Page 97 of People Like Us

He looked away from me, out the windshield, and grimaced. “Becuase I did not respond very…maturely.”

“What did you say?” I asked, eyes narrowing on his profile.

He sighed. “That’s not what your girlfriend said when she spent the night in my bed.”

I sucked in a sharp breath. I was pretty sure my chest was bleeding now, and I glanced down for a moment just to make sure the knife wasn’t real. A long moment passed before I finally spoke.

“Well, now I am even more mad at him for hitting you.”

“Why?” he asked, turning back to look at me, surprise flickering across his features.

“Because you did deserve to get hit for saying that, but I was the one who deserved to hit you. And now I can’t.”

August gave me an apologetic smile. “You can hit me. But please hit the same spot, I don’t want to have to explain to my mom why I have two black eyes.”

“Shit, your mom. What are you going to tell her?”

He shrugged, like it was no big deal. “ I’ll just say DnD got a little too heated.”

I nodded. “Are you going to tell your sister you got in a fight over me?” I asked with a half hearted smile.

He shook his head against the head rest. “No one would believe me.”

“Why?” I laughed.

He rolled his eyes. “Do you really think anyone would believe that Andy, the star quarterback, was jealous of little ole me?” he asked tauntingly.

“Why do you say things like that?” I demanded.

“Beacuse they’re true,” he said as if the answer were obvious.

“But they aren’t,” I argued.

He pinned me with a bullshit glare.

“Andy was jealous of you,” I stated plainly. “August, do you think you’re the first guy to say something to the star quarterback,” I repeated his words mockingly, “about his girlfriend? It’s not even remotely the worst thing someone has said about me.”

August’s expression seemed to grow annoyed. “Yeah, so he’s just taking out the sins of many on my face?”

“No. He hit you because he believed you, August.”

He turned to me, studied my face for any hint that I might be lying. “I’m sorry I said it, regardless.”

“I don’t care.” I said, when I was sure I could keep my voice steady.

He sighed, “I know.”

I huffed. “Could you let me finish a thought for once, before saying I know. You don’t know everything, August.”

He swallowed tightly, nodding in agreement.

“I meant,” I started, “I don’t care if anyone knows that I spent the night in your bed. I don’t care if anyone knows if I slept in nothing but your t-shirt.”

I see his mouth open like he wants to interject again, but thinks better of it, and closes it again. “My point is, I don’t care what other people—Andy included—think about what happens between us. Other people’s assumptions about my behavior is none of my business. What I do care about however, is that you know I love you. And I’ve never been embarrassed of you, August.”

He swallowed tightly, nodding in understanding. He waited a moment, making sure it was his turn to speak now, before saying, “I love you, too.”

I nodded. “I know, August.” Then, after a moment, I said “Okay, I’ll see you in a bit, then.”