Chapter 28
Dona's POV
If silence could win an award for being awkward, the one sitting between me and August in that car would’ve taken home the trophy. I kept my eyes on the window, counting streetlights just to stop myself from snapping at him for existing.
The car hummed softly as we drove through our neighborhood, the headlights brightening the dark. I could still smell the faint hospital scent holding on to my clothes, and Piper's pale face wouldn’t leave my mind.
She had tried to play it off, cracking jokes and rolling her eyes, but I knew way better. She must have misplaced her inhaler, but it wasn't working anymore regardless. She needed something stronger. Some kind of steroid therapy, or that breathing-assist procedure the doctor mentioned. Whatever it was, it was serious.
August cleared his throat beside me, and I instantly tensed. “Are you okay?” he asked quietly. "You're oddly quiet."
“Fine,” I muttered, still staring at the glass.
“Doesn’t look like it.”
“August, please. Don’t.”
He didn’t push it after that. Just drummed his fingers on the steering wheel in that rhythmic way of his. It was almost soothing, until I remembered that this was the same guy who annoyed me for sport.
By the time we pulled up to the house, my head was pounding. I got out before he could open his mouth again, fishing for my keys.
Inside, I hung my hoodie by the door, kicked off my shoes and rubbed at my arms. “As much as I don’t appreciate you meddling in my life,” I said, turning to face him, “I guess… thanks. For earlier.”
A grin built slowly on his face. “Wow. Did you just say thank you?”
“Don’t get used to it.”
He nodded promptly, stepping inside and locking the door behind him. “Noted.”
I started up the stairs, already dreaming about burying myself under the covers, when something caught my eye. One of the windows near the living room was open, with the curtains fluttering like slow-moving ghosts. The breeze that slipped through was too cold for July, and my stomach twisted immediately.
“Did you leave that open?” I asked.
August followed my gaze. “No. Why?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly. “It’s fine. Please close the window.”
He frowned as he moved towards the open window. “Are you sure it's fine?”
“Yeah. Totally.”
He studied me for a moment before shrugging. “Alright. I’ll stay down here for a bit and watch some highlights.”
“Highlights?”
“Hockey Highlights. Coach wants us to start training this week: he’s talking about a preseason showcase. NCAA scouts might be there too.”
I groaned. “Please, spare me the sports monologue. I’m not in the mood.”
He gave me a disgruntled look. “But you asked, dumbo.”
“Goodnight, August.”
“Night, Princess.”
I rolled my eyes and kept walking. My hand trembled slightly on the banister. I HATED the ominous sounds the floorboards made, and I tried to shake off the weird feeling crawling up my spine, but it wouldn’t go away.
Halfway down the hallway, I paused again. Something, maybe a branch, scraped softly against the outside wall of the house, and I gasped in fear. Then I told myself not to be dramatic. But my heart didn’t listen.
“Just the wind,” I whispered under my breath, gripping the edge of my hoodie tighter.
The floorboard by my door groaned when I stepped on it, and I jumped like it had screamed my name. “God, get it together, idiot!” I muttered. “You’re fine. You’re fine.”
I slipped into my room and shut the door, leaning against it and regulating my breaths. Without taking off my clothes, I crawled into bed, pulling the blanket up to my chin.
But closing my eyes didn’t help. Every sound in the house was way louder than usual, from the fridge humming, a faint thump downstairs, the whisper of wind through the open window I’d definitely told August to close but didn’t check myself.
Images from the past few days flashed through my head. I saw the kitchen blowing up with flying bullets, August’s voice telling me not to walk alone at night. I even imagined Piper gasping for air in a hospital bed, even though that didn't actually happen.
I rolled over and stared at the wall. Sleep wasn’t coming anytime soon, and suddenly, the last thing I want is to be alone.
I tossed around in bed for a few minutes, staring at the shadows dancing on my ceiling, and finally gave up. Screw it. I could not sleep, not with my brain running laps between Piper’s pale face, that open window, and.... God help me, August’s lips.
I shoved the blanket off, grabbed my hoodie, and quietly made my way downstairs. The house always felt bigger at night.
When I stepped into the living room and the glow from the TV, I found August sprawled across the couch. One arm was flung behind his head, the other holding the remote. Hockey highlights flickered on the screen. There were men skating, shouting and crashing into each other like cavemen with sticks.
He glanced at me without moving his head. “Couldn’t sleep?”
I shrugged, hovering awkwardly near the doorway. “Guess not.”
“Come on,” he murmured, patting the couch cushion beside him. “You can join the party.”
“Wow, what a party,” I muttered, but I sat anyway, curling my legs up on the couch and pretending to care about hockey.
August didn't say anything, and I was grateful for that. His face was glowing faintly from the screen light. He looked far too relaxed, like nothing in the world could possibly bother him. It was infuriating, knowing that I felt the COMPLETE opposite.
I snuck a look at him and instantly regretted it. His jaw is tense, though, and there was that focused look in his eyes. Maybe he was not as calm as I thought he was.
“This team sucks,” I muttered just to say something.
He huffed out a short laugh. “You don’t even know what team it is.”
“I don’t need to. I can tell by the way they’re losing.”
He turned to me with a grin that was a little too cocky. “You’re terrible at pretending to care.”
“Yeah, well,” I grumbled, pulling the hoodie tighter around me, “pretending is kind of my thing lately.”
August's grin slowly disappeared, and I saw the questions in his eyes. Was he trying to catch the nuance in what he said? Or perhaps he was trying to figure out what else I was pretending about.
“August, about earlier...” I started. “That… thing that happened. It shouldn’t have.” I forced the words out, staring at the TV. “It can’t happen again.”
He tilted his head slightly. “Why not?”
“Why not?” I repeated, snapping my head toward him. “Because, August, we’re—”
“Supposed to be step-siblings. Yeah, I know,” he sighed. “But that didn’t stop you from enjoying it.”
I froze. “Excuse me?”
“Don’t act like you didn’t.” His voice was teasing. “You kissed me back, Dona.”
"I didn't!" I retorted. “You’re imagining things!"
“Am I?”
Before I could open my mouth again, he moved in and pressed his lips against mine. Just a short kiss, barely a second long. But it was enough to make my brain shut off completely.
"I won't do anything you don't want." He whispered into my lips as he pulled back, and his voice was dangerously husky. I fought the urge to close the inch between us and kiss him again.
Then I remembered what Piper said and I pulled away, slapping him across the face. My hand stung, but the shock on his face almost made it worth it.. until he started laughing.
HE WAS LAUGHING!
Like this is funny. As if I didn’t just physically assault him out of pure panic.
“You’re such an ass!” I shouted, jumping to my feet.
He held up his hands in mock surrender, still chuckling. “You gotta admit, though, that was—”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence!”
“—kinda worth it.”
My face burned hot enough to power a whole city. I glared at him as every one of my nerves felt like they were about to combust. “I don't want you kissing me!”
He leaned back on the couch, rubbing the side of his jaw where I hit him. “You didn’t seem to think so a few seconds ago.”
I let out an incredulous laugh, more from disbelief than anything else. “You’re so unbelievable, August. I wonder how people can stand you.”
“Thanks.”
I grabbed one of the couch pillows and threw it at him. He dodged it easily, of course, and laughed again.
“I hate you!” I shouted, halfway up the stairs already.
“Sure you do, McNair!” He called back. "Sure, you do."