Page 52 of Aug
“It has to be, August.”
“Ti–”
“I have to leave before I’m late.”
“You don’t have your whip.”
“I don’t, but I have a ride. Get some rest, August.”
THIRTEEN
The clouds were roaring.The storm was on its way in. It felt like it had been pouring since the day I got the call from back home. My tears hadn’t stopped, and neither had the rain.
Still, in the midst of the threat, I stood outside of Huff Theater with my heart on my sleeve and red roses in my hand. The entire crew of dancers came pouring out. Rome was the first person I spotted, naturally. I’d worked for her well over a year now, and my eyes automatically identified her in a crowd of any size.
Beside her was Tiana. The smile she sported faded at the sight of me. A pain shot through my chest.
That hurt. I admitted, lifting my body from the hood of the car.
Rome strutted past me as Tiana stopped in her tracks upon reaching me.
“You didn’t sleep?” She asked, concern etched on her forehead.
I shook my head.
“Can we talk?”
Sighing, she lifted her head and then let it fall.
“Yes.”
“But–”
“You have to promise me you’ll sleep tonight.”
“I promise I will sleep tonight, Ti.”
I traded the flowers in my hand for the bag in hers. I helped her into the SUV and placed her bag in the back. The small victory lifted such a heavy load off me. I wasn’t mad at Tiana for setting boundaries and making herself clear when it came to me.
Because, honestly, if she was to let me slide, then I’d just keep fucking sliding. That’s not what I wanted. A challenge was what I needed, and that’s what her little ass was giving me. I respected it, nonetheless.
I settled in, but couldn’t find the strength to exit the parking lot. I turned to Tiana, taking her hand into mine. The ability to touch her, to feel her, after six weeks moved mountains in my universe. Relief liberated me in so many aspects. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. Spiritually.
I brought her hand to my cheek and rested my face against it. My nostrils flared. Tears threatened to spill. My life had been flipped upside down. I knew that the hand I was holding had the power to flip it right-side up. I just had to do right by her. There wasn’t another option.
“I’m sorry, Tiana. I shut the world out when I’m going through it.”
“I’m not the world, August.”
“I know that now. Not because you told me, but because I feel it. I felt it. As painful as it is to hear you say the things you say or see you so upset with me, I admire your bravery. The way you value yourself. The fact that you know what you deserve and you won’t settle for anything else, no matter the circumstances. Keep doing that, Ti. Stay on my fucking neck. I need a reminder sometimes.”
“You need some rest.”
“I need you.”
She pushed out a heavy breath.
“You’re making this hard.”
