He turned in his seat, and his knee knocked into mine. The contact made me jump, which in turn made him lay a big palm on my thigh. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to pin me in place or calm me.
It wasn’t calming in the least . . .
“Sorry about that. Not much room in between these barstools.”
I wondered why he was passing it off as an accident when it was blatantly not. My gaze dropped to his hand, which he hadn’t removed.
“You’re not supposed to touch me,” I said, my voice coming out a little choked.
“We’re no longer dating, so I don’t really see how I’m breaking Liam’s rules.”
August was so close that I could hear the steady cadence of his heart through his tight Henley, which meant he could hear the frenzied tempo of mine.
“Right?” he asked in a voice so rough it sounded like he’d used the big drum sander on his throat.
I swallowed, and I swear everyone in the bar heard my saliva go down. I grabbed the beer and chugged some down to cool off and calm down just as Kelly bustled over with August’s and Cole’s order. August slipped his hand off my leg and thanked her.
Before jetting off toward another table, she studied me, then August.
“I should probably give Cole his seat back.” I started to get off the barstool when August caught the edge of the seat to cage me in. “He can find another seat.”
“August . . .”
“He’s not even back yet.”
Cole stood with Matt and Lucas. Were those three still discussing Tamara and Liam? Hadn’t they exhausted the subject yet?
As I turned my attention back toward the plate topped with ribs and barbecue sauce, my gaze stumbled on Sienna and Amanda, also huddled together.
Long feather earrings fluttered against Sienna’s bare freckled shoulders, tangling with her pale, wispy hair. She was nibbling on her lip as though nervous. Were they also discussing Tamara? She must’ve sensed my stare, because she looked up. For a second, she froze, but then she offered me a tentative smile. Instead of reassuring me that I wasn’t the most detestable person in Tracy’s, it filled me with guilt.
Technically, I hadn’t stolen August away; he’d broken up with her because he was reenlisting, which had nothing to do with me. But sitting next to him, letting him buy me a drink so publicly, letting him brand me with his hand . . .
How could she not hate me?
I thought of Tamara then and realized I didn’t hate her because I was no longer hung up on Liam. Was that why Sienna wasn’t sticking pins inside a voodoo doll version of me? Because she’d moved on?
“Ness?” August’s voice made my attention jounce back to him.
“Did you say something?”
“Only your name a half dozen times.” He placed his elbow on the bar and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I had no right to be jealous or mad. I think I haven’t gotten it through my head that I have no claim on you anymore.” He sighed. “Might take me a while to accept it, so bear with me, okay?”
I bit down on my lip, thinking of my conversation with Sarah. I valued Evelyn’s opinion, but I also cared deeply for the man sitting beside me. I glanced around the room, wondering if anyone was looking at the two of us in disgust.
No one was looking at us, period.
No one seemed to care.
I was drinking a beer so they probably assumed I was twenty-one. Maybe if they knew the truth, they’d gawk and wrinkle their noses.
“You have nothing to apologize for, August.” I filched a fry and swirled it in the little heap of ketchup next to his burger. God only knew why I ate it since my stomach was jam-packed with food, beer, and nerves.
Cole returned then, blasting us with the charred scent of tobacco. “Just gonna grab my food. Don’t want to interrupt anything.”
I hopped down from the stool. “I was leaving.”
Cole’s blue-gray eyes zipped to August. “Don’t leave on my account.”
“I’m not.” I smiled at both of them. “Matt made me run two hours this morning, so it’s a miracle I even made it out.”
“I heard about your little half-marathon. Apparently I’ll be joining you two on Saturday. Matty’s on my case about getting in better shape.” Cole was already in amazing shape, so I wasn’t sure how running could better it.
Werewolves had a couple advantages over humans-one of those being our metabolisms. Once the shifting process slowed though, around forty, shifter bodies didn’t burn off calories as quickly, but even then, most remained in athletic form.
“I could use a run, too,” August said. “If you don’t mind the added company.”
“Gosh, I’d love the added company. Especially Matt. After the third mile, I pretty much turn mute, whereas he can talk the whole way through.”
Cole chuckled. “Sounds like Matty. Don’t you know his full name?”
I cocked an eyebrow.
“Matty-the-Motormouth-Rogers.”
I smiled. “I’m sure he loves that. Anyway, see you guys on Saturday.” I went back to my table to grab my stuff. “I’m gonna head home.”
“So soon?” Lucas asked. “The evening’s young.”
“If I’m expected at the gym tomorrow morning, I need to get myself to bed.” I rooted around my bag for my wallet. “Am I expected tomorrow morning?”
His expression sobered. “I’ll text you.”
“Okay.” I plucked out two twenties and put them on the table. “If I owe anymore, just tell me in the morning.”
“Sure thing, Clark.”
“It was nice seeing you, Amanda. And I guess we’re going to be hanging out a lot more come Monday, huh?”
She bobbed her head, which she’d nestled in the crook of Matt’s arms, and shot me a disarmingly nice smile. “Yep.”
“What’s happening on Monday?” Sienna asked in that silken voice of hers.
“Ness is starting UCB.”
“Ooh, that’s fantastic! You’re going to love it.” She smiled, and again, I wondered why? “I’ll try to meet up with you two at lunch if we break at the same period. Can’t believe I’m graduating in nine months. It went by so fast.”
As she discussed the passage of time with Amanda, my mind stuck to the nine months part.