August Skye

Part 11

August and I strolled hand-in-hand down the bustling city streets, enveloped by the warm and vibrant energy of the city. Mike had conveniently dropped us a block away from our destination, a newly opened restaurant, due to the lack of parking spots in the vicinity. The day had started out chilly but ended up surprisingly warm, and we made the most of it. Dressed in scanty clothing, we enjoyed the sun against our skins.

August leaned in closer and asked, "Where are we headed?"

"We're heading to this new hotspot that opened up a few months ago,"

"Do they have good food?" she asked, glancing around for the restaurant without any idea what it looked like.

As we turned the corner, I was about to respond to her when I caught sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of my eye. It was Luke, standing nonchalantly outside a vibrant and modern building that was buzzing with activity. He was energetically waving at us with a wide grin on his face. Suddenly, he broke into a sprint and charged straight towards us.

My body froze, and my heart started pounding in my chest as I watched him close in. I let out a scream, and then the adrenaline kicked in, and I tried to escape the way we came. August was laughing behind me, but I was too focused on getting away from Luke.

Despite my efforts, I was unable to escape, and Luke swiftly caught up with me, lifting me up over his shoulder with ease. He carried me back to the restaurant, where August was waiting and laughing amid the bustling city sounds. Still, the sound of her melodic laugh was all that I could hear. 

"I believe this precious cargo belongs to you," Luke said mischievously as he gently set me down.

I gave him a teasing look, "I can't say I missed this kind of behaviour from you."

"Thank you, Luke," said August as she wrapped her arm around my waist. "I'll keep a closer eye on her from now on."

Despite feeling a warm blush on my cheeks, I quickly brushed it off as we entered the busy restaurant. The atmosphere was filled with lively conversations, laughter, and the soulful notes of live music floating in the air.

As we settled down at our table, Luke couldn't contain his excitement, "This place is fantastic! I love the vibe here."

"It's quite charming," August agreed, pulling out my chair for me. I expressed my gratitude and settled down, with her taking the seat next to me. After a quick scan of the menu, I had already predicted what August would choose.

"What are we ordering?" Luke asked, scanning the menu with his eyes. 

"The hot wings, without a doubt," I replied, a mischievous grin appearing on my face. "August can't resist them." 

August playfully rolled her eyes. "Yes, they are my weakness," she admitted. "But I think I'll go for a more balanced lunch this time."

"Is Phyl threatening to put you on a diet again?"

She scoffed. "No, but I'd rather not give her a reason to."

During our meal, the conversation naturally turned to Luke's new job. "I can't believe you work with animals now!" I exclaimed, my enthusiasm showing. "That's so cool."

"I mean, I've been putting up with you for half my life."

I gasped at him. "Asshole!"

He responded with a grin, "It's fascinating. I never pictured myself as a zookeeper, but it's a whole new world, and I love it."

August agreed, "It's important to follow your passion in life. Life is too short to spend time doing something that you don't love."

I looked over at her, trying to comprehend the depth of her words. Though I wouldn't say her career had been a waste, the rewards and satisfaction had dwindled over time. As I reached for my glass to take a sip of my drink, a passerby accidentally bumped into my chair, causing my orange juice to topple over and spill onto my pristine white blouse. I watched in dismay as the stain quickly spread across the fabric.