Page 39 of Wishes for August
Caleb rested a hand on my stomach and placed the thumb and index finger of his other hand on either side of his mouth, pursing his lips as though he was in deep concentration.
“Boyfriends. Yep, you are my boyfriend,” he said, waiting for my reaction.
I frowned and scrunched up my nose and he continued, pressing a kiss to my pale skin between each suggestion.
“Or lover, or partner or other half or whatever you want to call it. But I am yours and you are mine.”
I felt myself smile, my lips stretching up as far as they could go.
“Mine,” I said, pulling him up to me by his hair and biting the side of his neck. “I like that.”
Chapter 22
Caleb
My palms felt clammy as I stood outside August’s front door. This was the first time he’d invited me around to his and for some reason I was nervous. It has been a few days since we had made things official and he wanted me to meet Branson.
I knocked on the door and it swung open with force. August stood in front of me, his face red and his left hand clenched in a tight fist. Behind him stood another man - he was blonde and smaller than August - Branson I presumed. The blonde wore a sullen expression, and I could see a stray tear tracking down his cheek.
“August, is everything okay?” I took a step forward and reached for his hand, pulling him in for a hug.
“It’s all good Boss Man. I’m glad you’re here.” He pulled me backwards and into his flat, kicking the door shut behind us.
The blonde guy hadn’t moved, instead, he kept a close eye on me from his side of the room. I looked between him and August.
“Caleb, this is Branson. August gestured between us, and I stepped forward and stretched out my hand to take the other man’s.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, and he looked at me with a watery smile.
“You too.”
Turning to August, who was still holding my hand, I asked, “Did I interrupt something?” August let out a loud, frustrated sigh and looked at his friend.
“He’s pissed at me because I’m moving away,” Branson bit out and my eyes snapped to his. August’s hold on my hand tightened.
“It’s not because you’re leaving Branson, it’s because you had the opportunity to go months ago and you didn’t.” August's voice shook when he spoke.
Branson took a step toward August, his mouth open as though he was about to say something but August continued before he could.
“You stayed because of me, out of some misplaced obligation you felt and in doing so you’ve made me feel like absolute shit.”
I turned my gaze to August and watched as his jaw clenched. I could tell he was angry but there was more to it than that. There was hurt under the tightness in his features.
Branson took a few steps closer to us and I could see the wetness that pooled in his crystal blue eyes.
“I never meant to make you feel that way, Aug. I didn’t accept the job transfer earlier because I couldn’t leave you on your own. It’s always been the two of us and the thought of you being here alone, well it wasn’t something I was okay with.”
August shook his head as he replied, “I never asked for you to give up your life for me. Fuck, you know how much I hate beingpitied.” He dropped my hand and rubbed the back of his neck. “You could have gone, I would have been fine.”
“I don’t pity you but I wasn’t going to do that and you know it, August. I wasn’t going to be yet another person who abandoned you.” Branson reached out and brushed his hand against August’s arm.
“You’re not like them. Bran, you wouldn’t have been abandoning me. I would never have thought that. But mate, you need to go and do this for yourself. I mean New York? That’s pretty fucking awesome.” Branson smiled then and pulled August into a hug, placing a chaste kiss on his cheek.
“I love you, Auggie Bear. You’re the best person I know and I’m going to miss you so fucking much.” August turned his neck and muffled something I couldn’t hear to his friend.
I felt like I was intruding on a moment so I took a few steps back towards the door, thinking I would give them some space. Branson’s gaze caught on mine as I retreated.
“Don’t you go anywhere,” Branson said, his finger pointed at me. He released August and took a step towards me. “I’m taking this transfer now because August’s not alone anymore. He has you now, Mr Boyfriend.” Branson stepped closer to me and pressed his finger to my chest. “Don’t hurt him, don’t break his heart. Got it?”
