Page 176 of Falling Offsides

Martin’s raucous laugh echoes when Auguste comes closer. “Or what?”

“I know where you live, Martin. I know where you work. I know where you drink and hang with your buddies. Do the math, Martin.”

Click.

Auguste’s jaw clenches, teeth grinding as he holds the phone out to me.

“I…” he starts with fuck-me-look on his face. “Court?—”

I don’t let him finish. Pushing up to my feet, I kiss him hard.

Desperately fierce. Attempting to convey how grateful I am for him. For his presence. For his… affection. And with all the things I can’t say, I just need him to know that I see him.

Every part of him. Perfect and mine.

I’ve never wanted anything before like I want to keep him now. Never needed like I need him. The rough and the smooth. The rash and brood. Each beautiful part of him.

Auguste’s hand finds my waist. The other cradles my jaw, grounding me.

When I finally pull back, panting, I keep my forehead pressed to his. I could breathe him in for the rest of my life.

“Court—”

“No. Don’t you dare apologize.” Auguste stills. “You didn’t do anything wrong, baby.”

He exhales, still holding me, brushing a kiss to the tip of my nose.

I love it.

All of it.

All of him.

Because Auguste’s control doesn’t feel like a cage. It feels like a shield. A line nobody can cross to get to me.

“No one’s ever done that for me before,” I whisper. “Not with Martin.”

He swallows. His eyes close for a beat.

AndGod, I want to tell him everything. That I’m falling. That I don’t know how to leave him behind. That New Orleans might be my future, but he’s the part of it I’m not sure I can live without.

But the words get stuck.

So I let them sit in my chest and press my hand to his. Hoping that somehow my touch can convey the words I can’t vocalize.

When he folds himself around me, for the first time in my life, I’m not afraid of being held.

I’m afraid of letting go.

THIRTY-FOUR

AUGUSTE

She’s too quiet.

Courtney’s got her legs folded in my passenger seat, chin tucked against her knee and she’s left the music to me.

That’s how I really know something’s wrong. And I know what it is even though she spent all of last night trying to convince me she’s okay. That she’s made peace with the situation with her mom and the asshole she’s married to.

---