I assumed was a life devoid of issues. But clearly he had experienced pain and disappointment just like I had. Maybe not in an identical way. But pain was pain, right?
    However, even in the midst of him losing the sport he loved, he managed to enjoy his life and make the best of it. From the moment I met him, he exuded fun. I wanted to be more like that. Perhaps the more I hung out with him, the more it would rub off on me.
     

SEVEN
     
     
    The next two weeks flew by. Austin and I spent almost every day together. We bodysurfed, hung at the beach, went into town for ice cream, and played soccer at the park a few more times. Dad even seemed to like him being around. Then again, it did make things easier on Dad. Ever since Austin and I became friends, I’d been happier, less argumentative. Plus, I’d been playing soccer, and that was something Dad constantly encouraged me to do.
    Luca acted like Austin was his friend, but Austin was a good sport about it. He’d even played video games with Luca a couple of times. At first I was irritated, but when I saw how happy it made Luca I softened. Besides, it gave me a chance to answer the million texts Grace sent me every day.
    They were all the same. She wanted information about Austin. Her summer wasn’t exactly going as planned. Once Ava and Brody started dating, she became the third wheel. Therefore, she was now living vicariously through me.
    I gave her as much information as I could, but I hadn’t been able to get up the courage to send a picture yet. Not because I didn’t want her to see what he looked like. If anything, I desperately wanted to show him off. If she was jealous at the idea of him, she’d die when she saw what he looked like. There was no way my descriptions did him justice.
    The real reason I hadn’t sent a picture was because I didn’t have one. The other day when he and Luca were playing in the waves, I held up my phone with the intention of sneaking a picture. But then Austin’s head bobbed up and he glanced at me. Embarrassed, I pretended I was taking a selfie. I even did the stupid duck face as if to make it more believable. Later I wished I’d chosen a different excuse since Austin teased me endlessly about the fact that I spent my afternoon sitting on the beach taking selfies.
    “Let me see them,” he’d teased, trying to snatch my cell phone out of my hand. “I want to see what you spent your afternoon doing.”
    When I wouldn’t let him, he said, “What’s wrong? Have you not perfected the duck face yet? Cause I can help you with that if you want.” Then he’d chased me around my house, puckering up his lips. It was supposed to be funny. Dad and Luca sure thought it was. To me it looked like he was trying to snag a kiss, and it only drove home the realization that I would’ve liked him to.
    As much as I tried to convince myself that I was okay with a strictly platonic relationship, deep down I’d always known that was bull. How could I have been okay with it? He was the most gorgeous guy I’d ever seen, and for some reason he chose to hang out with me. It was crazy and wonderful and confusing all at once.
    But I was determined to shove my feelings away. It was counterproductive anyway. I wasn’t allowed to date, and, besides, Austin wasn’t asking me to.
    Grace only became more insistent about the picture though. She’d even started saying that by not sending a picture I was basically confirming that he was ugly. This lit