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“Nothing…nothing has ever felt better,” I tell him honestly, knowing I’m going to hate ending this, but I’m almost positive I’m nearing the edge. “I’m gonna come, August. I’m right there. Please. Please. Don’t pull away.”
“Never,” he exclaims. “Not when I’m in my favorite place.”
Giving attention to my clit with his thumb, my orgasmhits me like a gut-punch, stemming from the bottom of my toes to the top of my head, consuming me in a pleasure so deep, I know nothing will ever satisfy the same. “Yessss. I’m coming. Oh god, August. Yes.”
“Fuckkkk.” His hips send me spiraling with small thrusts that just barely count as entering. Before I settle, he pulls out quickly and releases on my stomach. “Tenley,” August moans, eyes closed and chest up.
Watching August like this, exposed and lost in a feeling only tangible for the people in it, feels like winning something much greater.
Yes, I gained a friend through this life change. A real friend in August, and not an acquaintance I once only bickered with. But not only that, I gained a man I trust.
No one besides my father has ever truly earned my trust. I’m guarded and jaded. Circumstances in my life made me that way. I think I’ve just been hurt in small ways over the years by people other than my family, so I find it difficult to trust I’m seeing people for who they truly are.
And not just the person they want others to see.
That’s not enough for me.
I need authenticity, and every moral bone in my body screams that August is as real as they come.
I hate myself for misjudging him for so long.
As August relaxes, those brown eyes find me, and I don’t think. Without worrying about what’s next, I crash his lips to mine and lose myself in the kiss. My hope is that he feels what I’m struggling to say. The words that I hope like hell will find a way out. A way to perfectly depict how I feel about him.
Our lips tangle carefully, like we’re jotting this moment to memory. I pull back softly and whisper against his breath, “I think you’re becoming my favorite, too.”
35
AUGUST
“Is that my Lanie girl?”
“It’s me, Gus. I’m all grown up now. Remember?” Delaney spouts, sprinting past the stadium workers to reach me. She jumps into my arms and wraps her small arms around my neck.
“Dang, girl. You been workin’ out?”
“Ew, no way. But I watch Levi do it,” she says, her nose turning up in disgust. “I count his muscle numbers and he takes me to the dollar store after to pick out a toy!”
Smart girl.“Okay, little hustler. I see you.”
Totally forgot Levi just got his license this week and is officially driving. I set Delaney on her feet and watch as Levi heads my way with teenage swag in his steps, followed by my mom and four other siblings behind him. “Watch out, people. There’s a new driver in town,” I chant, hands over my mouth like an announcer.
Levi pulls me in for a chest bump, something he just started doing not long ago. It’s cool to finally have a brother closer to an adult age rather than a toddler. “Whatever.” Herolls his eyes. “I bet you sucked at driving when you were sixteen.”
I grin. “You’re right. I did. But I also didn’t have anyone around to rag on me about it. You do,” I fucking squeal. It’s sinister and does a great job of earning me a noogie to the head from Levi. He jumps, sizing me up and planting his fist on my head with forceful rubs. “We’ll see about that. You gonna let me drive your Bronco?”
“Not a chance,” I tell him.
“Hi, August. What’s a mother gotta do to get some love from her oldest boy?” Mom’s voice dials in as she gets closer. She sets Tatum on his feet, and I watch in awe as the littlest man takes off down the stadium aisles without a destination in mind. “Little dude ain’t just running—he’s gearin’ up for the Olympics. How is that possible? I just saw him,” I laugh, running to chase after my not-so-baby brother. “Got ya, squirt.”
“Monster kisses,” I roar, planting pecks across his belly and face, loving the sound of Tatum’s squeaky laughter.
I hand him the game-winning ball I stored in my back pocket, and that seems to entertain him for the moment. Pivoting on my heel, I turn to face my mom, and a genuine smile crosses my face. “Hi, Mom.” As much as I want to hold a grudge against her, I can’t.
She’s still my mother, and she deserves my respect. Thankfully, I’ve received nothing but good reports from Mrs. Marsha in regard to the new schedule. The kids are thriving, and I know that has a lot to do with this new consistency for them.
I take in her long frame. I definitely got my height from her side of the family, at least I think. I never knew my father, so I’m clueless when it comes to him. But Mom is tall and thin. I see a light that wasn’t always there shine throughher pretty brown eyes. Eyes that look a lot like mine. Her long blonde hair hangs down her back, and for a moment, I feel a familiar nostalgia of my childhood hit me.
She’s a beautiful woman, and I can only hope she turns her life around and makesthatjust as beautiful.
