I’d answered him that I was with Evelyn and that I’d call as soon as I left her house. I hadn’t called yet, and I’d left over an hour ago. Guilt was making my stomach throb and pulse. I massaged it as I tried to focus on thecatalogue.
A knock on the door made mejerk.
“Ness?” a deep voice calledout.
Well, there went sticking my head in the sand. Sighing, I strode over to the door and openedit.
August was leaning against the wall, sporting a black beanie, a dark waffle-knit Henley, and fitted stonewashed jeans. His jaw was smooth from a fresh shave, and he smelled like he’d just stepped from his shower right onto mydoormat.
Why oh why did he have to be sohandsome?
His gaze trekked over my face. “You weren’t answering yourphone.”
“I must have left the ringeroff.”
He pushed off the wall and rounded me. “Something’s wrong,” he saidquietly.
The throbbing in my navel turned thunderous. I wasn’t sure if I was feeling his stress or my own. “Why don’t we sitdown?”
He dropped down onto the couch and placed his forearms on his spreadthighs.
I tugged on the hem of my crop top, trying to extend it beyond my navel, but the pale turquoise cotton just sprang right back up. I folded my knees beneath me and perched on the opposite side of the couch, hoping physical distance would make thiseasier.
“Something happened between you and Liam, didn’t it?” There was a tremor in his gravellyvoice.
“No.” I shook my head, and my loose hair fluttered around my shoulders. “Nothing happened between us. When I was away, I . . .” I forced my eyes to stay locked on his, knowing that if I looked anywhere else, he would sense the lie before it even left my lips. “I didn’t miss you, August. Not inthatway.”
Shadows rushed over his features. “Really?”
“I’m sorry for leading you on. I feel terrible right now. But I’m hoping we can move past this and stay friends?” My voice was so steady I sounded both convinced andconvincing.
August didn’t speak. He just stared as though waiting for me to say:gotcha, didn’tI?
When I didn’t utter those words, or any others for that matter, he got up. “Well, I . . .” He cleared his throat, gaze on the dining table and the open course catalogue. “I’ll just show myself out.” His tone was so heavy I almost leaped off the couch, but Evelyn’s words held me inplace.
He’d understand intime.
“Will you leave Boulder now?” Iasked.
“I don’t know.” He glanced over his shoulder at me, eyebrows almost touching from how deeply his brow was furrowed. “You probably want me gone, don’tyou?”
“No,” I replied so quickly his eyebrows jolted up. “Don’t leave on my account, August.” I gripped my bottom lip between my teeth. My heart was beating so fast I tastedmetal.
He didn’t move for a long moment, neither toward me nor toward the door. Did he sense my lie? Finally, his hand curled around thehandle.
Before he stepped out, I said, “If you want me to return the money you put in my bank account,I’ll—”
“Don’t add insult to injury.” Tendons strained against the bronzed skin of hisneck.
My teeth elongated into fangs that sank into my lip, drawing blood. I swallowed down the salty taste of it, battling back my wolf before she could rise and take control of my humanbody.
August’s nostrils flared. Could he scent my blood? Was he wondering why I’d lost control? Maybe he assumed I was anxious for him to get out of myhouse.
He shut his eyes and squeezed the bridge of his nose. “I guess I’ll see you around.” The tether that linked us swung like a jump rope. “Good luck with college,” he addedtonelessly.
“Thankyou.”
When he opened his eyes again, they shone as brightly as the bloated moon hanging over Boulder. He looked at me one last heartbreaking time, and then he left, the door snicking shut behind him. I held my breath as his heavy footfalls pounded the stairs, and then held it some more as his car enginerumbled.
