My phone dings. It’s Rhianna telling me she’s ten minutes away. I peek at the girls and see them tapping each other on the head as they try to play Duck, Duck, Goose but fail.
Someone laughs, and I turn my head just as the door to the café opens. I watch as Sully walks in, followed by someone who makes my heart stop.
Dead. I’m dead.
My eyes are wide, my body has frozen as I watch August walk straight to the counter dressed in dark jeans and a yellow shirt. He has a light stubble on his chin, his hands are tucked into his jeans as he looks at the menu.
August is here.
He isn’t dead.
I assumed he was, but he appears perfectly fine. Better than fine, actually.
He looks good. Too good.
Asshole.
“No, no, no, no.” Summer comes running out and pulls my hand. I wrench my gaze away from him and to face her. “Winter won’t share with me. Tell her to share.” I glance up at August again and see him staring at me with wide eyes.
Yeah, I know how that feels, buddy.
Fuck you.
It’s been five years. And here he is, looking like he stepped out of a magazine. His eyes flick to Summer, then back to me.
Something looks different in that gaze.
“Go get Winter. We have to leave,” I tell Summer, looking away from him. Summer pouts at me but does as I say. I stand, gathering all their things, not even caring that I only just ordered my drink. I have a need, to get out of here. Cleanse my eyes. Do something.
“Rich girl.” His voice sounds as good as I remember.
Summer runs back out, clasps her hand in mine, and smiles at August. He looks at her, then at me. “She looks like you.”
“It’s because my mummy is her twin, silly.” I see the air whoosh out of his chest as he nods, then he looks to me and smirks. He smirks—the asshole.
“We need to leave.”
“Mummy.” Winter runs out and slams into my legs. August’s gaze moves down to her. I watch him for a reaction seeing if he notices it. Because I do. Every time I look at her, I see him. Winter snuggles into my leg, and August drops down to a crouching position so he is eye level with Winter.
“And what is your name?”
She looks up at me, and I nod, giving her permission to speak. She smiles when she answers him, “Winter.” He glances up at me. “Paige,” she finishes, proud of herself for remembering her middle name.
“We have to go.” I pull my bag up over my shoulder and leave the food and drinks.
“Rylee.” His use of my real name almost slays me. I laugh. It’s fake and forced and a little crazy.
“Rylee,” I repeat my name while shaking my head. “Goodbye, August. Maybe in another five years, we’ll see each other again.” I grab both the girls’ hands and walk off.
“Goodbye, Winter,” he says. She turns around and smiles at August, offering him a small wave. I walk to the car and call Rhianna, who answers straight away.
“I just left the café, we can’t meet there. Abort,” I say and hang up. Getting the girls in the car, I shut their door, and when I turn around, he’s standing there.
“You had a kid,” he says, those eyes I stare at every day in the face of my daughter stare back at me. “And she looks like me.”
Heart meet floor.
I push past him and get into my car. He doesn’t stop me, just stares as I pull out and drive off.
My hands shake and my eyes want to cry, but I keep it in. I can’t let it out. No way in hell can I go back there.
Driving to my place, I pull up to see Rhianna and Noah already waiting for me. They must have been close to arrive before I did. I get out of the car, turn around and see both the girls asleep in the back.
“August was there. He saw Winter,” I tell them, almost blurting it out. My hands are shaking, and I have to remember to breathe. Rhianna covers her mouth with her hands, and her eyes go wide. Noah shakes his head like he can’t believe what I’ve just said.
“He’s here? You’re sure?” Noah asks.
“Very much so,” I tell him.
The sound of a loud engine comes up behind us, and we all turn to see a Harley Davidson pull in behind my car. I watch as August gets off. He removes his helmet and licks his lips, that small scar that used to be there barely visible now.
“Noah.” August nods to him.
“Rhianna.” She swears and holds her belly.
“I’ll take the girls inside,” Noah says, then proceeds to open the car to get the girls out while Rhianna steps close to me so her arm rubs against mine as she gives August the best death stare.