Page 1 of Aug

ONE

Darkness coated nearly every corner around us, but still, I could see her as clear as the blue skies after a rainy day. Because, somehow, they had more in common than I’d ever imagined. They both symbolized hope, new beginnings, a miracle in spite of a mess, peace, and calm to chaos.

An extensive inhale filled my lungs with air as I observed the ringlets of her curly hair bounce each time her body moved.

With a small glass in her hand, she met the others above the table, right in the center.

A hand pressed against her chest as her head lowered, and her hips swayed to whatever was playing on the loudspeakers. I could only hear her. Only heard them.

“To Roulette and Israel!” Royce yelled over the music.

“To Roulette and Israel!” They all shouted.

Lazily, I blinked to rewet my eyes. My eyelids hadn’t sealed to moisturize my orbs in the last four minutes or more. Missing even a second of her beauty was unacceptable. I mourned the time I lost as my eyes reopened.

The small glass was empty. She slammed it against the table with the others. My eyes shifted to the beauty beside her. They complemented each other so well. A sharp thorn deepened in my heart.

Failure had never been an option in my head, but I felt like I’d done just that to Balle.

My job was to protect her, even if that meant sacrificing myself.

I was fully prepared to and would happily perform as a human shield to make sure she continued to wake up, breathe, and live, because that was her truest purpose.

But–

When her body went crashing to the ground on that stage, so did my sanity.

Somehow, I believed her attempted demise was solely my fault.

The weeks following her incident, I ran my body into the ground, desperate to keep my eyes on the prize.

Sleep was an afterthought, if a thought at all.

Rest wasn’t my priority. Safety and protection was. Life was. Balle’s life was.

“I love youuuuuu!”

“In every lifetime, love.”

The exchange between the best friends reeled me back into the moment. Into her. She was easily the softest place to land. And though I hadn’t quite made it to the runway that seemed to stretch for miles to accommodate my extensive past and troubled heart, I knew it was the perfect strip.

Carved with the softness of a cloud after the rain had drained and the molecule collection had just begun again.

Smoothed with the hands of a woman whose delicacy convinced me to wait until my edges weren’t as rough to approach her.

Pursue her. And, give her the kind of dick that transcended her belief system.

Her expectation. And, any experiences with men before me.

Red .

It should’ve been criminal for it to be against her brown skin. Another inhale rewarded me with more patience and gratitude for the view. However, my gaze was confirmation that the two lightweights were far beyond their limits.

Balle was a goner.

Tiana–

My Tiana was right behind her.

I lowered my shoulder, leaning into Koen. His eyes were fixed on our subject, never leaving her. Not even for a few minutes unless it was to inspect our surroundings to ensure her safety.

“It’s time.”

Koen nodded, agreeing with my analysis of the situation.

Having Balle sloppy in public was never going to happen on my watch.

It increased the risks and lowered her credibility.

She was the Prima Ballerina of Clarke Theater.

The theater of the city. Eyes were on her.

Eyes would always be on her. And, for good reason.

Beyond the stage, she was a Childers. She had a reputation to uphold. It was about time to cap their night and usher them to the cars as best as we could without puke or dizziness hindering our motion.

“She’s making a call,” Koen informed me.

I observed as Balle crouched near the sofa and placed her hand over the bottom of the phone as she spoke into it. That wouldn’t help. It was loud and her voice would be difficult to track regardless. Still, I watched, reading every word from her lips.

“It’s Sac–” I paused as I continued to digest what she was saying, “She’s told him to come get her.”

“Good.”

A few more minutes , I concluded, placing both hands behind my back and lifting my chin.

I knew Balle’s fiancé like a book, now. I’d studied him well.

When she called, he came running. His excitement and genuine happiness to spend the smallest moments with her is what had my eyes locked on the woman beside her.

I wanted that.

I wanted her.

Tiana.

Tiana– the ballerina .

I centered my weight as I practiced patience, watching the girls grind against each other.

Inviting anyone of the male species to their small party was strictly prohibited.

They all understood the very clear rules set for the bachelorette week and had been following them well.

All except for Roulette and Royce, which was to be expected.

Roulette made her own rules. Royce didn’t think rules existed. Not for her, at least. She moved on her own terms. The rest of the siblings and their plus ones managed to keep the words of my boss and their brother in mind.

The waitress returned to the table, rounding her tray before lowering it. She removed five drinks from the black surface. I cut my eyes to Koen, considering my next move.

“They’re all clean,” he assured me.

Though this was Roulette’s establishment, extra precautions were still being taken.

After Balle’s water had been contaminated over a period of time and nearly ended in her death, we weren’t taking any chances.

