Page 35 of People Like Us

“You only get me honest,” I said, before stretching up on my tip toes to press my lips briefly against his jaw. I turned to get in my car.

“Good night, August.”

“Drive safely, Sin,” he said softly before shutting my door.

The next morning, I was chewing the inside of my cheek as I walked down the hall toward August, who was already leaning against the wall with a thermos in hand.

He held it out to me just as I stopped in front of him and watched attentively as I took the first sip. I made a show of swallowing and ran my tongue along my bottom lip. His eyes tracked all of it.

“Can we pretend we’re in my room for a second?” he whispered.

“Why?” I asked.

“I want you honest,” he said.

I looked over my shoulder to make sure we were the only ones around. “Okay,” I agreed, looking back at him.

“Why did you ask me about Penelope last night?”

I swallowed tightly, twisting my mouth up. He studied my face, waiting for me to answer. “Some girls were talking about jumping her after the game,” I said as quietly as possible.

“Which girls?” he pressed. I shook my head in answer.

“You don’t want to tell me because it’s one of your friends,” he guessed, and I nodded.

He let out a long breath. “Okay.”

I eyed him, wondering if it really was okay. I was waiting for him to tell me I should find better friends, but he didn’t. Instead he said, “Why did you look surprised when I said I see Penelope on Fridays?”

I shook my head again, and this one earned me a rare, devilish smile. “Were you jealous?”

I glared up at him, my tongue pressed to the front of my teeth. His smile only grew wider as he said, “Ask me.”

“Ask you what?” I bit out.

“Ask me about whatever it is you’re worried I’m doing with Penelope.”

“Is she the girl you—”

“Yes,” he said flatly before I could finish the question.

I looked away instantly, trying to breathe deeply without it being obvious. “Do you—”

“No,” he interrupted me again.

I glared at him, crossing my arms. “You don’t even know what I was going to ask,” I sneered.

“You’re either going to ask me if I have feelings for her, or if I still fool around with her. The answer to both is no.”

“That’s not what I was going to ask,” I said petulantly.

“Then what?” he asked dryly.

“I was going to ask,” I took a deep breath, looking down at my heels, “if you’re the same with her…as you are with me.”

When he didn’t answer for a moment, I dared to glance at him, and he looked like I’d struck him.

“No,” he said firmly. I didn’t soften my glare. His fingertips brushed my elbow just briefly before he dropped his hand again.