Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
If I had known showers with August were so much fun, I would have jumped in a whole lot sooner. I don’t think my body has ever been so thoroughly cleaned after being so thoroughly fucked.
August left me alone to finish getting ready. This hair doesn’t dry itself well. While I’m waiting for my curler to heat up, I send Jade a message. I need someone to talk some sense into me, because all my brain cells seem to go out the window as soon as I get in the same room as that man.
Me:
What if the season of sin wasn’t just for the season?
My phone rings almost immediately and I answer it on speaker. “Hey.”
“You fucked him, didn’t you? Of course you did. And now that you’ve had a taste, you want to keep the devil god,” Jade grumbles into the phone.
“Actually, it’s him,” I tell her, as I start the process of curling the ends of my hair.
“What’s him?” she asks.
“He wants to keep me.” I sigh. I’m not sure if I should believe him. Why would he want to keep me? “He says it’s not fake anymore, Jade, so what the hell am I doing?”
“Apparently a devil god.” She laughs at her own joke.
“I’m serious! I’m in over my head here. You know what happens to me. I get attached and… that never ends well,” I remind her.
“Okay, so it’s not the German hottie Christmas fling we were planning. But tell me… was it good?”
“The best I’ve ever had,” I whisper. Though I’m not sure why. No one is here. I’m sure August is busy out there with Colton, planning who knows what. “Oh god, I’m screwed, Jade.”
“It would seem that way.” Once again, she laughs at her lame joke.
“Okay, it’s not that bad. Let’s think about this rationally.
You’re there because the ass backed you into a corner and didn’t really give you much of a choice.
He is the one saying he wants to keep you.
That’s not you, babe. And it’s August Wade.
Seriously, Hayley, even if he did break up with you, it’s not like you would really be able to do anything.
Because again, it’s August Wade. If the guy didn’t want someone getting close to him, they wouldn’t be able to,” she explains.
I would love to believe her, but I can’t. He was just shot at today, and the other night, he was stabbed. People do get close, too close. And now all I’m thinking about is how I can keep him away from everyone else.
Shit, I really am spiraling. This is why I told him I wasn’t a good girlfriend. I obsess. And that obsession turns into a light stalking here and there. I’ve had boyfriends I didn’t even like that much and I still obsessed over them.
It’s a trait I’m not proud of, and one I’ve avoided for a while by not dating at all. But now, it’s happening again. I’m drowning in everything that is August.
“I don’t know, Jade.” I shake my head and try to steady my breathing. “You have to promise me something…”
“Depends on what it is…” she replies.
“If it happens, if I spiral too far, make sure you admit me again,” I tell her.
She had to take me to the hospital for a psych evaluation when it got really bad. I was admitted for two weeks before the doctors released me, after deciding I wasn’t a threat to myself or anyone else.
“Babes, you are fine. You’re not spiraling. You’re just in your post-orgasmic glow,” she tells me.
“How’s Riley?” I ask, quickly changing the subject.
“He’s a pain in my ass, but he’s been on his best behavior,” she says. “So, how big we talking? Six? Seven?”
“I’m not telling you how big my boyfriend’s cock is, Jade.” I laugh, and then I see a pair of dark eyes staring right back at me through the mirror. “Ah, Jade, I gotta go. Talk later. I promise.”
“I promise, she says,” Jade huffs before adding, “Don’t overthink it and have fun.”
I cut the call and turn towards August.
“You look fucking breathtaking,” he says, walking into the bathroom to stand behind me. I’m wearing a long black dress with a slit that runs up the left leg. The top is a halter neck and sits high. But the back, well, it doesn’t exist.
“Thanks. I’m almost done,” I tell him, curling the last of my hair.
“Take your time. I do have to apologize now, though,” he says, his hands landing on my hips.
“For what?”
“Colton. He’s coming to the fundraiser with us. Whatever he says, ignore him.”
“I think I might like him. He’s not that bad,” I admit.
“Don’t like him too much. I don’t want to kill my only friend,” August says.
“Okay.” I smile.
I feel like I should just rip the Band-Aid off and tell him. He’s bound to find out. Maybe if I do it now, it won’t be so bad. He’ll stop whatever this is and send me home. But then he could follow through on taking Riley’s fingers, and I can’t let that happen.
“What’s wrong?” August asks me.
Pulling the hair curler out of the socket, I turn around.
“I need to tell you something. You should know…” I start, my hands shaking.
I’ve never admitted my problem to anyone other than Jade.
I even managed to fool the doctors at the hospital into thinking I was just a scorned woman.
I wasn’t. I wasn’t even heartbroken. I was just… obsessed.
“If you’re about to tell me you have a boyfriend, or that you’re married, you should know I will erase that problem. Permanently,” August tells me.
Does he mean…? Surely he wouldn’t kill someone just to make me single? I mean, I am single but…
I shake my head. “No, that’s not it. I’m not seeing anyone.”
“Hayley, next time you say that… next time someone asks you if you have a boyfriend, your answer should be: Yes, and his name is August Wade.” He smirks at me. “What is it, then?”