“August, let me go,” I plead in a whisper.
“No can do, rich girl,” he says, then kisses my neck.
“August,” I say again. “I need to go.”
“Do you really, or are you just freaking out right now? It will pass. I’ll hold you through it.”
I take in his words and then shake my head and pull back. My legs drop to the floor, and we stand in front of each other, naked. He goes to reach for me again, but I step back.
“We never should have done this,” I state, rubbing my hands down my face. “Oh, my God, you’re married,” I say with a heavy breath. “What we did was so wrong.”
“Mary and I haven’t had sex for months.”
I look into his green eyes and shake my head. “That doesn’t make it any better. I saw the way she looked at you. I look at you the same way, August. She loves you.”
“You love me, rich girl?” He smirks, still very much naked and very handsome.
“Arghhh,” I scream. His body is better than it was five years ago. How is that even possible? It’s more defined, his arms are more significant, the veins in them even more lickable. “You love her too, right?” I ask him.
“I love her, yes.”
My heart cracks at his words.
I literally feel it.
Like someone split it open.
“But not in the way I love you.”
“I have to go. I have to.” I look around for my dress, find it on the floor, and pull it over my head. It falls down my body like a waterfall, and I look up the stairs to where Winter is sleeping.
“She’s asleep.” Somehow, he moved to me without me knowing and is now standing in front of me. I glance down to where his jeans are lying on the floor.
“I have to go.”
“Rich girl.” He reaches for my face, but I step back so he can’t touch me again. That is not allowed. Because I am defenseless to his touch, and it’s entirely unfair.
“Kiss Winter for me. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say, trying to make my escape. His hand captures my arm before I can leave. And when I peer back at him, his eyes lock with mine.
“It’s always been you. Never anyone else. Always you, rich girl.”
“Then why did you leave?” I bite back. “Clearly, it wasn’t right. We aren’t right. For fuck’s sake, August, you should have told me you fucked his mother. You really do bring a whole new meaning to motherfucker.” I pull my arm free and open his front door.
Storming out, I get to my car and slide in. I don’t look back. It’s a stupid thing to do, just as it was foolish to open my legs for him.
I bang my hands on the wheel and swear at myself.
How could I be so stupid?
Why?
Chapter 23
August
Sleeping was next to impossible. Instead, I went out back to the same place where I used to build everything, to the place where I find my peace. I’ve only been in here once since I’ve been home, and that was to make Winter’s bedroom furniture. My hand runs along the wood, itching for me to make something, anything.
“Auggie.” I snap my head up to see Winter standing at the door. She’s rubbing her eyes, so I go to her and pick her up and kiss her cheek. “I’m hungry.”
“Well, we have to feed the monster or the monster might come out and eat us,” I say, grabbing her belly and making her laugh. Back in the kitchen, I place her at the counter and start her pancakes.
“Uncle Benji says you’re a dickhead. What’s a dickhead?” she says, making me pause mid-stir of the batter. I turn to see her watching me, a crayon in her hand is paused over a coloring book.
“Ignore that. He shouldn’t be using those words around you.”
“Oh, he didn’t. He said it to Mommy.” She smiles and goes back to coloring.
Reaching for my phone because it dings, Rylee's message asks what time she should pick up Winter. I call her because even after all this time, I still hate texting. And let’s face it, I would rather listen to her voice anytime. “You’re on speaker,” I tell her as I place the phone down.
“Hey, so what time should I come today?”
I pause and look back to Winter. “Why don’t you come now and have breakfast with us?” I ask her.
Winter looks up and smiles. “Yeah, Mommy, come.”
“Way to put me on the spot.” I smirk at her words. “Okay, I’ll be there in ten.”
“Goodbye, rich girl.”
“Don’t you start,” she snaps, then hangs up the phone.
“How many pancakes today?” I ask Winter, a grin breaking over my face. Winter holds up both hands, and I get to cooking her ten pancakes, as requested.
Rylee arrives in five minutes, not ten. She’s dressed in a summer dress that stops above her knees, and her dark hair is tied up. She pulls her sunglasses from her head when she walks inside and flicks her eyes to me before she sits down next to Winter.