Palming the nape of his neck, he slid his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll be right back,” he said, returningoutside.
I glanced at him through the window, watched his tendons and muscles shift beneath his caramel skin, watched the perfect Vee of his back. If only I hadn’t missed him when the link hadfaded.
Sighing, I crouched and checked the floorboards for nails that would need to be removed. As I pried one loose, August’s heavy boots reappeared before me. I trailed my gaze up his legs that were set stiffly apart, at his knees that were locked as tight as hisjaw.
“You told me nothing happened between you and Liam when you were out in the Rivers’ territory.” There was a sharpness to his tone that made me rock back onto my heels. “You two shared a cabin. Aone-bedroomcabin.”
As I stood, I folded my arms. “Liam was worried about leaving me on my own in the enemycamp.”
“The Rivers aren’t our enemy,” August said through grittedteeth.
“I figured as much when Ingrid’s father asked Liam to arrange a wedding between you and hisdaughter.”
His face jerked back. “What? What are you talkingabout?”
“Ingrid wants to marry you, August. If you remain a Boulder, that is. If Liam and I fail, and you become a Creek, the proposal will be off thetable.”
His eyebrows lost some of theirslant.
“And I didn’t tell you about sharing a cabin with Liam, because I knew it would annoyyou.”
“If nothing happened, why would it annoyme?”
“Nothing happened, and it’s bothering you now. And we’re not even . . .together.”
Silence stretched out like the ocean that had separated us after he’dreenlisted.
“Will you considerit?”
His chest rose and fell bumpily. “Considerwhat?”
“Marryingher?”
“Of course not,” hesnapped.
It shouldn’t have brought me any relief, but hearing him say this filled me with hope that he might just wait for me to grow up. “How did you find outanyway?”
“Same way I find out about everything . . .” He tossed me a hurt look as he stalked away. “Through otherpeople.”
His words sliced past my ribcage, cutting deep. What else had he found out about? Was he talking about the dinner tomorrownight?
“So you don’t find out about thisthrough other people, I’m going to dinner at Tracy’s tomorrow with a couple Boulders and theirgirlfriends.”
He paused on the threshold of the house. “Are you telling me or invitingme?
I folded my arms in front of me. “Do you want tocome?”
He looked at me long and hard before saying, “No.”
And then he was trampling the unkempt front yard and climbing into his car. I felt his anger agitate the tether long after he’dgone.
23
“Hey, bitch,”Sarah said, flinging her front door wide. “Hope you like Chinese food, ’cause we’re having Chinesefood.”
“I like Chinese food,” I mumbled as I entered her marble-and-stainless-steelpalace.
“Do contain yourenthusiasm.”
