Like Loving A Lion (SEQUEL to I'm Not That Perfect)

"I'm so ready for this summer to be over. I want to go home." I sighed, complaining to Matt and Darren. I hadn't even gotten out of bed and we played in twenty minutes. "And it's only the fourth of July."
"Why is it that every time I come onto this bus, you're whining?" Austin asked, walking through the door.
"I'm a deeply upset person." I replied.
"I was going to say that you're a princess but that works too." He shrugged, sitting on the side of my bed. "Hey, guys."
"No, call me a princess." I sat up eagerly.
Austin laughed and kissed me. "Hi, princess. Aren't you supposed to be on stage?"
"Yes. We're on in ten and our lead singer isn't dressed yet." Darren rolled his eyes.
"I am too dressed, idiot." I said, standing up. "Quit yelling, I'm coming. Jesus."
**
"I hear you're homesick." Austin said to me that night. There was a massive Independence Day party and everyone was there, including us.
"I am. I miss California. I'm so sick of. . . where are we?"
"Florida, Avery. Florida." He rolled his eyes.
"Right. I need to go home." I replied.
Austin smiled, lacing his fingers through mine. "I can't wait for you to see my new house."
"You got a new house?" I asked.
"Yeah. The last one had too many memories. I couldn't take it." He said. "The new one is badass. I thought of you when I bought it."
"Yeah?"
"It's bigger. There's a library with full bar, screening room, fountains in the backyard. I got it because of the wine room; I hoped you'd be back." He chuckled. "And the pool is bigger."
I'm excited now. Wine room?" I asked.
"Your eyes are so big right now. You're adorable." Austin grinned, leaning down to kiss me. "And short. Did you shrink?"
"No. I think you grew." I giggled, putting my arms around his waist and burying my head in his chest. "I missed you so much."
"And I missed you more than you know. One more month and things'll be back to the way they used to be." He said.
I looked up at him, shaking my head. "No. Things will be better."
"You're perfect." He said quietly, stroking my still-black eye. "How does your eye feel?"
"It still hurts."
"I wish I could make it feel better."
I laughed softly. "You do, silly. Everything's better as long as I'm near you."
We were approached by an interviewer from AltPress and asked to talk with him and we accepted. His name was Josh.
"You two are together again?" Josh asked.
Austin nodded. "Reunited and it feels so good."
"What brought you together again?" He asked.
"It's a funny story. It kind of goes along with what happened to my eye." I started. "See, I was in a bit of an abusive relationship. The guy is also on this tour. We got in a fight one night and he kind of-"
"He was hitting her and I wasn't having that for a second." Austin said.
"Wow. What are your plans together?"
"Roll with the punches. Not literally." I laughed at my own joke.
"Finish this tour and go home with my lady." Austin replied. Home. The next month couldn't go by any faster.

Notes