Page 23 of People Like Us

“It’s not my fault if your boyfriend has the vocabulary of an eighth grader,” he muttered.

I bit my lip, fighting the smile that threatened to break free. August’s gaze dropped to my mouth, and the corner of his eye twitched up. His lopsided grin, suddenly playful, sent a thrill through me I didn’t want to acknowledge.

“He really does his own stereotype justice,” he said, no malice in his tone.

“He’s really a nice guy.” I stamped my foot against the asphalt like a petulant child, trying to sound severe, but laughter tangled with words.

August laughed too, a low, warm chuckle that did weird things to my stomach.

“You can not be intellectually satisfied with him,” he laughed, but the comment landed wrong in my chest. He didn’t catch it, and went on, “And we both know you aren’t satisfied…otherwise.”

I smacked his chest lightly. “I only said I faked it sometimes,” I whispered, glancing around to make sure no one was watching.

August caught my hand and held it against his chest for a half-second before letting go. My palm tingled from the brief warmth.

He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I wanted to say I’m sorry. As much as I hate to admit it, the quarterback was right. I should’ve stood up for you, and I didn’t. I’m sorry.”

I glared. “Is that all you’re sorry for?”

“Yes,” he said, his jaw ticking.

I huffed and moved around him to slip between my car and the next. I opened my back door and flung my bag onto the seat. August stepped into the space after me, caging me in with the half wall separating the parking lot from the main drive. I supposed I could’ve gotten in my car and backed over him, but that felt like a sure route to the term premeditated being thrown around a courtroom.

“You don’t have anything you want to apologize for, Sin?” he asked casually.

I whirled back. “What would I apologize for?”

“Oh, come on. I know the Barbie comment didn’t bother you that badly. But you couldn’t tell your boyfriend what I said because it was true, right?”

I didn’t answer. He stared at me in satisfaction and stepped closer. My eyes flicked around again—no one left in the lot was watching us.

“So, Princess Lola got her feelings hurt because I called her out on her bullshit. And now you have to act like the victim, and get your boyfriend to try to put me in my place in front of everyone, so you can remain high and mighty.”

“I didn’t ask Andy to do that,” I snarled.

“No, but you knew he would. And if you didn’t, you would’ve kept your pretty mouth shut, huh? Would’ve lied and said you were fine. Just like you lie when you say you like how rough he is with you.”

My heartbeat rang in my ears as he took another step closer. I didn’t look around this time; I couldn’t take my eyes off his mouth, now only a few inches from mine.

“You wanted to put me in my place? Then do it yourself, like a big girl.” He stared at me expectantly. When I didn’t respond, he gave me a wicked grin and reached out to touch the cuff of my shirt, low enough that no one else could see.

“Go on. Tell me I’m beneath you. That I could never have a girl like you. Remind me that I’m lucky to sit across from you every morning, let alone that you’d ask little ole me to tutor you. That I should’ve gotten on my knees and worshiped you for offering to help me with girls, because lord knows I’d never have done it on my own.” His words tumbled out rapidly, like he was begging me to actually say them. “If that’s the game you want to play, Sin, then I’ll gladly play it. You can pretend you’re actually helping me, and I’ll pretend to not love the fucking attention. But let’s be mature about it and not drag other people into it, alright?”

My eyes stayed on his mouth until August bent his knees a bit, forcing me to look into his eyes. “Say okay, Sin.”

“Okay,” I breathed, thoughtlessly.

“Now say you’re sorry for dragging your poor boyfriend into our business.”

“I’m sorry,” I said automatically.

His smile was the brightest I’d ever seen as he straightened to his full height. He drummed his fingers against my wrist three times, then shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ll see you at my place after school tomorrow. Enjoy…church.” He chuckled low and shook his head as he walked away.

When he was finally out of sight, I let out a deep breath, feeling like I’d just stepped out of a fog, wondering what the fuck had just happened.

Chapter Ten

The cheesy sauce had begun to catch at the bottom of the pot when Mrs. Hayward said, for the third time, that she would be delighted.