way,” I tell him, bringing the straw of my drink to my lips and taking a sip before I let anything else slip out.
August’s hands go to his shirt, and in a quick movement, he has it off and over his head, then he throws it at my face. I giggle as I pull it away and see him already going on to the next thing.
“Oh, I didn’t know we signed up for a strip show. Noah, you should do that, too.” I turn to see Noah shaking his head at my sister as he walks by helping August.
August speaks to him, not in any manner he speaks to me, and I watch, fascinated.
“Ummm, what’s going on?” Rhianna asks, and I turn to see her staring at me.
“What?”
Her eyes fall to where the boys just disappeared then back to me. “You’re staring awfully hard at the man in blue.”
I blush and shake my head at her words.
“I asked him to help. He’s helping.”
“Anderson hasn’t been around?”
“Nope.”
“Good. You don’t need that. But we both know who he is…” She pauses. “Just be careful. Because if he sees you with him…” she nods when August walks out, “… I’m not sure I’d like the outcome.”
I’m not sure I would either. It’s not that we think August couldn’t take on Anderson. No, we know that for sure he would have no problem. But Anderson has connections that could throw August straight back where he doesn’t want to be. Prison. And I would hate to think I had anything to do with that.
“Don’t stop being ‘friends’ with him. Noah said it’s good for him to get out.”
“Noah his daddy now?” I joke with her.
“No, but I have a feeling he is his only friend.” She nudges me. “Apart from you now, of course.”
“You two seem to be working hard,” Noah says, lifting his shirt and wiping his face.
The truck is now empty, and my lips turn up as August walks over to us.
“I’m treating for dinner, as a thank you,” I tell him, then look at my sister and Noah for confirmation.
“We can’t. Noah has a business thing tonight, and I’m going to keep him company. But you two should go.”
When I glance at August, he’s not even paying attention to me. He’s closing up the truck and doing his very best to ignore me. Turning back to my sister, I smile before Noah wraps his arms around her and they head inside the apartment.
“Dinner?” I ask as August closes the door, and his green eyes find mine.
“I need to change.”
“You can take my car and come back when you’re ready.” I throw my keys to him. August catches them and glances down at them as if they are on fire before he looks back at me.
“You trust me with your car?” I can’t help but notice the surprise in his intonation.
“Should I not?”
“I could steal it, sell it off for parts.”
“Okay, umm… you’re really not selling yourself here.” I laugh.
“Why do you trust me with your car?” he asks, pushing me a little harder.
“It’s just a car.”
He shakes his head, steps toward me, and tries to hand the keys back but I don’t take them. “I can find my own way home.”
“No, take the car, August. And come back for dinner. I’ll even order in if you want.”
“You want me to stay for dinner?”
“Yes. Now go, because you really do stink.” I push him away from me. I know he has his license, Noah told me, so I know he can drive, but the way he inspects the keys, you would think he’s won the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket.
“I’ve never willingly taken a car like this for a drive unless it was stolen,” he says, smirking. “Should I drive it like it's stolen, too?” he asks when he opens the door.
“You’re making me rethink this.”
He laughs, gets in, and starts the ignition. The window comes down, and he looks good in it.
“I’ll treat her real fiiine.” He winks before he pulls out.
Why, oh why, did those words hit something deep inside me?
He’s on time. I like that about him. He steps inside and past me, handing me the keys on the way. He smells fresh, and his hair is still wet.
While he was gone, I managed to tidy up some things and get them in order. I didn’t have to do much, just some bedding, which I bought brand-new, plus a dresser. All my other stuff I brought in the back of my