Cassie shakes her head, sliding in next to Mac. “Well, that answers that.” She grins at me and then winks.
Amelia stares at us for a beat while Jase slides in beside Cassie, and then she joins the booth.
“You guys look so happy,” she says when she finally gets herself settled.
I watch as Dex slides in next, bumping fists with August when he gets settled.
Someone screams across the bar, “Hendrix has a boyfriend!”
I cringe inwardly, burying my face in August’s shoulder. “I hate them.”
“No, you don’t,” August murmurs, an amused grin on his lips.
Mac just grins at both of us. “I’m so happy for both of you. I’m glad that you both figured your shit out.” She pauses before turning towards August. “I knew I liked you.”
“Thanks, Mac,” he says, pulling me closer again and placing another kiss on the top of my head.
“Look at your blushing girl!” Cassie teases.
“I’m leaving,” I say, making a move to stand.
August tightens his arm around me, gentle but firm. “No, you’re not.”
I still and watch Cassie’s jaw drop.
“Oh, he can touch her and she listens. This is witchcraft,” Cassie teases.
“Please behave, darling,” Jase says, giving her a squeeze.
“I like him with her so much,” Amelia chimes in. “Is everything okay?”
I feel like everyone leans in and prepares to listen to whatever August is about to say.
August nods. “Yeah, it is.”
“And you’re staying with us?” Dex asks him.
He nods again. “Yeah, I’m staying here and Drew is going to work with the new WNBA team. I think that we won this round and maybe, just maybe, a little bit of his respect.”
The booth goes quiet. Not shocked and not dramatic. Everyone just stares at him proudly.
“Good,” Cassie says, nodding.
“You deserve to choose your own life,” Dex adds. “My boy stood up to his evil father and chose love.”
“Dex,” August warns.
“What, I’m being supportive,” Dex says, grinning at August.
“So, when is the wedding?” Ash says, coming over to join all of us now.
“I’m actually leaving this time,” I say with a groan.
August laughs, a real, unguarded one. “Stay.”
Danny looks from August to me, a sly smile on his lips. “I’ve gotta say, August, you’ve grown so much from when I first met you. You aren’t the man who is running around chasing women anymore. You are actively planning a future.” He lifts his glass of beer to August. “Like I said, I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks,” August says, flushing a bit. “I know that I was a jerk but now I have someone like you all did and I get it. Life just makes a lot more sense with this woman by my side.”
