Page 2 of My Forbidden Valentine

August opens the car door as the snow starts to get heavier by the minute. The cold air is enough to make me shiver all over. Now that I'm nice and warm, the blanket has long left my shoulders and all I have is the fancy blue dress I wear to all my dates.

"Aren't you cold? Grab the sweater that's under the seat."

"It's warm in here." I counter with a smile. This guy really is awkward. "Thank you for coming to my rescue."

"It's not like I had other plans tonight. Unless you count keeping the shop cat company."

I laugh, loving his honesty. "You're always so grumpy, aren't you?"

He grunts, but I don't let him kill the conversation. "So what's the cat's name?"

"Marshmallow."

My lips quirk up.

"Who named him?"

He doesn't reply at first. But I'm sure I know the answer to my question.

"I named him. You'll see what I mean when you meet him. He's a squishy ball of fur, but it's also ironic because he's a vengeful cat."

Who knew August could be this kind? He talks about the cat with such tenderness that it seems impossible I’ve never met this side of him. Not that I've talked with him that often. He just always gave me a don't-bother-me-vibe whenever I saw him with my dad so I never took the chance to get to know him properly.

I turn off the heat, and not a minute later, my stomach growls loudly, as if it's starving. I try to cover it with a cough, but August’s look makes it clear he heard it anyway.

"You didn't eat? Weren't you at that restaurant?"

"I was waiting for my date. And I figured I'd grab something on my way home."

"What do you want to eat?"

"Tee's Drive-In's french fries."

"Those are the best."

"They are, aren't they? It's not what I expected to eat for Valentine's, but it's delicious, nonetheless."

"We’re almost there and I'm going to feed you before I figure out what's wrong with your car."

We sit in silence for a while until he breaks it. "You should take better care of yourself. You must be starving."

"It's nothing. I'm going to be fine."

When we arrive at the drive-in, he takes my order and goes inside, telling me not to leave the car so I don't get cold.

It gives me some time to adjust to this attraction I feel for him. It's weird because he's my father's age, but I can't see him like that. It’s not just his looks, though those certainly don’t hurt.It’s the way he carries himself—calm, confident, with that gruff exterior that somehow makes me feel both nervous and safe at the same time.

But it’s also unsettling. I shouldn’t be feeling this way, not about him.

"Here's your food."

"Thank you." He hands me the paper bag, and I scurry through it for the french fries, immediately grabbing a handful like I've been starving for weeks. "This is so good," I moan, he shifts his gaze to his food and I know I must look awful eating like this, but I don't even care, this night has been a nightmare and Tee's french fries are the only thing that make this night better. That and... August. It's nice to be around him, even if he's just helping me out of obligation to my dad. He makes me feel safe.

The radio keeps playing love songs as we eat the rest of our food. I glance a couple of times in August's direction, but he doesn't even acknowledge me, too focused on his own food.

I crumple the bag of food as soon as I finish eating, feeling myself again.

August finally takes a look at me. "Do you need me to get anything else?"

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