Jeffy’s eyes bulge as he ignores my handshake. “Since…when?”
“Since at least three lifetimes ago,” August croons. “Possibly more. I only recall the last two myself, but Dominic claims there’s at least one more that he refuses to tell me anything about. I suspect it was harsh and heartbreaking, but soulmates always find their way through.” Her hand reaches for mine, and draws it down against the table as her eyes take on a whimsical fantasy edge. “I can handle it, darling. Please tell me the truth of our past.”
“Right…” Jeffry notes, holding back a grimace.
Sammy laughs. “Reincarnation and soulmates, huh? That’s cool. I’m behind on your books, but I’ll look forward to getting to that one.”
“Well…” Jeffry hedges, ushering Sammy away. “Nice meeting you. See you around, August.”
“Not if the ninjas get me first!” August declares, releasing my hand to shake her fist in the air while Jeffry retreats toward their vehicle, dragging Sammy along.
Once the engine’s started, I lean in. “I completely understand everything you did not tell me, and I apologize for ever toying with the idea of jealousy.”
She meets me in the middle of the table. “I know,right?Talk about a jerk in blond clothing.”
“I did like Sammy, though.”
She nods. “Oh, yeah. Sammy’s an angel. Real sweet. Lowkey, highkey an alcoholic, unfortunately. The boy’s been through it and makes bad decisions to handle the trauma.” She shudders. “ButJeffry? Bleck. Something is majorly not okay with that man. Makes my skin crawl. I’msoglad Mirabelle didn’t wind up with him.”
My brows rise. “Was that a risk? I mean. He’s just…” I can’t even put my finger on it. The abject shock behind the way he looked at me when I said I was in a relationship with August and the patronizing distaste in the way he dealt with her whimsical comments just leaves an awful taste in my mouth.
August says, “He’s liked her for years. He used to talk about her with his buds at Bear’s, and I’d overhear some pretty nasty garbage. Nothing was explicitly gross, exactly, but when I tell you that guy doesnotdo secret pining correctly, that guy doesnotdo secret pining correctly. Everything he said about her was just secretly about him instead?” August snaps her fingers. “Selfish. That’s what it is. He gives off an impression of violent selfishness. He wanted Mira, andwoe is himshe didn’t fall into his lap. Even though he never made a move to make it happen. He’s just lazy and selfish.”
“And judgmental.”
August lifts a shoulder. “That one’s to be expected. I’m a nutcase. Even very lovely people have a hard time with me.”
“You’re charming, and the way he looked at you was uncalled for.”
“Pretty sure he thinks I’mmentally unwell. In aslowkind of way. Possibly because I once heard him tell a tourist friend he was hanging with one summernot to mind herbecauseshe’s a little retarded.”
My temper snaps. “He what?”
“Yeah.” August smiles, but it’s a little worn. “He’s one of those guys that’s not really got much in the way of character. He’ll pick up whatever stuff surrounds him to fit in, which is valid enough. People do that. But he doesn’t allow the idea that not everyone wants to do that. Anything that doesn’t fit in this preconceived box of what he believes to benormalgets looked down on.”
I stab my spoon into my snowcone. “That’s…a horrible way to live. If that’s how he is, though, I’m not sure how to ask this question correctly…”
“Why Mirabelle?” she intervenes.
“In essence, yes.”
“You didn’t meet her before she got married. She was far more reserved even just a few months ago. Verytraditional housewife. Which isexactlythe role a guy like Jeffry expects a woman to play.” August rolls her eyes. “Seriously. Gives me the heebie-jeebies. If he had any kind of money, he’d be one of those disgusting entitled men who thinks everyone owes them something.”
“Huh.”
“What?”
“Just thinking…”
Her eyes narrow. “About?”
“I’m glad you don’t fit in his gross boxes.”
She scans me. “Why?”
“Well now,” I murmur, dishing out a spoonful of ice and continuing around it, “heisblond.”
Dry, August stares at me. “Blond isn’t everything, Dominic.”
