I swallow the massive lump in my throat. “For you and Ellie.”
August holds my hand, and it feels like the most normal thing in the world.
“Let me get dressed, and then we’ll go. Okay?”
“Thank you.”
August trudgesin silence to his parents' house, and I try to even that out by strolling instead. Even though we're going to speak with his dad about something serious that he should consider, a part of me feels thankful that I'm with August.
Another part of me is still shocked that he came tomeout of all the people he could have gone to. Especially his sister. Even Rowan.
Knowing that I’m the first person he thought to run to makes me feel important, needed, and special. Our friendship—situationship? It’s been rocky and off for years, but everything is clicking back into place. Like a puzzle.
Our arms swing at our sides while we walk. He's in no rush to get there, and I’m practically dragging him along. We're a block away when I see the house in the distance.
The wrap-around porch shows off plants that hang on small hooks, white wicker chairs replace the old ones August and I used to hang out on during summer nights while we talked for hours.
Our favorite nights were during summer storms. Except for that one time when the lightning struck so close that we both yelped and ran inside his house, only to fall to the ground laughing at how ridiculous we both sounded.
His hand slips into mine. I glance down at our fingers entangled together, and then toward August, who’s staring straight ahead at the house.
We stop at the front porch where the stairs are. Now that we’re here, it’s scary to think about what we might walk into. The last thing I need to give August is false hope.
We startle when the front door opens. The tulip wreath bounces off the white door when Ellie steps outside. She looks at us, blinking a few times to our interlocked hands. Untangling my hand from his, I tuck them both behind my back. I look at August, who’s looking at his sister.
“Hey, you two,” she says with a teasing undertone.
I glare at her, widening my eyes in warning. Now is not the time for jokes. Wasn’t she upset earlier? Maybe this is her way of trying to feel better. Teasing me now that she knows… everything.
She folds her arms. “Are you here to talk to Dad?”
Ellie and I peer at August, who’s gone completely non-verbal.
“Yeah,” I say. “His head is kind of everywhere. He ended up at my place and told me what happened. I’m sorry, El.”
When she unfolds her arms, she tucks them into her back pockets and shrugs. “I’m just hoping he changes his mind. Maybe August can convince him.”
“I highly doubt it,” August mumbles.
“Oh, he speaks,” Ellie says, smiling softly.
“I just want to get this conversation over with.”
“August.” Ellie sighs. “You’d better leave that attitude out here before you come inside. Dad doesn’t need any of this negativity.”
He shrugs. “I don’t have an attitude.”
“Sure.” She gestures her hand toward him in a circle. “Well, whatever this is, leave it out here.”
Ellie turns and walks back inside. I take this opportunity to give August a pep talk. Or at least try.
I place both my hands on his shoulders and look at him. “You can do this, okay? I’ll be there the whole time. Just take a couple of breaths and listen to him.”
He lifts his hand and strokes my cheek with his thumb. “Thanks again.”
I close my eyes and nod. “Everything is going to be okay.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
