Page 80 of Symphony of Salvation

“You know what? I gotta go. This isexactlywhy I didn’t want to do this in the first place.”

The flame caught with a whoosh. August spun. “Then why did you?”

“Don’t put this on me. You weren’t exactly saying no. If anything, you were throwing vibes of interest all over the damn place. I should have stopped it.”

“You started it. In the auditorium.”

“You’re right. I did. Clearly a mistake.”

I aimed for the door, but August’s softer tone called me back. “Niles, wait. Please stop.”

Like an idiot, I turned back, body hot with anger and rejection.

August scrubbed his face, pressing fingers into his tired eyes. “I’m sorry. I was caught off guard and… It’s fine. Everything will be fine.”

“I have no idea what that means. From my perspective, it’s not fine, and it won’t ever be fine unless—”

“It’s Christmas. Can we table it? Stay. Have coffee. Eat breakfast. Constance enjoys your company and—”

“To what end?”

August looked at me, truly, honestly looked at me. Sorrow and indecision filled his eyes. “I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out.”

“That’s not reassuring.”

“What do you want from me?”

Nothing,I wanted to scream.Everything.

He extended his hand. “Can we at least have today before you decide I’m not worth the effort? One more day. I immensely enjoyed last night.”

It was an illusion, but I had too.

I should have run out the door. I should have firmed my resolve. I should have listened to my head because my heart was unreliable and vulnerable. It conjured fantasies like a wishful child believing they could come true. It listened to sweet words and turned them into something they weren’t.

But instead, I took the offered hand and let August drag me into the comforting embrace of his arms. His warm skin and scent enveloped me. I closed my eyes and let go of frustration.

For now.

For today.

It was Christmas.

***

The morning progressed with a hearty breakfast—poached eggs, crusty homemade bread, pastries, fruit galore, nuts, and yogurt—an abundance of delicious coffee that put Koa’s to shame, and presents.

We didn’t speak of the previous night, and when Constance surreptitiously eyed us from time to time, August ignored her.I offered a commiserative shrug, unwilling to play his it-never-happened game.

Constance loved the bracelet and charms August had carefully boxed and wrapped, and when she uncovered the gift card for the cinema, she held it questioningly.

“I thought maybe you’d like to go with school friends. There’s enough there that you could treat them to a show. Niles tells me the kids spend a lot of time at the movies in the winter months during free time. If they request a pass, they can go into the city.”

Constance studied me for a long minute and nodded.That sounds fun, she signed, then, for her father’s benefit, she offered a simple thumbs up and a smile.

Constance might not have shone a light on her dad’s revelation, but when August wasn’t paying attention, she studied him through a new lens. The affection August and I had shared the previous night remained locked away. No more touching. No more secret smiles and expressions of mutual longing.

Constance opened the gift bag from me, uncovering a handmade fabric makeup bag decorated in a musical theme. A tiny violin attached to the zipper aided in its opening and closing. Inside, she found a gift card for the salon in Peterborough, one geared to teens where I knew many of Timber Creek’s female population ventured, returning to class with colored hair, freshly painted nails, or lash extensions.

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