This story is a sequel to My First Year in College and My First Year in Prison.
Tyler is finally ready to commit to a serious relationship when he moves in with his former College crush, Austin. After years of entertaining the idea, it is time for those two to figure it out: is their relationship meant to last?
This story is entirely fictional and all characters featured are above 18.
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MY FIRST YEAR WITH AUSTIN
Chapter 9: The party
I jumped from the couch as if I was doing something wrong with my older brother.
Was I?
No, we were just talking. Right?
"Austin... I was... Hi! I mean, I did not know you were coming back tonight."
"I was not sure about the flight I would eventually take, so I thought I could surprise you."
He came to hug me and he kissed my cheek. We had barely talked in a week.
It felt nice smelling his familiar scent, feeling his strong arms, having him back.
"Hi, Austin."
Ryan extended his hand but Austin gave him a hug as well. My brother did not get the kiss on the cheek though.
"Hi, Ryan. So cool to see you here."
"Tyler has been the perfect host." My brother said with a cheeky smile.
"Everything's all right, man? I understood you were having some family issue?"
"Oh Yeah... It's fine. I... I'm just glad to be back, really."
Ryan did not look too happy with Austin's response but I had made up my mind about leaving Austin the choice on what he wanted to share.
"We'll talk about it whenever you want Austin, but let's have a drink first!" I spoke before my brother could intervene again.
"What you guys have been up too so far?" Austin asked.
Clearly, he did not want to talk about his own trip...
"We spent most of the day at the beach yesterday. Since Ty was working today, I wandered around the city and went to the gym..."
We were not going to talk about the experience at the sauna then... Good. I was not sure of how Austin would have taken it.
We chatted a little more about Ryan's impressions of Los Angeles and Austin went on a long explanation about the new stadium he was working on and the delay with the construction. Apparently, even remotely, he had a lot of work to do.
I was barely listening, I guess I was too busy looking at Austin. He seemed tired but relatively okay, just a little more anxious than usual.
Maybe I had been worried over nothing. I hoped so.
At least, he was still glancing at me, and more specifically at my ass, whenever I was picking up some drinks.
When my brother had to use the bathroom, Austin gave me a passionate kiss.
"I've missed you so much, babe." He whispered.
He put his hands on my thighs. I was instantly hard, but that was not the point, I was mostly reassured.
"Me too. I was worried, Aust." I kissed him back.
He did not say anything.
My brother came back and we showed a little less PDA. Although, given what Ryan was up to, I should not have felt uncomfortable in front of him!
All and all, it was a pretty nice evening.
There was definitely something off in the air but mostly, I was happy to see Austin again. I was truly missing having his body nearby. I even missed his bad jokes and boring comments about sport teams.
I guess this had something to do with love...
We played cards and I was interrupted right before I could win the whole game by a phone call.
It was Ralph and because it was nearly midnight, I picked-up the phone and isolated myself in the bedroom.
"Hey Ralph, is everything all right?"
"Ty, it is... Well... I guess I've got some good news."
He sounded like he was crying over the phone.
Jesus. Ralph was not the type of guys who was showing his emotions. What was it about?
"You're sure this is good news?" I enquired.
"Yeah... It really is. I mean. I just hung up with Mindy. She... She had her kid. Earlier today. Xander is... I mean, the name of the kid is Xander, just like his dad."
My heart fell in my chest and I had to sit on my bed.
Mindy had her baby. How could I have forgotten she was supposed to give birth around this time.
I was speechless.
"Ty?"
"I'm here."
"Mindy is going to send you some pictures and she said we could visit her when she'll be back from the hospital. If you want to, of course."
"Does she have someone with her?"
"Yeah. Her mom is there. She's also gonna help her with the baby. A little Xander. Can you imagine?"
I could and it was breaking my heart. Or maybe it was fixing a part of my heart which had been broken the moment I had seen Xander lying on the floor.
Dead.
"That is a great news, Ralph. The baby is healthy. This is..."
I could not finish my sentence. There were a few seconds of silence. Again, I was at a loss for words.
"I know, Ty."
