#austinxkirby

Greer looked up from her phone when she heard the door’s bell ding, a broad smile on her lips. “Hey stranger,” she said with the familiar fondness in her voice that could only come out for Austin. He was, after all, her very best friend in the entire world. She was only just getting used to him being home again, still mentally doing the math in her head to see what time it was in Afghanistan when she got texts or thought about calling him. 

Austin’s homecoming had only been a few days ago, and while she’d been there the moment he stepped off the plane, she had wanted to give him time with his family. They’d have their time together whenever they could, and right now that took shape in the form of her overnight shifts at the gas station. Leaning forward to rest her elbows on the counter, Greer flashed him a familiar grin. "Thanks for comin’ to keep me company. These night shifts get so frickin’ boring sometimes. Bud, it’s awful weird seein’ you with legs and stuff. I’m so used to your flat little face on a screen. Get over here and hug me.” 

Hunter hung out near Austin most of the night. He didn’t spend a ton of time at these kinds of thing, honestly he’d only come this year because Austin was back. He’d follow his best friend anywhere, and while Austin was escorting a woman tonight, Hunter knew he’d really come for Greer. Austin wouldn’t let a night pass where his best friend would go out looking this good, and Hunter knew that. “Damn,” he said with a laugh, holding up the drink he’d gotten for Austin at the bar while he lifted his own glass to his lips. “Greer looks incredible tonight, doesn’t she? You think I can peel her away from that loser boyfriend of hers and sneak her off into the bathroom to fool around?” He knew that Austin wouldn’t go for that at all, but it didn’t stop him from busting his best friend’s balls from time to time. 

“Hey you,” Greer said as she snaked her hands up underneath Austin’s arms, tucking them around his waist. She leaned up onto the balls of her feet and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, not at all concerned about the way it may look to anyone else. Austin was her best friend, she’d do the same thing to Logan or Sydney, at least that’s what she believed. “Hey Greer, you look great,” Hunter said, tipping his drink in her direction. “Thanks, Hunt. You clean up alright yourself. Do you mind terribly if I steal this one for a dance?” Hunter laughed before shaking his head. “Greer, you steal him from me all the time, he’s practically yours at this point. Go on, you two have your dance.” Lowering her hand to take Austin’s, she started to pull him toward the dance floor. “I figure you owe me an extra one since you were gone last year, so we might as well knock the first one out now before Hunter gets you drunk. Look at you, soldier, all fancied up and gracin’ us belles with your presence.” 

Greer’s heart had been racing ever since they left Savannah. She couldn’t figure out how to quiet it, either, because the realization that she’d fallen in love with her best friend along the way was somehow too much for her to wrap her mind around. It had been clear to her the moment she saw him holding a baby. Greer Fontanella wanted to give Austin Kirby babies of his own. She wanted to be the one he raised children with, the one he kissed good night every single night. She was head over heels in love with her best friend, and she had no idea how he’d react to it.

When he pulled the truck into his driveway, she knew she had no other choice but to tell him now. She’d given Bree the advice enough to know it by heart. Give him the chance to decide. Straightening her back as she sat in the passenger seat, Greer smoothed her hands over the material of the sundress she’d worn to visit Austin’s friend up in Savannah. Eyes falling to the strappy sandals she was wearing, Greer cleared her throat. “Austin,” she said quietly, “we gotta talk about somethin’,” she started. Her voice was softer than usual, and she couldn’t hide the way her hands were wringing themselves in her lap as she looked over to her best friend.