Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
He left, literally walked me up to the penthouse and then said he had to go to work. I didn’t argue, because I need space. He kept touching me all night, and I kept letting him.
After having a shower and changing into a pair of green silk Christmas pajamas, I lie out on the sofa. I am not getting into his bed. I’ll sleep here. I don’t even know if he’s coming back and, honestly, I don’t care.
It doesn’t take long for me to drift off to sleep—not after I take a melatonin anyway.
I know the moment I wake up that I’m in his bed. At least this time I’m alone. He was here, though. I can smell him, and I didn’t put myself in this bed.
I shove the covers aside and stumble into the bathroom. After doing my business and washing my hands, I splash my face and then tie up my hair into a high ponytail.
I find August already fully dressed in the kitchen. “Morning.” He smiles at me. “Come here.”
He holds out a hand and I blindly accept the gesture before I can think better of it.
August pulls me into the pantry. “If there’s something missing, let me know,” he says, pointing to the shelf that is now full of just about every sugary cereal known to man.
“Did you buy out Walmart?” I ask him. “Why would you get all these?”
“Because you asked for them yesterday and I didn’t have what you wanted,” he says, like that is a perfectly logical reason to go and buy over thirty boxes of different cereals.
“You didn’t have to do this,” I say, already reaching for the box of Lucky Charms. “But I do appreciate it. Thank you.” I smile up at him.
August’s gaze flicks to my lips.
Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Don’t do it, I chant in my head, knowing he wants to lean in and kiss me.
August clears his throat, steps back, and walks out of the pantry. “Spoons are in that one,” he says, pointing to a drawer behind him.
“What are you eating?” I ask as I pour my Lucky Charms into a bowl.
“Oats,” he replies.
“Why?”
“Because they’re good for you,” he tells me.
“You know what else is good for you?” I tilt my head to the side, repeating the little game we played last time he said that.
“What?”
“Not getting stabbed with knives in the middle of the night.” I smirk.
“I’ll give that a go,” he deadpans before holding out his spoon to me. “If you give this a go?”
“Pass. You can go out and enjoy some knife fights for all I care. I’m not eating that goop.” I shake my head and open the fridge. I quickly locate the milk and pour a hefty serving into my bowl.
August hands me a spoon from the drawer. “I don’t know how you can keep a body like that when you eat like shit.”
“I usually go to the gym every day.” I shrug.
“I own a gym. Andre can take you there if you want to use it. Not that you need to. You look fine to me,” he says.
“Thanks. I think I’m going to hang here and finish decorating.” I glance around at the mess of shopping bags. “We need to pick a tree. When are you free?”
“Huh?” August looks at me, clearly dumbfounded.
“To go to the tree farm. All the good ones are probably gone but they’ll have something for us.” I’m not picking his damn tree for him. Or is my wanting him to come along just an excuse to spend time with him?
“When would you like to go to the tree farm?” August asks.
“This afternoon?”
“Okay. I’ll come back around three. Will that work?”
“Yep. Thanks.” I smile, happy that he so easily gave in. I really thought I’d have to fight him on it. With that settled, I decide to try to push my luck. “Can I invite my friend over?”
“Jade?” he questions.
“How do you know about Jade?”
“I looked into you.”
I snort, knowing how dull my life is. There is something small he could have found, but I push that aside and decide to focus on the positive. “Bet that was boring as hell,” I say when he doesn’t bring that thing up.
“Nothing about you is boring, Hayley,” August says, walking around the counter. “Leave the dishes. The cleaner will do them.” He presses his lips to my forehead. “See you this afternoon.”
“So that’s a yes to Jade?” I call after him.
“It’s your home, babe. Invite whomever you want,” he calls back.
My home, my ass. I bet one week in this penthouse would pay my rent for the entire freaking year.
I take out my phone and text Jade while I continue to grumble to myself.
Me:
Come to the devil god’s penthouse. Help me decorate.
Jade:
Devil god? So, he was good, then?
Me:
Still not fucking him.
Jade:
So… just sucking face? I saw the pictures.
Her message is followed by five images, all of me and August from last night. I save one. We look like a real couple. You wouldn’t know that the kiss was fake.
Me:
Just come over.
Jade:
Be there in an hour. What’s the address?
Good question. What is the address? I open my maps, tag my location, and then send that to Jade.
Once I finish eating, I have a quick shower, apply some light makeup, and do my hair in two braids. I pull on a pair of denim cut-offs and a band shirt before I walk out to the living room and get started on the decorations.
Jade turns up about half an hour later. With Starbucks. “Oh my god, I love you,” I say, wrapping my arms around her back. Andre steps off the elevator with her.
“Miss Bell, do you need anything?” he asks.
“Want to help decorate?” I wave a hand around the apartment.
“Ah…” He looks like he doesn’t know what to say.
“Relax. I was kidding. You don’t have to stick around. I’m not going anywhere,” I tell him.
He nods. “I’ll be downstairs, Miss Bell.”
“Miss Bell?” Jade bursts into laughter as soon as the elevator doors are closed and Andre is on his way back down.
“Shut it.” I throw a ball of tinsel at her.
“What the hell is all this?”
“August didn’t have any decorations. Like nothing. He told me to decorate.” I lift a shoulder.
“You bought all this crap?” she says.
“No, he did.”
“You guys went shopping together?”
“No, he gave me this.” I pull the little black card out of my pocket and wave it in the air before tucking it away again.
“Hayley, are you sure this whole girlfriend thing is fake? Because from where I’m standing, it’s looking awfully real.” Jade sits on the edge of the sofa.
“Trust me, it’s fake. This is August Wade. He would not want me as his real girlfriend,” I assure her.
“Pfft, he would be lucky as hell to have you as his real girlfriend.” Jade stands. “Okay, let’s Christmas the shit out of this place. I’m loving the color scheme.”