August had Steve in a headlock, using his knee to press the taller man into the ground.
Finally, after trying to shake him off, Steve went limp with submission.
August let go and jumped to his feet, holding out his hand to help Steve get up. Steve narrowed his eyes, glaring at August’s fingers like they might bite him, but after a second he reached up and accepted the hand.
“We’re lucky no one saw that,” Steve said, brushing dirt and dust off his front. His compression shirt had ridden up, exposing his ripped abs. “Fucking idiots, fighting in public like a pair of teenagers.”
“You attacked me, remember?” August crossed his arms.
Steve wrinkled his nose and rolled his eyes. “You provoked me, asshole.”
Steve had lost one of his shoes in the tussle, and August walked over to where it was lying and picked it up. He tossed it at Steve with a bit more force than necessary.
“Great defense,” August mocked. “I can tell you’re an officer of the law. You must have passed your three-week course with flying colors.”
Steve looked murderous, but then just as quickly his anger seemed to melt away and he was rolling his eyes.
“What?” August demanded.
“You’re a fucking douchebag, you know that?” Steve bent down to put on his shoe, tying the laces tight.
“Only to people who deserve it.” August crossed his arms again. “And you fucking deserve it, you yappy little shit.”
“Fuck off, August.” Steve rose up and rolled his shoulders. Then, as if their confrontation was over, he jogged away.
August followed, incensed. He caught up to Steve and ran next to him.
“Don’t walk away from me when I’m talking to you!”
Steve glanced at him, unimpressed. “I’mjoggingaway from you. Are you coming along for the run?”
August was perversely tempted to say yes, but then he realized that he was being ridiculous and stopped.
Steve, ignoring him completely, kept going, turning the corner up ahead and disappearing from sight. August could still hear him, the steady beat of his feet hitting the frozen dirt path getting progressively further away the longer he stood there.
Feeling very unsatisfied with his victory, August turned around and went back to pick up his coat. His scarf and his gloves had fallen out of his pockets sometime during the fight, each item landing a few feet away from each other. The gloves were fine, but his scarf had been stepped on and looked dirty no matter how much August tried to brush it clean.
Winning against Steve didn’t feel as good as he’d expected it to, and unlike Ryker, his victory didn’t leave him with any feelings of fond benevolence.
Steve was still an annoying little shit.
A pair of joggers turned the bend, slowing down at the sight of him and giving him worried looks. August quickly put on his coat and zipped it up, pushing his dirty scarf into his pocket and tugging on his gloves. He ran his fingers through his hair, smoothing it down, and then brushed off his dirty pants. The pants were torn above the knee – ripped at the seam when Steve had grabbed him and tried to pull him off when he’d had him pinned – and he was showing off several inches of thigh.
Luckily, August had a spare set of clothes in his office. Unluckily, to get them he’d have to walk through the reception and waiting room where Cynthia and his patients would see him.
Since he didn’t want to explain to anyone why he looked like he’d been in a fight, August decided to go buy a new pair of pants before heading back to the office. And since he was going shopping anyway, he could see if he found something nice to wear for his next date with Ryker and Dylan.
Mood lifted by his excellent plan, August turned around and left the park in a hurry. If he was quick, he could get his shopping done and be back at the office in time to see his next patient with no one being the wiser.
11
STEVE
Steve couldn’t believe it. He’d lost toAugust Schaffer.
At least he hadn’t made it easy for him. Ryker had put him on his knees and made it feel impossible to fight back – his dominance unquestionable – but with August, Steve had felt like he stood a chance.
It was fucking annoying to have lost. If he’d just grabbed August’s leg when he had the chance, right after they both went down, he could have flipped them over and gotten on top.
