“If that’s what you want to call that,” I respond and head down the hallway quickly, away from him and my friends. “See you later,” I reply, throwing my hand up in the air in a wave of goodbye.
Once I’m out at the visitors parking spots, I climb into my black BMW and peel out of the parking lot. I’m not sure why I’m in such a hurry to head home, or if it’s that I want to put some space between me and August.
Chapter Two
~AUGUST~
I’m back in my penthouse on the top floor of the high rise that looks out over the Tampa Bay city. I throw ice in a tumbler and fix myself a tall pour of bourbon. Sitting down in the oversized chair that Dex loved so much that he purchased one for his apartment, I stare out at the city.
I spin my phone in my hand, not sure what to do now. Taking a long sip of the amber liquid, I hear the ice clink in the glass when I pull it from my lips. I’m lonely. I would never tell any of the friends that I just left that. They see me as fun-loving, “always down for a party” August. The man who can’t leave the bar alone on most nights, a female companion hanging off of my arm. But not tonight.
Instead, I’m sitting here staring out at the bustling city, contemplating how my best friend, who only moved out here two months ago, is now living with the center back from the NWSL team that I own. Curiosity of my father and toeing the family line. But it’s mine and I own it.
When Dex called me that night and told me that his life was in shambles, and that the job I always dangled in front of him could save him, I quickly agreed. Pulled all the strings I could and brought him down here. He’s my best friend. I’ve knownhim since I started at Brown. He picked my ass up off the ground on more than one occasion, both at football and also personally. Now, all that time I thought we could spend together has diminished considerably because he’s with Amelia. And I’m happy for them; they are cute together. I’ll still see him. I just wish he was here now.
Tonight was weird. Being trapped in that elevator with Hendrix. I could tell that she was scared. There was a moment that I saw those shields that she keeps up so carefully in place go down. I left her the end of our sophomore year at the request of my father. He was not a fan of the goalie that I was enamored with. I mean, I, August Cromwell, who never uses the ‘l’ word was head over heels for that girl.
But Dad said no.
Apparently, even though she was the star goalie for the University of North Carolina and from a decent family, she wasn’t good enough for me. She was a distraction that I didn’t need. He decided that. I lean my head back and remember the day that he came to get me. The look on her face is burned into my memory.
I roll over to hear some clanging around in the kitchen. I notice that Hendrix is not in bed with me. She must be what that noise is all about. I roll over, my naked body getting twisted in the sheets. I find my phone on my bedside table and notice that it’s after noon. There are ten missed calls from my father.
“What the fuck does he want?” I say out loud. I rise from the bed and head towards the noise.
I make my way down the hallway and there she is, standing in my kitchen, with her back to me. Her long brown hair is in a bun high on her head. She’s moving around to the music that’s playing. Her hips are lightly swaying back and forth to the beat. Her T-shirt sits just below her hips but rides up as she moves to reveal boy shorts that are hugging her curvy body.This woman has an ass that never quits. I smile, leaning on the doorframe to the kitchen, watching her shake it around.
She spins slightly and spots me. Giggling, she crooks her finger in my direction. “Get that fine ass over here and dance with me.”
I chuckle. “I don’t dance,” I remind her.
s
“You do for me,” she shoots back.
She’s right, I do. For her, there’s not much I won’t do. I walk over to her, place my hands on her hips and pull her towards me. Her arms wind around my neck and our lips meet. I smile into the light kisses she gives me as she tries to continue dancing while our lips are attached. I’m not making it easier for her though; I’m pulling her body tightly against mine. Her hips are now rubbing against my cock and making it spring to life.
“August!” I hear someone roar. I quickly recognize the angry voice as my father’s. “What is going on here?”
I pull myself away from Hendrix, head around the kitchen island and meet my father in the living room. “Hey, Dad, I didn’t realize that you were in town.”
“If you had bothered to pick up any of my phone calls, you would know that I was coming today.” His harsh brown eyes are looking past me and into the kitchen where Hendrix is standing. Thankfully, her bottom half is covered by the island. “Who is this?”
I move to stand in front of my father, as if it will save Hendrix from his inspection and wrath.
“Dad, this is Hendrix Monroe, my girlfriend,” I explain, looking back at Hendrix and grinning.
“You have a girlfriend,” he says slowly.
“Hi, Mr., Cromwell, it’s so nice to meet you,” Hendrix replies.
“No, no, son, this isn’t happening. You are here to study, play football and get an education. I have been sending you information about the teams I’m looking at purchasing, and you’re not engaged. You are not engaging in your future. You are too busy fooling around with her.” He gestures angrily in Hendrix’s direction.
“Well, Dad, I was planning on looking at that today,” I promise him. “Finals just finished up and I have some more time to really look at what you sent me.”
“No, you were about to start another roll in the hay with her. And this is not what I’m paying for. I told you that this was a party school and nothing good would come from studying at UNC. I wanted you at Brown and now that you’ve given this a shot for two years, that is exactly what is happening!”
I shake my head. “No, I think I’ll stay here and finish out at UNC. I like it here.”
