Choosing August

Chapter 13

The brace was no joke.

My leg was locked straight, and apparently it would be staying that way. The hospital gave me crutches and a wheelchair, which made me suddenly regret living on the third floor.

Not in a three-story apartment.

An apartment on the third story.

Which was worse.

Titus said he would take me home.

Cal and Bryson both objected.

Eventually, Kelly won the argument.

“I’m tired,” she said. “Augie’s fine.”

I looked at Bryson.

I didn’t have to say anything. The look was enough.

Go ahead. Do it again.

Choose her again.

Bryson looked defeated.

“Fine.”

He got Titus’s number, then asked Cal for his too. I knew he already had Cal’s number. He had probably deleted it at some point.

Bryson created a group chat and added all four of us.

“We’ll figure out times,” he said.

“I’ll stay tonight,” Titus offered.

“No,” Cal said. “I’ll stay.”

Titus looked at him. “You need to get your girlfriend home, right? I can handle tonight.”

I gave Cal a look.

Please don’t leave me alone with him.

Cal didn’t catch it.

Bryson did.

He started to say something, but Kelly interrupted.

“Bryson, can we go? We’ve been here long enough. Augie’s fine.”

“Yes,” I said. “I’m fine, Bryson. Perfectly fine.”

He understood exactly what I meant and glared at me.

Then the anger faded, replaced by guilt.

He had to know that his behavior had something to do with why I had ended up alone on that dock. He didn’t know the details, but he could figure out enough.

“I’ll be around tomorrow,” he said.

Then he left with Kelly.

Margie, Cal, and Titus remained in the room.

“I can call an Uber,” I said. “Seriously. I can.”

“Shut up,” Titus said. “I’ve got you.”

I stared at him.

Did that hunk really just tell me to shut up?

It was both hot and infuriating.

“You need clothes,” I said. “You need whatever you’re going to need for the night. Let me leave with Cal, and then you can come later. Or I’ll be fine until morning.”

The nurse started to object, but Titus spoke first.

“I’m sure you have an oversized shirt and some shorts I can borrow.”

“We are not the same size.”

“It’ll be fine.”

I looked at Cal again.

He still didn’t understand what I was trying to communicate.

Margie seemed closer to catching it, but before she could say anything, Cal nodded as though the entire problem had been solved.

“This works out. I’ll come over first thing in the morning and relieve him. Bryson can take over around lunch.”

I fell quiet.

Cal knew how much I hated losing control. He knew this entire situation was exactly what I wouldn’t want.

He also knew something else was going on.

Our earlier conversation still hung between us. He had to suspect that whatever brought me to the dock had something to do with everything I refused to tell him.

He didn’t pry.

Not there.

Not in front of Titus.

Margie looked like she wanted to ask questions too, but she kept them to herself.

Eventually, she and Cal left while Titus stayed to help me through the discharge process.

He pushed me out in the wheelchair and brought me to his car. Once he had helped me into the passenger seat, he moved it as far back as it would go so my stiff leg had room.

Then he loaded the wheelchair and crutches into the back.

“You need to return those to the hospital,” I said.

“I bought them.”

I looked at him. “Why?”

“Because you need them.”

“You didn’t need to do that.”

“I bought them for you. It’s fine.”

Titus closed the back and walked around to the driver’s side. Once he was inside, he started the car but didn’t immediately pull away.

“I also paid the bill for tonight.”

I looked down.

The gratitude I should have felt was quickly swallowed by anger.

“I don’t need charity.”

He heard it in my voice.

“I’m doing it because I want to.”

“You don’t f*****g know me.”

“Well, I’m f*****g getting to know you, so stop.”

I turned toward him.

“Why are you doing this?”

Titus looked at me.

“I already told you.”

He shifted the car into drive.

“You intrigue me.”