“Let’s go.” I don’t wait for Riley to say anything. I turn and start tugging Hayley behind me, stopping when she lets go of my hand. I pivot and see her hug her brother.
“What happened?” she asks him.
“Hayley, not here,” I tell her.
She glares at me and then looks back at Riley.
“It’s okay. Let’s go,” Riley says.
It’s not until we’re in the car that I finally address the kid. “Who and why were you fighting?”
“My father’s dead. I’m not looking for a new one,” he grumbles.
“Good thing I’m not looking to fucking be one. Who did that to your face?” I ask again.
“Seriously, Hayley. This is happening?” Riley points to me and then to his sister. “I thought it was fake.”
“It was,” Hayley says. “Riley, what happened? Why were you fighting?”
“It doesn’t matter,” he groans.
“Riley, why?” Hayley’s tone shifts from concern to authority. Her face telling him not to fuck with her.
“It was that fucking asshole, Shawn. He sawyou two…” Riley gestures between me and his sister. “…making out on TikTok and said something about you. So I hit him. It’s not a big deal.”
“What’d he say?” I chime in. “About your sister?”
“He said if my sister was such a thirsty whore, he’d give her something to drink,” Riley barks out.
My head snaps in his direction. “What the fuck? Where does this asshole live?”
“Don’t answer that, Riley,” Hayley interjects. “They’re just words. You don’t need to use violence to defend me against words.”
“Yes, he does,” I argue, and Riley smirks.
“No, he doesn’t,” Hayley scolds.
“Fine, he doesn’t. But I will.”
“No, you won’t. Words don’t matter. He’s just a punk kid, August.”
“I don’t care if he’s the fucking king of England. No one is going to talk shit about you,” I growl.
“Andre, can you take us to Jade’s? Riley is going back there,” Hayley calls out to the front seat.
Andre looks to me, and I nod.
Chapter Twenty-Three
After dropping Riley off at Jade’s and giving him strict instructions not to leave, August told Andre to take us back to the penthouse.
“Why are you nervous?” August asks, pulling my fingers away from my mouth. It’s a bad habit. His hand clasps around mine and then he rests are joined palms on his thigh.
“I’m not,” I lie.
August squints at me. “You know, I’ve never once lied to you, Hayley. I would appreciate it if you gave me the same courtesy.”
Well, shit, now I feel even worse.
