Page 125 of The Plan

“Hey.” She puts the phone on speaker and raises her brows at me.

“Hey, gorgeous.” She smiles to herself and mouths for me to ‘wait for it,’ and after a beat, August adds, “Can I still come by your job tomorrow?” We both stifle a laugh, and I mouth ‘clingy.’ She holds back a smile and tells him she’s going to be too busy on her shift.

“I won’t get in your way.”

“Yes, you will, August.”

I lightly chuckle at her tone. She’s always so passive-aggressive, it’s honestly hilarious.

“Okay, well, what time will you be home? I have a surprise for you.” I look over at Hazel and raise my brows, but she only rolls her eyes.

“Sure, you do.”

“I actually do this time.” Hazel looks like she doesn’t believe him but is obviously entertained.

“Goodbye, August.” He lets out a sigh, and then it sounds like he blows her a kiss. She air kisses the phone in return, and I realize Sire was right. They’re grossly in love. It’s cute, though.

“See, he’s clingy,” I say, proving my point.

“No, I just left before he woke up, and he hasn’t seen me all day, so he’s extra horny.” I throw my head back laughing, and she only lightly chuckles. I keep my eyes on her smile, and I love seeing how happy he makes her. It feels like ages ago when she was smiling at his texts and claiming they werejustmessing around.

“How are you two?” I feel like these last couple of weeks have been all about Sire and me; we barely talk about her and August.

She smiles as she taps her phone. “We’re good, like really good.”

“Yeah?” I can’t help but smile at how happy she sounds. Anyone with eyes can see how happy she and August are when they’re with each other.

“Yeah, I wish he’d freaking propose already.” She sounds annoyed, and I can’t help but laugh at her. Hazel has been talking about wanting to marry him for months now, and I have no clue why he hasn’t given her a ring because, like she always says, he’s obsessed with her.

“He’ll propose soon,” I reassure her, not because I know something she doesn’t but because I know how much August loves her. “I’m glad you’re happy, though. You deserve it.”

“You can be this happy too. You also deserve it.”

I give her a small smile and chew on my lip. Yeah, I just need to believe it. When I don’t respond, she doesn’t push it and looks around my living room. “This place is huge. I’m sure you’ll sleep peacefully knowing this is all you.” She smiles, proud almost, as she glances at my floor-to-ceiling window that looks over downtown.

I rest my head on the back of the couch as I think about her words. I’m probably not going to sleep much tonight. I look around my apartment, and then my eyes land on the door.

I haven’t been alone much since the break-in, and I love everyone for being by my side after that night, but… I don’t know how I’m going to make it here tonight. I feel my chest tighten at the thought, and as I feel my nerves build, I turn to Hazel.

“Let’s go have that drink.”

She jumps off the couch and holds her hand out to me. We walk out of my new place and head for the bar, where I try to forget all of the memories that are flooding my head about the last time I was in my own apartment.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Sire

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Are you okay?” I’m nottoo concerned, just a bit confused. I thought Vid was going to sleep next door because it was getting late, and she said she was with Hazel, but now she’s at my door.

“Fine.” She stumbles a bit as she walks in, kicking off her heels. Her feet must hurt. She walks over to the couch, but I guide her to my room, wanting to sleep in the same bed as her again. To my surprise, she doesn't even object and follows me to my room.

I throw the tee shirt she wore last night at her and sit on my bed. She puts it on over her dress, and I chuckle but try to keep quiet because Isa is knocked out on my bed.

Vid sits on the corner of the bed, and I make my way over to her. Once I reach her, I pull her shirt off. “You need to take your dress off first, Vid.”

“Right.” She lets out a sigh, like it takes a lot of effort to get undressed.

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