"Thanks for calling me, Ralph."
"No problem. We can have a drink anytime, bro."
"You should definitely come visit; you've never come to the apartment. You'll meet Austin, properly I mean, not in the parlour."
He laughed.
"Yeah, sure. And thanks for the advice by the way, I've started to get in touch with other dudes for collabs. Carlos, the new-yorker that you mentioned, and the Masked Hunk, they're making crazy amount of money."
"I bet they do."
"Anyway, I just wanted to share the news. Talk to you soon, inmate!"
We hung up the phone but I stayed in my room. I needed a minute to process the information.
I started sobbing up.
In a way, I was mad at myself. To be able to move on from prison, I had sort of blocked everything out, including the great people I had met while being locked-up.
Ralph was the only one I was semi-talking to, and it was mostly about his X-rated page project.
I did not want to think about Xander, about Mindy's pregnancy either. I purposely prevented my brain to go there but that was a selfish move from my part. I had been their best man after all. They deserved better.
The sobbing turned into full-on crying.
Shit.
It had been a very long day... And a stressful week... And a difficult couple of years.
I was bawling my eyes out, forming waterfalls on my cheeks.
Austin knocked at the door and came in softly.
"Oh man, Ty, what's going on?"
Right away, he sat next to me and held me in his arms. I lied my head against his chest. I wished I could have stopped myself from crying but I had opened up the valves and it was impossible to take back control.
Ryan came in too. He was very concerned.
"What happened? Tyler? Please, talk to us."
I wiped my tears off.
I was still crying but I smiled to them.
"It's fine... Oh Fuck... I'm so sorry. This is ridiculous. Mindy had her baby. Xander's wife, from prison."
They got it instantly.
They were there at the trial, when Mindy showed her pregnant belly.
Austin held me tight.
"Is the baby okay?"
"He is... His name... It's Xander."
A tear formed in Austin's eyes. He seemed very distraught too.
"That's a beautiful name." My brother stated.
"Guys, I'm really sorry... I did not want to ruin the evening. I think this... This has brought back some stuff."
"We know."
"Just cry your eyes out, babe, it will be good for you. I wished I had been more present lately." Austin kissed my forehead.
I felt safe again.
I lied down in the bed, still sobbing even though the waterfalls had stopped.
Austin and Ryan lied down on each side of me. Ryan was patting my hair and Austin was caressing my chest.
I was sad. I was angry that Xander would never get to see his son.
I was grateful too. I could not believe how lucky I had gotten that after all these years, Austin and Ryan were both there for me.
I stopped crying.
"I told Ralph he should come over." I ended-up saying, unsure of how Austin would react.
"That's a great idea." He spoke. "Want to organize something special?"
"I don't know, we never have anyone over..." I remarked.
"Hey! I'm here." Ryan said, semi-laughing. "I'm someone!"
"You're right, we never do." Austin conceded. "Let's change that! Let's make it a party while Ryan is still here. We can ask Janice and Richard to come. Allison and Sergio too. I could ask a couple of my friends from work!"
I smiled at Austin. He seemed very excited by the prospect.
"That sounds great, babe."
We fell asleep in the bed. All three of us. Holding hands.
When I woke up, there were just Ryan and I, we had slept wearing our clothes from the day before. I was snuggling in my big brother's arms. I felt a bit guilty about my morning wood.
Austin was making breakfast in the kitchen, it smelt like bacon and eggs.
I joined him.
He had just taken his shower; Austin was only wearing a grey towel around his waist, preparing pancakes with honey.
I kissed the back of his shoulders.
"Good morning, baby."
He jumped a little, he had not heard me coming in.
"Good morning, babe." He kissed my lips. "You're feeling better?"
"Yeah. I'm good. You?"
"I'm happy to be back."
There was still something he was not telling me. I could sense that. But with my brother in the other room, it was not the place nor the time to have a deep conversation.
Besides, Austin was looking way too hot with the first rays of sunshine hitting his back. He was wearing his towel very low; I could see the top of his inviting ass crack.
"Ryan is still sleeping." I whispered in Austin's ears.
"Oh really..."