“Dammit.”
Gina grabbed me into a hug and twirled me around. “You’re next!”
“No way.”
“Yes way.” She pushed me out of the crowd of people and into August’s arms.
He slung an arm around my shoulder. “Helluva thing, huh?” He smiled down at me. The crinkles beside his crazy beautiful green eyes made the breath back up in my lungs.
“Crazy is one word for it.”
He curled me closer into his side. “Picture time.” He twisted the cat until it was upright and tucked it into the crook of my arm. His fingers brushed the side of my breast and I shivered.
“Killing me, Kin.”
I pasted a smile on my lips, then it turned into a real one when August made the bat kiss the kitten. He was such a sweet dork.
“Kiss her!” Lucky yelled from the back.
I didn’t know if I wanted to dropkick Lucky or thank him. Possibly both.
And then August lowered his mouth to mine. It was chaste compared to before, but it brought up every memory. Reminding me exactly what I had to walk away from.
I hugged the kitten closer and hoped my lurking wistfulness didn’t bleed into the photos. Then thankfully, August was dragged away by his sister for a dance.
Rylee and Kelsey cornered me to dance to a song by One Direction we all loved.
I laughed when I was supposed to and endured all the ribbing for catching the kitten. But the only thing I could focus on was escape.
Finally, I got to the door and took deep gulps of cool air.
Too much excitement, orange punch, and…well, just too much of everything was slamming into me. I wasn’t exactly in driving shape, but my shop was close. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d crashed on the couch.
I got to the sidewalk and thought I’d be home free.
Wrong.
“Leaving?”
I folded my arms around the kitten, but I didn’t turn around. I really wasn’t sure I could face him right now. “I’m beat.”
“Are you sure that’s all it is?”
I glanced over my shoulder. The bat was sticking out of August’s jeans pocket and his dark hair was disheveled around his angular face. I wanted nothing more than to fly right into his arms.
Why not set yourself up for more heartbreak, Kin?
I forced myself to take a step back. “Of course. I’m just tired. I didn’t sleep most of the night because I was finishing up Macy’s dress.”
“Right.” He took a step forward and I immediately took another one back. He stopped. “Let me take you home.”
I shook my head. “I’m just going to crash at the shop.”
“Kin, your locks are crap over there.”
“No, you put new ones on, remember?”
“They aren’t the kind to keep you safe.”