My face dropped. I had made a comment about him in that bathroom. Right before he willingly stripped for me.
“I didn’t mean that he wasn’t capable of anything else, because clearly—”
“Clearly what?” he snapped, stepping back into the kitchen.
Clearly there’s so much more to you than I ever imagined.
“Sorry, I’m done.” I knew I needed to stop, but it was hard. I still had so many questions.
He blinked, coming around the counter to me and taking my hands. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t about you.” He brought my hands to his lips, kissing them gently.
I slipped one hand out and ran it over my face. “I don’t need to know about your brother.” I meant every word of that. I could care less about Troy. But when I dropped my hand and saw his face, I knew it wasn’t the wisest choice of words. But there was nothing I could say to make it better.
There was a dry-cleaned suit in a bag waiting by the door. “I suppose you have someplace to be…or something?”
“I’m driving to the city actually, but I could drop you off at work, what time do you have to be in?”
“Nine. I’m closing, which just means I come in an hour after Nic and leave an hour later.” I glanced at his phone, lying on the counter. It’s only eight, but I suppose I could be a little early.
He seemed to consider something, pressing his lips together and staring at his phone like it was his lifeline. “Maybe I could make you some breakfast?”
There was hesitation in his tone. But before I spoke to let him off the hook, his phone rang. On instinct, I turned away when I saw Troy’s name on the display just before he swiped the ignore button and pocketed the device.
August sighed heavily and squeezed my hands. “I need to tell you something.”
I was surprised to find my chest clench with panic. I knew what he needed to say. August wasn’t a liar at heart.
I bit my lip, already feeling his distance. “Is what you have to tell me the reason you can’t see me again?”
He nodded regretfully. “It complicates things, yes.”
Try me,I wanted to say. But incomprehensible fear of anything changing between us took over and instead, I did what I did back in that bathroom stall two weeks ago.
I chickened out.
“Then I don’t want to know. At least not yet.”
He smiled. “It’s not up to you, sweetheart.”
His phone buzzed again, and he reached for it with either a quick glance up at the ceiling or a roll of his eyes. Reading the message, he cursed and looked at me with near dread.
“On second thought, let’s go out for breakfast.” He raced to grab a hoodie and zip up his backpack.
“Is everything okay?”
“Of course, we just need to go—now.”
I sprinted off the chair. “Can I pee?”
“No time.”
I laughed awkwardly and followed, zipping up my boots as August grabbed my overcoat.
“Come on.” he reached for my hand and I slipped it in his with a giggle as we raced out.
I left in sweatpants, t-shirt and a zip hoodie. The most comfortable I’d been on a weekday morning in more than a year. I left my suit hanging by the door and there was no time to go back now.
Troy:We need to talk about next Friday’s game—after my suspension. I’m coming down.
