“But you hate him,” Amelia reminds me.
“I didn’t always,” I remind her. “And sometimes, hating him gets old.”
Admitting that to them was hard. I don’t elaborate on it. I just let it hang out there and wait to see if anyone asks me a question about it.
Mac moves first. She comes across the sand and gathers me in her arms. I feel Cassie move from beside me and join the hug that is forming. They both hold me onto me. I feel a hand grab ahold of mine, and I look to see it’s Amelia’s.
“Sorry, I can’t get to you as easily as they can,” she admits. “But I love you.”
“We all do,” Mac chimes in.
“Yeah, you faced that man down when you got me my job back,” Cassie reminds me.
“I always wondered if he did that for you,” Mac adds.
I shrug as best as I can with Cassie and Mac holding onto me. “I’m not sure, but I’m glad he did.”
“Agreed.” Amelia says from her spot on the sand. “And we’re here for you, whatever you need. It’s okay if you don’t hate him anymore. It might actually be best for you to let all of that go. I’m sure Ash is just worried about what will happen if you let him back in again. He’s your big brother; he’s protecting you. I know, I have five of them who would run up here and gut Dex if he hurt me that way.”
I nod. “Yeah, I’m sure they would. But in the end, I hate August for something Maxwell did. And I guess that’s starting to get to me.” I shrug. “I don’t know, it’s been a weird few days.”
I sit on the sand with my friends, who are becoming more like my family, and tell them all about Ash. How I could have lost him when he was so far away. The whole story that he told me, I relay to them. Unburdening all the things that have been going through my head since we had that conversation. They all listen and, of course, no one judges me. They just listen while wesip smoothies in the sun. Eventually, the conversation becomes lighter, and no one learns anything else about me for today. I figure I gave them enough for now. When I have my head around what is happening with August and me, they can have more. But not until then.
Chapter Eighteen
~AUGUST~
August: What are you up to, pretty girl?
Isend the text as I’m sitting on the balcony at my apartment, looking out at the city of Tampa. It’s not a great view. You can see the city, with the ocean in the very faint distance. Or at least that’s what I tell myself that I can almost see. I never really get there as much as I wish I did. That’s why I think I’ve convinced myself that it’s easy to spot from this balcony.
I lean back farther in the chaise lounge, waiting for a reply. Thankfully, I don’t have to wait too long.
Hendrix: I am at my apartment, just hanging out.
Interesting. I watched her leave with her friends. I assumed that they all would have hung out. Maybe even planned a girl’s night. But it doesn’t seem like that’s what happened. So, if I had called up the boys tonight, they would have been with their girls. Not able to hang out with me.
August: Ash with you?
I pick up the glass of Scotch that I’ve been nursing, waiting for her reply. I’m sure he is. I doubt she’ll be able to come over to see me tonight. He wouldn’t allow it. I’m sure he was pissed that she was gone all night with me last night. My answer comes in faster than I thought it would.
Hendrix: He is actually out tonight. There’s a friend that he used to work with that is actually down here in Tampa on some business. He went to meet him for dinner or something.
August: So, you’re alone like me, huh?
I wanted to type something else entirely. I wanted to tell her that she should come over here to me. But instead, I decide to go with some patience and see where her head is tonight. See if she even wants to see me so soon after last night.
Hendrix: That I am.
I grin, that’s encouraging. Her answer is simple and she’s a smart girl. She has to know that I’m going to invite her to come over here.
August: Feel like seeing me tonight? You can come here or I can meet you for a drink if you want.
I wait for her to respond. I remind myself that I’m playing the long game right now. I want this to be more than a booty call. I want her to be more than just hookups. To do that, I have tomake sure that our interactions aren’t just about fucking. Even though I’d love to lose myself in her curvy body for the rest of the night. I grin thinking about all the ways that I could make her come and moan.
God, I want to do that.
I grab my drink and down the rest of it, hoping it helps to calm me and to remain patient. Her next text comes through, and I snatch up the phone to read it.
