“Trust me, I’ve got systems. I’ll explain on the way.”
“Could someone maybe untie me first?” I’d just about forgotten Asshole August down on the floor, glaring up at me. “I’m not going to kill you. What would even be the point? I can’t get out now anyway. Not unless this plan works.”
Seems pretty reasonable, but I turn to August first to get a read on his thoughts. He studies the other August a moment. “Fine.” Then he grabs hold of the bottom of his sweater, and my knees go weak when he rips it up, sexy abs flashing everywhere as he takes out the gun, which I’d also forgotten he’d shoveddown there. “But if you’re thinking of trying anything, you know what I’ll do.”
Sexy August.
So sexy with his gun and his mildly threatening speech.
I have got to get this man alone again.
We’ve got plenty of time now. This world can take one for the team, surely? We’re going to put it all right back.
“Whatever,” Asshole August mutters, and how is he not moved by this display of masculine perfection? There’s something seriously wrong with this guy.
Thankfully, I don’t have to go anywhere near him because Jon’s down on his knees already, taking back his belt. He’s apologising for bringing him through, and to his credit, Asshole August’s not yelling at him. He’s even letting Jon help him up.
I glance over at my lovely August, who’s watching them with a weird smile.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just…” A soft chuckle. “Nothing.”
“Are we ready to go?” Shashi calls.
I’m relieved to have her on the team. She’s probably more capable than the rest of us put together.
“Let’s do it.” They all shuffle towards the exit, August and me bringing up the rear. But just before we leave the room, there’s a breeze out of nowhere, and the air turns hot.
August looks over at me. “Was that it? My universe is gone?”
“Yep. It’s all in here now.”
He lowers his head, schools his expression, and walks ahead of me.
From the university, we make our way towards Cambridge Station. No one’s happy when I make them walk further still, past the station and along the tracks until we find a spot to jump the fence. That’s easy enough. More difficult is keeping Jon and Amber’s excitement quiet while we run back up the tracks, asclose as we can get to the station platform, to find a hiding place this side of the turnstiles.
Thankfully, darkness is on our side, though it’s just lifting. We must have shifted several hours in the transfer. But that’s perfect. We need to be in London early for this plan to work.
When the train pulls into the station just ahead of us, we all scramble down the embankment and into the last carriage, shuffling up the train to somewhere about the centre where we can keep a better lookout for ticket inspectors.
Shashi and Amber take a seat together, giving an evident cold shoulder to the rest of us. I guess they have things to talk about. Jon’s pulled Asshole August into their own private spot, showing him his phone, which maybe isn’t a great idea since I did tell him he has next to no chance of finding any way to recharge it in this world if he runs it down. He doesn’t seem to care. And to be honest, that’s fine, because once I’ve seen we’re all safe on board, I find August standing, waiting by me with a smile.
It feels entirely too good to be true that I get a whole hour and a half of train time just to sit with him, talk with him.
We drop into the seats in front of Jon and Asshole. It’s a strange moment of calm in the chaos. The sun’s turning this world pink and purple; I can hear Bon Jovi drifting from Jon’s phone behind us. The six of us have the carriage all to ourselves, filling it with music and quiet murmurs of conversation.
August’s leaning against the window, sunshine lighting the tips of his hair, actually smiling at me. “Thanks for coming for me.”
I can’t believe he ever doubted I would. “Of course I came for you.”
He’s holding himself back against the wall. It’s in the taut breathlessness in his chest, fingers curling against his jeans. “How much will we fuck up this world if you kiss me right now?”
“Want to find out?”
His lower lip curls beneath the white teeth he presses into it. “We probably shouldn’t.”
“Then don’t do that.”
