Except hers.
No, hers stands out like the brightest star in a blue sky.
“You know Sully?” I ask.
He scratches the back of his head. “Yeah, he’s my boyfriend.”
Okay, well, I didn’t expect that. At all. Though, I don’t remember Sully ever being with girls in school either.
“He tried to visit you when you were locked up, but your mother wouldn’t allow it. She controlled who was able to visit you.”
I didn’t know that.
How the hell could I not have known that?
“Anyway, he’s been talking about you.” He turns. “I should go. Nice to see you again, August.”
I call out to him as he gets to the door. “Tell Sully to stop by.”
“He would love that. I’ll be sure to pass on the message.”
When I arrive home, he’s there in an old beat-up car. Sully’s leaning against the door, checking his phone until he notices me. “I was on my way to see Larry when he called. Figured I better not blow my chance, so I came straight over now.”
I nod. Sully follows behind me as we step off to the door of my house.
“You and Larry…” I ask him as we enter and walk through the house to the kitchen.
He looks around nervously. “Yeah, he’s good. Been there for me since I stopped working for Josh, and gave me a place to live.” He shrugs. “I owe him a lot.”
“Good.” I nod, placing the bag on the counter.
“You have blood there.” Sully points to his upper lip, and I wipe at mine. “Josh is using Anderson. It’s what he does… uses people to get what he wants.” He pauses. “And I’ve heard he wants you gone since you won’t go back to working for him.”
“Josh has to realize he can’t get everything he wants.”
“Yes, but try telling him that.” He takes a seat. “Are you doing good? How are you?”
“Why do you care?”
“Your name is on a lot of people’s lips, not just because of who you are, but because you’re with the Harley girl. And not the sister, but the golden child.” I shake my head. “So as your friend, who hasn’t seen you in years, I want to know… how are you?”
“My friend?” I ask.
“Yes, of course, I’m your friend. I asked Noah if I could pick you up the day you were released, but he said it was best he did it to get you settled.”
“He was right.”
“I worry for you,” Sully says. “You’ve always been by yourself, August, so I know you can survive. But sometimes you need a team, people who have your back.”
“And you’re one of that team?”
“I love you, man, and not in a romantic way. That’s reserved for Larry.” He chuckles and so do I. “You are my best friend, so yes… I want to help in any way I can. I’m working a few jobs right now, trying to save up some cash. Do you need work?”
“No.”
He nods. “What are you doing?”
I gesture to the table behind him, his eyes find it, and he gets up to touch the surface.
“You’ve always been gifted. Wow, this is amazing.” His hand smooths along the desk.
“Thanks.”
We continue to talk, and Sully stays for the afternoon, and he only leaves when Rylee turns up. He makes sure he speaks to her, and she laughs at his words.
And when he’s gone, she turns to me and announces, “Josh came to see me today.”
Chapter 27
Rylee
I knew what the look on his face was going to be before I came, before I opened my mouth. I took away his happiness, but he needed to know.
“What did he want?”
“He couldn’t get into the building, so he waited until Shandy and I left for lunch.” His forest-green eyes lock onto mine. “What happened to your lip?” I reach to touch it, but he recoils and takes a step back. “He asked if I could give you a message.”
“And?”
“He said you need to come visit him tonight at the house.” I shrug. “He said you’ll know which house he’s talking about.”
“You should leave,” August says.
“August…” I say his name maybe a little more loudly than I wanted and then reach for him.
“Just fucking go, Rylee,” he snaps.
My hands ball into fists at my sides. The anger pours from me as I glare at him. “No,” I scream. “No! You don’t get to dictate everything in my fucking life. My mother’s done that enough to last me a lifetime. So, no, you don’t get to do it as well. So, August Trouble, stop pushing me away.”
“I can push you away if I don’t want you,” he says, and that hits something inside me.
It hurts.
But when I look in his eyes to see if he’s telling the truth, I know he isn’t.
He’s pushing.
Again.
“Lies. You’re good at that, pushing people away, because you’ve never had love and don’t know what to do with it,” I tell him. My hand reaches out for him, but he brushes me away.
“You’re delusional,” he says with a cackle that sounds almost evil.
“No, I’m just a stupid girl in love with an even stupider boy.”
He pauses. His eyes go round as do mine. I didn’t expect to say that. I didn’t plan for that to leave my mouth. Yes, I love him. But I assumed it was a heavy crush, maybe an addiction. I’ve never felt like I do with August. With Anderson, it was convenient. With August, it’s all-consuming.
I go to bed thinking about him.
I wake up thinking about him.
He treats me well, even with all the times he’s pushed me away. He only does it because that’s all he knows. People push him away, so he reciprocates with his own version.
“I didn’t mean that.”
“You did,” he replies. “And you need to leave. Stay away from Josh. Go.”
“No.” I step up to him, my hands touch his sides, and he shakes his head while trying to pull me away from him.
“Just go. Go home to your comfortable apartment.”
“Why are you being like this? Is your favorite thing to push me away? Do you think if you do it enough, I might not come back?”
His eyes lock on mine. “There will be a time when you don’t come back. It’s a part of life.”
“Not mine. I’m like glue, baby. I’m stuck until the end of time.” This time I reach up, so my lips touch his. August doesn’t kiss me back at first, until I push my body into his, and he gives in. His lips move, and his hands find their way to the most comfortable place, my hips.
Once, I had hands on me that weren’t welcome.
Once, I had words whispered in my ear that weren’t invited.
I know now, thanks to August, that I shouldn’t accept that life.
Why would I?
He doesn’t.
Hell, August doesn’t accept anyone.
He pulls back fast, putting some distance between us then he shakes his head. “Stop it! Fuck.” One hand lifts and spears through his hair.
Someone bangs loudly on the door behind us. I step aside so he can go to it because I’ve learned not to go near his door. When he pulls it open, Paige’s father is standing on the other side.