Chapter 10 #2
My head is forced back to look up at him.
I’m trying so hard to stand my ground. I don’t drop his stare and strangely enjoy taking in the deep green of his eyes.
His breaths are steady, his huge chest heaving up and down while he stares down at me.
But his breaths are no longer like he’s angry, but like he’s trying to center himself.
He’s so close I can smell him, which doesn’t feel like the thing I should be focusing on right now.
But August smells like pine and fresh cut wood and I’m intoxicated by all of it.
I feel like I should be nervous, but my lower stomach feels like we just took the first big plunge on a rollercoaster in the best way, and his authoritative stance feels like an aphrodisiac.
He draws in one last breath, scrubs his hand through his hair and turns toward the front door.
“I’m sorry.” He says, but it’s barely audible.
The tone of his voice tells me everything.
He hates how he just acted. Like he thinks I’m a threat to Addie, but battles with somehow knowing I’m not.
He seems as though his protective instincts kick in before he realizes there’s no danger.
I can relate to that. I straighten up and follow him into the house where I prepare myself to apologize to Addie.
“Ads, we’re back.” he calls to her while she’s setting the table for dinner and she doesn’t so much as acknowledge his statement.
“Hey kiddo, you know we don’t ignore people.
Even when we’re upset. Greet your teacher, please.
” He may have the manners of a bull, but thankfully he’s trying to teach Addie otherwise. That much is admirable.
“Hi, Ms. Jake. Thank you for coming over.” She slightly mumbles from her task at hand, and I can’t say I blame her.
“Hey, Addie, I’m so glad I could make it. Would it be okay if you and I talk for a quick second?” Addie nods and I follow her outside to the porch. This must be where the Vons like to do the heavy talking.
“Addie, I need to let you know I made a mistake today.” I think it is so important that adults own up to their shortcomings.
I really want to make sure my students are comfortable coming to me when they make a mistake, so I always try to set an example.
“I spoke before I thought about what I was saying, and that was wrong of me. I didn’t think about how what I said would make you feel.
I’m very sorry and I hope you can forgive my mistake. ”
“It really made me feel embarrassed in front of my friend.” I admire her strength to share her feelings with me. This must be something her dad works on her with. “But I think it will be okay, because Nadine said she won’t tell anyone and she’s my best friend. So, I think I forgive you.”
“Well, I’m glad you and Nadine talked about it and that you forgive me. Can I still help you with your lines?” I do genuinely want to see her excel at this. I know she can. She beams back at me like I just offered her the moon.
“I really want you to! Let’s go!” She ushers me back into the house like nothing ever happened.
August watches us with skeptical eyes as we bound back into the house and sit down for the dinner he’s set out while we were talking.
It looks delicious, but I can’t stop looking at him. He seems to be having the same issue.
The dinner table is rectangular and August takes what I’m assuming is his usual spot at the head of the table.
Addie jumps in to sit at his right, leaving me with three very awkward options: the other head of the table, or next to Addie, or to the left side of August. I opt for the left side of August, hoping it creates some balance between the three of us.
The spread of food looks amazing and I can hardly believe August cooked it himself.
I reach for the main dish of what looks like the creamiest, most colorful tortellini I’ve ever seen.
August reaches at the same time, causing our fingers to brush and for whatever reason my eyes snap up to meet his, like I’ve done something wrong.
That slight interaction made my stomach dip and I immediately divert my gaze and pass the dish to him.
“No, please. Ladies first.” But he doesn’t hand it back over to me. He picks up my plate instead and heaps a generous serving onto it. I reach for it, brushing his fingers again, desperately trying to feel that slight thrill one more time.
“Thank you so much.” I start before taking a mixed bite of tortellini and veggies.
If he’s going to serve me this much food, there’s no sense in pretending I don’t eat like a normal human being.
“This is absolutely delicious. Are you sure you don’t have a chef hiding somewhere that makes your food?
” I joke, hoping to shift the atmosphere into something a little less thick.
“No, just me.” August smirks as he shakes his head.
He actually smirked and if that didn’t completely melt my core and make me feel like a giddy teenager.
The bar might as well be in the basement at this point if I’m this undone by him smirking about the food he’s prepared.
What I wouldn’t give to see that gorgeous smirk again.
I shift in my seat a little to make myself comfortable, but it didn’t do a thing to alleviate the building pressure inside me.
“My mom was a great cook and made sure to teach all of us.”
I hang on his every word like they’re the most precious things I could listen to. I didn’t even realize how much I would love to hear more about August’s personal life and family.
“Daddy is teaching me how to cook too! We do everything together. He said he wants me to be ‘well-rounded’” she says in air quotes. “Whatever that means.” Addie adds with a little roll of her eyes before shoving in a mouthful of pasta.
“That just means he wants you to be independent one day and know how to do a lot of different things.” I try to explain simply, realizing “well-rounded” is one of those things I say but can’t actually figure out a good definition for.
The conversation continues effortlessly with Addie going on about her day and asking August about his.
They must do this every night because all of it seems so organic.
I, strangely, don’t even feel like an intruder.
They include me in the conversation so seamlessly that I feel like I’ve crash landed somewhere else with how kind August is being to me.
The conversation is so inclusive it's as though my slip up in the classroom never even happened.
Adeline and August start to clear the table and I offer to help but Addie explains that this is one of her favorite parts of the night, cleaning up dinner with her dad. I think my heart just exploded with how precious that is.
I always thought August was one of the prickliest men I’ve met, but he is playdoh in his daughter’s hands and it feels like a gift to be able to witness it. I’m grateful that there is more beneath the surface of the brash guy who keeps stampeding into my classroom every other day.