Austin: From the Inside Out, #4

By S. L. Scott

From the Inside Out serial by New York Times Bestselling Author, S. L. Scott. 1 Woman 2 Endings – You Choose – Team Dylan or Team Austin. Read one or both to see how it all plays out.

Austin -

Ever since that fateful day, I became an expert at avoidance.

Avoiding attachments. Avoiding relationships. Avoiding love. 

My company became my constant, the only companion I needed… until a chance encounter with Jules Weston. I met her at a most vulnerable moment. Despite the tears that streaked her face, I fell in love the first time I ever laid eyes on her. I needed her in my life.

She was broken, but I knew I could heal her. I would wait until she let me into her heart, allowing me to love her. And maybe, just maybe, one day she could heal me too.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S. L. Scott
• Release date: Sep 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502203465

S. L. Scott

New York Times and USA Bestselling Author, S. L. Scott, was always interested in the arts. She grew up painting, writing poetry and short stories, and wiling her days away lost in a good book and the movies. With a degree in Journalism, she continued her love of the written word by reading American authors like Salinger and Fitzgerald. She was intrigued by their flawed characters living in picture perfect worlds, but could still debate that the worlds those characters lived in were actually the flawed ones. This dynamic of leaving the reader invested in the words, inspired Scott to start writing with emotion while interjecting an underlying passion into her own stories. Living in the capital of Texas with her family, Scott loves traveling and avocados, beaches, and cooking with her kids. She's obsessed with epic romances and loves a good plot twist. She dreams of seeing one of her own books made into a movie one day as well as returning to Europe. Her favorite color is blue, but she likens it more toward the sky than the emotion. Her home is filled with the welcoming symbol of the pineapple and finds surfing a challenge though she likes to think she's a pro.

Book preview

From the Inside Out—Austin

First Edition

Copyright © S. L. Scott 2014

The right of S.L. Scott to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced, copied, scanned, stored in a retrieval system, recorded or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

ISBN: 978-1-940071-21-3

Cover design: Melissa Ringuette

Cover image: Valua Vitaly Photographer

Interior Design: Angela McLaurin, Fictional Formats

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For the Bloggers. I’m so grateful for your dedication and support. Thank You.

THE UMBRELLA GOES flying as I shove Dylan away from Jules and grab her by the waist. I set her down behind me, hoping to protect her. Henry, get her in the car!

Austin! she screams as Henry tries to pull her to safety.

When I turn back, Dylan’s eyes are locked on her as he makes a move to get to her. I punch him, a surprise blow as he’s knocked sideways. Recovering, he turns to me, ready to fight. Austin, I love her.

You barely know her!

His hands fist at his sides and his breathing is harsh. She loves me.

You’re deranged, Dylan!

Jules’ cries are heard over the rain that drenches us. I turn to her as she says, Pleas--

A punch to the right side of my face sends me to my knees.

Dylan! Noooo! Jules screams.

Get in the car, Jules. Losing control of my better judgment, my retaliation is quick and I land a hit straight to his left cheek. He falls this time and I hit him again when he looks up. Fight. Damn it! Dylan lays on his back and I hit him one last time. When I back away, his face is bloodied, but his eyes are open staring into the cloudy sky above with his arms wide open--not fighting at all. Get up, I yell.

He looks at me. Despite the chaos of the scene, he says, Finally, I got what I deserved.

What does that mean?

Treat her well.

What are you talking about? When he doesn’t respond again, I say, Fuck this! Turning, I go to the car and slide inside. Henry takes off and I look down at my hands, bloodied and sore.

Reaching across the space that divides up, she touches my arm gently with her fingertips. Austin. Her voice calm, trying to soothe.

The air in the car is stifling. I look over at Jules, confused by what happened back there. We’re over, although the words haven’t been spoken by either of us… yet. I feel sick to my stomach, hating that I stooped to Dylan’s level. Why did he kiss her? He set me up. Made me do it. Motherfucker.

Jules, we need to talk. I despise the anger that coats the words, never thinking I’d taste such an emotion when it came to her.

You hit him. You hurt him, she says, finally looking in my direction. When her eyes meet mine, I see her pain and tears. Austin, I don’t understand.

What I don’t understand is why you’re defending him?

I’m not. She adjusts her body, angling her legs toward me. I’ve just never seen you act like that—

Don’t turn this on me like I’m the bad guy. There’s obviously something going on between you two.

You’re right. I’ve lied… or not told you everything. What I have told you is I’m not whole, as a person.

I love you. I accepted it, you, your hesitation and caution. You’re different with me. I thought we had moved past all the other stuff. I lean forward, dropping my head against the back of the front seat. Do you love me?

I love you, Austin.

It relieves me that she doesn’t hesitate this time when it matters, but the other hard questions haven’t been asked. With Henry in the front seat driving, I decide to finish this conversation when we’re alone at my place.

THE ELEVATOR RIDE is silent for thirty-seven floors. When the doors open, she walks into the apartment, but I can see by her body language that she’s not feeling at home. This is going a lot different than I thought it would, so I ask, Are you staying?

Am I welcome?

Of course.

She walks to the window and stares out, her eyes seeming to fixate on something in the distance. With her back to me, she says, Dylan and I used to date. My mouth drops open as she continues. For years. We met in college and moved to New York together.

You’ve been in New York for more than six years, Jules. A glutton for punishment, I ask, What happened? I sit down on the couch, the adrenaline from earlier draining from my muscles.

He left me for another woman.

So he wants you back? That’s what this is all about. He wants you back after all these years, after he cheated on you?

Turning around, she says, Yes.

My mind goes into overdrive realizing my relationship with Jules is not simple. It never has been, but it’s much more complicated than I thought. She’s changed since dating me, become more the girl I had a beer with in a pub that first time. That’s progress. But now… Am I losing you?

Sitting down next to me, she says, I’m not to be won or lost, Austin. I have my own feelings and wants.

What do you want then?

I want you.

A sense of calm settles my heart and I lay back. I want you too.

It’s not that simple though.

No, you kissed him. Do you know how that makes me feel?

Standing up, she looks conflicted. Her arms hang by her sides, but her body is angled toward the