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 knowI 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?”
Chapter Twenty
Hayley walks past me into the bedroom. She’s pacing up and down. Nervous. I wait. I don’t reach out and take hold of her like I want to. I have no idea what kind of bomb she’s about to drop on me. In my experience, when people are this nervousto tell you something, it’s not good. So I lean against the wall, my hands in my pockets and my ankles crossed, and I wait.
“I told you I wasn’t a good girlfriend. I wasn’t joking, August. I’m really not a good girlfriend,” she says.
“What makes you think that?” I ask her.
“I don’t think it. I know it. I… I get attached really quick.” She looks at me, waiting for a reaction. When she doesn’t get one, she continues. “I become obsessed, August, like unhealthily obsessed with someone. I don’t know where my limits are. I can’t stop myself.”
I smirk. She thinks her level of obsession is bad? She hasn’t seen mine. “You’re worried you’re going to obsess over me, babe?”
“It’s not funny, August,” she says.
“I’m not laughing.”
