The First Time is the Hardest: An Austin Brothers Novella (Austin Brothers Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

spotted me, he sat up a little straighter and pocketed his cell.
    “I look like shit.” I flounced into the booth dramatically, and Ryan laughed.
    “Nah, you look fine.”
    “Fine is the worst compliment ever.” Silence crept over us. Feeling the impending suffocation, I rushed out, “What are we doing out here, Ryan?”
    “I had to get out of town. I couldn't stand another second in that place.”
    “And me?”
    “Shit, I don't know, Mila. I got into a huge fight with my parents, and they started spouting all of this crap at me, and I took off. Next thing I know, I'm standing on your doorstep arguing with Tanner.”
    “They're worried about me.” My voice was small as I sunk back against the stained leather.
    “He said something about you holing up in your room. Shit, Mila, you should have called me.”
    “I don't have your number.”
    Ryan shuffled beside me, but I couldn’t move. Exhaustion had taken over again, seeping into my muscles like poison. The effects of the alcohol pulled me back to earth, anchoring me to the bench.
    “Ahh, shit. Come on, let's get out of here.” Ryan helped me out of the booth and hooked his arm around my waist. My head rested against him as he led us out of the bar.
    We started walking in the opposite direction of the bar and his car. I wanted to ask where we were going, but when I opened my mouth, nothing came out.
    I was so tired.
    We entered another building. Ryan deposited me in a chair while he went to talk to someone. I stared out of the small window watching the cars roll past. The sun was shining, and it made everything look pretty. Happy.
    It was a lie.
    Things weren't happy.
    “Come on.” Ryan helped me up again, and I felt someone watching us. I lifted my head and saw a man staring at me. He smiled sadly, and I lifted my hand in a small wave.
    We exited the room through a different door and entered a long balcony lined with doors.
    “You brought me to a motel?”
    Ryan didn't answer. He led us to a room and opened the door. I froze in the doorway, and he glanced back at me. His eyes empty again. “I can call Tanner to come and get you?”
    “What? No, no! I just- what are we doing here?”
    “Forgetting. Don't you want to forget just for one night?”
    I swallowed, unsure of his meaning. But he was right. I did want to forget. I wanted to forget everything.
    My feet moved until I was standing in front of one of the beds. I sat down, my hands trembling. I tucked them underneath my butt.
    “I'll be back in five minutes. Lock the door behind me.”
    Ryan didn't wait around to explain. He slipped out of the room and disappeared. I did as he asked and locked the door.
    This wasn't normal. I wasn't normal. Running after Ryan, letting him take me to that dive. My family would blow a fuse when they found out. But being around Ryan made it easier somehow.
    There was a knock on the door, and I moved to the peephole. Unlatching the lock, I stepped back to give Ryan entry. He went to the small table and unpacked the bag. “I assumed you wouldn't drink whiskey, so I bought vodka.”
    “Drunk. You want us to get drunk?”
    He looked over at me, and his eyebrows furrowed. “Yeah, what else would we be doing out here?”
    My eyes dropped to the ground, and I played with a loose thread in the old chair, while Ryan mixed our drinks.
    We didn’t talk, the silence hung thick among the stale motel air. Until Ryan broke the awkwardness. “I texted Tanner.”
    Oh, boy.
    “I didn't tell him where we are, just that you're safe, and you'll get in touch when you're ready.”
    “Thank you.”
    After accepting the cup from him, I moved to sit on the bed. Ryan took the chair and drank his before pouring himself another.
    I did the same.
     

Chapter 5
     
    “I CAN’T FEEL my face.” I reached out for the cup in front of me and missed, toppling forward and landing flat on my face.
    Ryan exploded into fits of laughter. He slumped against the wall of the motel room. At some point