Page 36 of People Like Us

“Only you, Lola,” he said desperately. “Only ever you.”

My nose twitched as tears threatened to well up. “Promise?” I asked hoarsely.

He held a pinky out, waist level so if anyone entered the hallway, they wouldn’t see. I wrapped mine around it instantly.

“Promise,” he said softly. When I didn’t respond, August bent his knees, forcing himself into my line of vision. “Do you need to hear what happened?”

I nodded reluctantly.

“She wanted to hook up last year. We did exactly what I told you before, and I thought it might lead to something more. But when I tried, she was very direct with me that she had no intention of dating me. I told her I didn’t want to go any further with someone I wouldn’t be with long term. No feelings were hurt, we’ve never talked about it again, and we’ve never been anything but friends outside of that one incident.”

He waited for me to respond, but I didn’t. I just stood there, bouncing my knee and chewing on the inside of my cheek. He sighed. “It’s just us. We’re in my room. No one else can hear you.”

“You hang out with her every Friday?” I asked, and I hated how pathetic my voice sounded.

He gave me a sad smile. “Are you going to watch your boyfriend play football tonight?”

“No,” I muttered.

He looked skeptical. “Why not?”

“Because I had to lie to my friends so I could get out of jumping your fucking girlfriend,” I hissed.

He rolled his eyes and pushed my chin up, forcing me to hold his gaze. “You wanna come play nerdy games with us tonight?”

I couldn’t help the surprise that lifted my features. “Thought you said we should hide this from our friends?”

He gave me a lazy smile. “Maybe just your friends. My friends will get over it.”

I scoffed. “I don’t think Wyatt will be that accommodating.”

He chuckled. “Tell me what you want, Lola.”

“I want you,” I said before I could stop myself.

“You have me,” he said so tenderly that it almost felt true.

I shook my head. “Not all the way.”

He gave me a sad smile, and I could barely hear him over the bell ringing and the back door swinging open. “You don’t want me all the way, Sin.”

We filed into the classroom, and I didn’t look at him as I set up my laptop.

His voice startled me when he said, “Wyatt, Lola is coming to game night.”

Wyatt responded, “Lola who?”

“The one sitting next to you,” August said casually, not looking at either of us as he opened his laptop. Wyatt and I stared at each other for a brief moment before a triumphant smile spread across my face.

August pulled my attention back to him as he asked, “Can I pick you up later?”

I shook my head. “I’ll meet you at your place.”

He nodded. “Alright.”

I turned back to Wyatt and asked, “What’s the dress code for this sort of thing? I don’t own a wizard hat.”

Chapter Fifteen