“You know, the usual things.You’re the only one… Hayley, no, I’m not seeing her anymore… I spent the weekend at my mama’s house…” I laugh, because I fell for each and every one of these lines.
August’s brows draw down. “Why the fuck would anyone cheat on you? I mean, look at you. You’re a fucking knockout.”
My cheeks heat up at the compliment. “Thanks, but I told you I’m not a good girlfriend.”
“We’ll see.” August stands. “I have to get ready for work. We have dinner tonight,” he says. “Andre will be downstairs to take you anywhere you want to go today.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Actually, you do. You’re the girlfriend of August Wade, babe. That comes with perksand risks. Risks that I’m not going to take, which means… Andre will be downstairs to take you anywhere you want to go today.”
Ignoring the whole “girlfriend” thing, because I do not want to unpack why that made me feel good, I look around the open living room. “Why haven’t you decorated for Christmas?”
There isn’t a single thing in this apartment that would indicate the holiday is fast-approaching.
“I don’t do Christmas,” August tells me.
“For religious reasons? Or are you just a grinch?” I lift a brow at him.
“Neither. I don’t see the point. What am I going to do? Wrap gifts for myself and put them under a tree?” He looks at me like that would be the stupidest thing to do. Except it’s not. I’ve done it. It still feels good opening things on Christmas morning.
“Okay,” I say, resigned to the fact thatmy Christmasis well and truly ruined.
August walks out, and I pick up both of our plates. I don’t know what else to do so I clean the mess he left behind in the kitchen. Just as I finish putting the last dish away, he appearsagain. This time, he’s dressed in a three-piece suit. And I realize it doesn’t matter if this man is clothed or not. He looks good no matter what.
“I’ll be back to pick you up at seven. Be ready,” he says.
“Where are we going?”
“Obsidian. It’s one of my restaurants. The mayor is hosting a Christmas party. We’re invited,” he explains.
“You’reinvited.” I laugh. Never in my life would I be invited to the mayor’s anything. Unless it was to do one of the guests’ hair.
August pulls a black card from his pocket. “Take this. Go shopping. Buy whatever it is you need.”
I look at the card like it’s going to burn me if I touch it.
“Hayley?” August’s voice has my gaze drawing up.
“Again, not a whore. I don’t need your money,” I tell him.
A small smile forms on his lips. I can tell he’s fighting it. “Again, good to know. But if you’re going to decorate this place for Christmas, then you’re going to use my money to do it.”
“You want me to decorate for Christmas? But you just said…”
“I know what I said. I’m not alone this Christmas. You’ll be here, so at the very least, we should have a tree. Don’t you think?”
He says “we” likeweare an actualwe. Not something I’m going to focus on, because he just gave me free rein to decorate his apartment. There is nothing I love more than Christmas.
“Okay. Is there a limit on this thing?” I swipe up the card and flip it over.
“No,” August says, sounding like I offended him.
“Okay, well, do you have a budget? For decorations?”
“Hayley.”
“Yeah?”
