CHAPTERFORTY-FOUR
Shane
I pitched all my plans when London wasn’t sticking to the schedule for taping.
Now I have to replan since Austin will. Good thing he can help make his own meals.
“For the lunch date, we’ll wait to see what Austin wants to do,” I inform everyone. “But we can start making sandwiches. Silas, will you slice potatoes thin, and we can fry them up for chips? I will bake some fish, too, nice sauce, and that should be good.”
“We should have a vegetable to go with all that,” Snow suggests. “Corn is easy—they can shuck it themselves.”
“Agreed.” Silas nods.
“Stop slacking off.” I snort, and everyone starts getting to work.
“I can help,” Austin offers as he joins us in the kitchen.
Glancing over my shoulder, I ask, “What do you want to do for lunch?”
“Simple. A picnic.” Austin shrugs, pulling out lettuce and tomatoes.
“Sandwiches?”
“I think the tea sandwiches from the meet and greet and then a salad,” he says.
“I think that’s perfect.” Snow smiles at him.
“Where are you having the picnic?” Afton asks after taking a sip of coffee.
Austin gets an evil grin on his face, and I’m glad it’s not directed at me.
“In the field with the cows.” He chortles.
“What? Why?” Silas gasps.
“Because the speed date wasn’t speed dating. They were given facts about me, and I had to ask them questions about my life when they sat down in front of me. A dummy could memorize facts. The girl that won is high maintenance. Complained about the food. They always do. And then she said her high heels were getting dirty and that her hair kept frizzing out. So, in keeping with tradition of the farm life, we’re going to visit the cows.”
“Holy shit,” Axel wheezes because he’s laughing so hard.
“Not as gross as what Timber did but it’s close.” Silas smirks.
“You can tell you’re related.” Snow grins.
“I think it’s an excellent idea,” Afton says. “If she says something, then she goes bye.”
“Oh, shit. I don’t think I introduced you properly,” I say. “Austin, this is Afton…”
“Afton Geiger. Rookie.” Austin grins. “Vegas first picked him up, and then he was traded in a huge deal to Atlanta. It was said he asked to move but that was before the show. Yeah, I know who he is.”
“All right. Afton, this is my brother, Austin.”
Afton reaches out to shake his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Same. I guess I’m a fan,” Austin says. “I saw you around, and when Snow was talking contests with me, but I didn’t want to scare you off.”
“It’s weird that I have fans. I’ve been out of the game for a while, playing on adult leagues for fun. Kind of weird how everything happened.” Afton’s cheeks turn pink.
“Take it, man, you’re really good,” Austin tells him as he shreds the lettuce.