Lex pulls away from the curb and I can’t tear my eyes from the shape of August as we move farther and farther away. My leg bounces nervously as I contemplate every life choice I’ve made up until now. I bite down on my fingernail and feel myself move into full-on panic.
Oh, fuck this. I made the wrong choice.
He loves me. He said heloves me. What the hell am I doing?
“Stop the car!” I blurt and when Lex refuses to do as I ask, I shout, “Stop the motherfucking car, Lex!”
But Lex ignores me. He just speeds up. That asshole. So, I do the only reasonable and rational thing I could possibly do. I push the car door open and roll out.
My arms scape against the cement as I land with anoomph. My head knocks loudly against the curb, and I wince at the sharp pain that lances down my neck. I hear August’s voice in the distance as I push myself up onto shaking legs. Damn, everything is spinning. Fuck, did I ruin my glucose monitor being so damn reckless? My pump? Do I have a concussion?
If I die from that, I will never forgive myself. I’ll send my sorry ass straight to hell.
“Em!” August shouts and suddenly nothing else matters. Because he’s right there in front of me, his hands on my face, his worried eyes on me. His chest heaves as he runs his fingers across my skin.
“What happened? Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
I swallow roughly and wet my lips. “I didn’t want to go.”
“Em,” August groans. “You jumped out of a moving car. Why would you do that? That was crazy.”
“I was desperate. Lex was kidnapping me, basically. He wouldn’t stop.”
August huffs out a small laugh and he pulls me into him.
“Are you okay? Should I call an ambulance?”
“No, I’m in a little pain, but it’s worth it. It was so worth it,” I say, hugging him. I’m never letting him go again.
Nope, he’s stuck with me.
A second later, Lex’s car pulls up next to us and the trunk pops open. He slides out and rolls his eyes.
“Always so dramatic. I would have stopped, I was just messing with you,” Lex scoffs, hefting my suitcase out and pushing it toward me. It hits my shins and comes to an abrupt stop. “I guess I’m going to Cabo alone. It’s better this way anyway. You would have just cried the entire time.”
“True,” I say, turning my face into August’s neck. “Would have missed him too much. He said he loves me.”
“Well, fucking finally. I’m happy for you two,” Lex says and eyes August. “Take care of him or I will ruin you. I have ways of doing that with just the push of a button.” Then he’s back in the car, driving away, leaving me in the middle of the street clinging to August.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have even gotten in that car. That was so stupid. Please don’t be upset with me.”
“Never,” August says, cupping my chin. “I’m only upset that you fell out a moving car and that I saw your head hit the pavement.”
“I had to get to you. Couldn’t waste any time. Had to say I love you too. I’ve loved you for ages.”
August bites his bottom lip and then presses his mouth gently to mine. And instantly, I’m warm when I’ve been so cold for days.
“Let’s go inside,” he says softly.
He wraps his arms around me and when we’re safely back in the house, he checks my body for scrapes and bruises, cleaning a bloody wound on my elbow. I look at my pump and glucose monitor and, thankfully, both are still intact. Then August leads me into our bedroom.
He sits on the edge of the bed, and I crawl on top of him, my hands in his hair, my mouth moving against his.
“I missed you so bad,” I say between kisses. “I’d jump out of an airplane to get to you. Who needs a parachute? I’d just careen right out there like Superman.”
“Don’t do that,” he says with a small laugh. “You can’t fly, and I need you safe.”
“Oh god, I just need you. Only you,” I say pushing him back and then I’m pressing myself against him. Fuck, I missed this.