The girls had everything they needed at the table.

Why they felt the need to order drinks from the bar was beyond me. So was the fact that one was for Tiana.

I stepped forward with a quickened pace, noticing the drink drawing closer to her lips. I extended my arm and wrapped my fingers around the glass filled with yellow liquid and decorated with a sugared rim.

“Whaa–”

Stunned, Tiana’s hips stopped swaying and her irises rested on my frame.

“That’s enough.”

I lifted the glass to my lips and killed the sugar-coated liquor. My top lip raised in the right corner as I grimaced.

Ugh . The shit tasted just as I’d imagined. Like a fucking girl. Like something Tiana would have.

“Good right?”

I didn’t realize my eyes had started for the top of my head until they were already there.

“No more drinks, Tiana,” I demanded and leaned over to tap Balle, “For you either. It’s time to go!”

“Saint is on his way.”

“I’m aware. Get your things. He will be pulling up by the time we’re outside.”

“Wait– if your man is taking you home, then who is taking me home?”

Yours .

“I’ll take you.”

“Your man.” Balle chuckled.

I lost a few breaths. Possibly missed a heartbeat or two as well.

“Rome!” Tiana blurted, nudging her best friend.

The scowl on her face was disheartening. My nostrils swelled with curiosity.

Fuck that supposed to mean, Ti? I questioned internally. Whether she understood the concept yet or not, Balle was right.

“Fix your face,” I said instead, “And, gather your shit. We’re heading out.”

“Yes, sir!” Balle saluted, making them both laugh uncontrollably.

They done let these two get drunk , I sighed. Knowing damn well they don’t drink .

“I wasn’t talking to you, Balle, but get your things too. Saint will be waiting by the time we reach the lot.”

I rejoined Koen just outside of their private section.

He had changed positions as well. While I gathered the youngest of the bunch, he began rounding up the most difficult.

Seeing everyone searching for their purses, phones, cosmetic mirrors, lip glosses, and other shit lowered my stress level significantly.

One by one, they lined up in front of us. Balle was the first, which was expected. Tiana was beside her. Roaman followed. Slowly, everyone met us with Rugger, the third set of eyes, tailing in the back.

“Let’s move,” Koen commanded.

Hands linked as the assembled line headed out of the door. Careful not to lose a single soul, I stayed in the middle, observing the floor for stragglers. With as much alcohol in their system, one was more likely to hit the ground than not.

We pushed through the single door and then the double doors. Roulette, the private entertainment club created by Roulette Childers, was on another level. The establishment was something straight out of a mafia movie.

High ceilings.

Red decor.

Custom moulding.

Red carpet eighty percent throughout .

Just as expected, Saint was waiting to claim his prize. On wobbly legs, Balle released Tiana from her grasp.

“Follow them,” I advised, leaning into Koen.

“And her?”

“I’ve got her.”

Tittering, he nodded. “I’m sure you do.”

My shoulders lifted and fell. My adoration for Tiana was growing swiftly. Though the words had never left my mouth, I wasn’t surprised to know those around me were beginning to take notice. Just as the thought approached, Balle called out.

“Tiana! I love you, babe. Be safe.”

Her legs and head dangled. Her midsection was spread across her fiancé’s shoulder. I tried holding my laughter inside because this was no laughing matter. However, Balle was as composed as they came. To see her in rare form was comical.

“I love you back!” Tiana yelled across the lot as Saint began to stuff Balle into the car.

“August, take care of her. Be nice!”

She didn’t let the door close before making sure I heard her warning. Chuckling, I nodded in Balle’s direction.

I will, Rome. If she lets me .

“This way.”

I motioned for Tiana to continue following me. When we reached the SUV, I opened the back door. Tiana shifted her weight from one side to the other. Her arms were folded over her chest, and her eyes were straight ahead. On me.

“Get in,” I demanded.

She turned on the heels of her feet and headed in the opposite direction. She pulled the passenger door open and climbed inside. Sighing, I slammed the back door and made my way around the front of the vehicle. I settled into the front seat.

The engine started without hesitation. Music disrupted my train of thought. I extended my hand and twisted the nob to turn it down until there were hardly any noises coming from the speakers. Breathing is all that could be heard as I turned toward Tiana.

“Don’t fix your fingers to open doors when I’m around. Save that energy for that ballet shit they have y’all doing for hours on end.”

“I can–”

“Put on your seatbelt and be quiet. I’d hate for you to say some shit you don’t really mean tonight.”

I spiked the volume of the stereo as I pulled into the assembly line of cars we’d formed. From my peripheral, I could see every move Tiana made. She obliged, securing herself in the seatbelt as I’d suggested.

Good .