“Do you think he’s fucking Lex?” I ask, panting and gulping down water. Sweat beads on my forehead and I swipe it away.
“If he does, I’ll kill him.”
I arch an eyebrow at him and he amends, “I mean, I will have strong words with him and let Sem loom in the background like an angry sentry.”
I run a hand through my hair and close my eyes. “I’m so upset, Mag. And I’m frustrated and hurt that he won’t even give me a chance to explain.”
“I know how you feel. Maybe tomorrow you could stalk him. Stake out his place and then corner him.”
“I don’t think he’d like that. He doesn’t like being surprised like that,” I mutter and then sigh. “I’m no fun. I’m sorry. I’m just…I miss him. It hurts.”
“I know,” Magnus says and pulls me into a hug. “He’ll come around. He loves you. I know it. And I’m never wrong about this shit.”
“I should have told him that I love him, but he left before I could.”
“You’ll have a chance to tell him, August. I’m sure of it. Call it my intuition, but that guy is head over heels for you. He just didn’t handle this well.”
“Because he thought I rejected him. Like his mom.”
“You’re nothing like his mom.”
But I’m not too sure and it’s eating me up inside.
“How’s your mom taking this?” Magnus asks and I sigh feeling like shit.
“Fine. Em was right. We should have just told her in the beginning. Neither of them cares that we’re together. Thomas almost seemed happy about it.”
Magnus reaches out and squeezes my arm. “It will all work out. I know it will.”
When we finally say goodbye, I drive home slowly, in no rush to get to the empty space faster. I’m just going to sulk once I arrive. I can only busy myself with so many things before I literally run out of things to do. I’ve already waxed the floors and trimmed the hedges. I’m contemplating painting the walls and replacing the baseboards when I step inside the house and see him.
My breath leaves my body in a whoosh and if this isn’t fucking déjà vu.
Emery is perched on the kitchen table, his legs swaying back and forth, a lollipop dangling from his mouth. He looks perfect.
Absolute perfection.
Our eyes meet and his legs still. He’s grasping onto the edge of the table and watching me warily.
“August,” he says and immediately my eyes are drawn to the suitcase next to him.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, my heart rate accelerating. I feel almost lightheaded from not breathing.
“Packing up. I wanted to say goodbye before I left. I couldn’t fit the throw pillows into the suitcase, so you can have them. For now. I may change my mind. One day. We can arrange a custody agreement.”
I run a hand through my hair and then let out a shattered breath.
Oh, like hell he’s leaving without a fucking discussion about this. We are so fucking discussing this shit.
“We need to discuss this,” I say, my tone wobbling a little.
“No thanks,” he says. “I just came by to let you know I’m leaving.”
Those words. Those fucking words. I clench my fists and grind my teeth, trying my best to stay reasonable. But I’m hanging on by a thread, and one by one the strands snap.
“No,” I growl and then I’m strolling forward and grabbing onto his suitcase and dragging it back to the bedroom. The wheels clack against the wooden floors and I might even be scratching them, but I don’t care. Because he’s not leaving. Not yet. Not ever.
Emery scrambles after me but I don’t even look at him, I just toss his suitcase onto the bed with a grunt.