Page 56 of Lost and Lassoed

I closed the door, because even though he was an asshole, he was right about that.

Once the door clicked shut, I regretted shutting it, because apparently air was only available outside this bedroom.

“You are,” I breathed. “Yesterday morning, you kissed me. Then last night and this evening you don’t talk to me at all, and you slam your door like a teenage girl right after Riley goes to bed even though we normally…”

“We normally what, Teddy?” He was looking at me now, and it felt like too much.

“We—we—talk. And just kind of…hang out,” I stammered.

“I didn’t know my company was something that you’d miss,” Gus said. I think he meant it to be sarcastic, but it came out serious.

“I don’t,” I said immediately. “Miss your company.”

“So you’re just barging into my room for the fun of it?” He took a few steps toward me, and I tried to suppress the way my breath hitched.

“No, I want to know why you’re being an asshole,” I said.

“I’m always an asshole—according to you, anyway.”

“Well, you’re being even more of an asshole than usual. And I don’t know why. You can’t kiss a girl the way you kissed me yesterday and then not speak to me,” I said. “It’s basically what you did seven years ago and it…it doesn’t feel good. It hurts,” I finally said—my voice breaking slightly on the last word.

I watched his shoulders drop—only slightly—before he said, “Well, it doesn’t feel good to watch the woman you just kissed flirt with someone right in front of you.” His voice was hard.

“Are you kidding me?” I said. “This is about the fact that I touched Jake’s arm?”

“Yeah,” Gus said. “I guess it is.”

“Be an adult, August,” I said. “You kissed me yesterday, and you didn’t even use tongue. I didn’t think that made us exclusive. I’m not even convinced you like me.”

“It doesn’t,” Gus said. “But I don’t want to watch you flirt with other guys while I’m at work.”

“I flirt!” I shouted. “It’s what I do! It doesn’t mean anything!”

“The flirting means something to me, Theodora!”

“Get a grip, August!”

“I can’t get a fucking grip. You literally make me insane!”

“Likewise, asshole!” We were close now, having drifted toward each other as we screamed. Gus’s green eyes sparked and his nostrils flared. I thought he was beautiful, and that’s all I remembered thinking before he brought his mouth down on mine.

I pushed on his chest—hard—and he stumbled back. Time moved slower in that moment—like it was giving both of us the chance to make our decision without being rushed.

Gus’s chest heaved. His eyes were wild, and his hair was mussed. He licked his bottom lip before biting down on it.

He didn’t make another move. He was waiting for me to do it.

And I did.

I stepped toward him and threw my arms around his neck—clutching at his dark hair and sealing my lips against his. The way I was holding on to him was like I was trying to pull him close and push him away at the same time.

But when my mouth was on his, all I could think about was the places our bodies touched and how it wasn’t enough.

More.

I wanted more, and the frustrated moan that I let out must’ve clued Gus in, because he used one of his arms to lift me, and I wrapped my legs around his hips. I registered that we were moving, but I didn’t recognize where until my back hit the door and his hips rolled into mine and pinned me against the hard surface.

“Slow down, August,” I said against his mouth.

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