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“William?” I whisper.

“That must be the woman he was telling me about,” Chuck says. “I didn’t know they had a kid.”

“They?” I question, lost by his words.

I have no idea what I’m looking at, but it’s not what I ever expected to see. The woman with William bends down to tug another child from the stroller. Little arms fling in William’s direction, so he shifts the first child to his left hip, so he can reach for the other. That one clings to him as she kisses his cheek.

From where I’m standing, the kids look like twins.

“He told me about her,” Chuck explains. “We had a drink the other night. He said he was crazy about a woman. He’s knee deep in love, and I can see why. He has a beautiful family, and to top it all off, he lives in one of the best buildings in Manhattan.”

I can’t comprehend any of this. I glance at Chuck, shaking my head because this cannot be reality. “No. That’s not right. William lives in Brooklyn.”

Chuck’s gaze wanders over my face. “I met him at a bar around the corner for a beer, Opal. He’s a regular there. He told me he lives close by. I saw him go into that building at the end of the night when I was headed to the subway. We should go over and say hi to him.”

Jan tugs on Chuck’s hand. “I’m sorry, sweetie, but we don’t have time. I wanted to surprise you, but I asked your parents to meet us for dinner to share the news with them. We shouldn’t keep them waiting.”

Chuck grins. “Really? That’s fucking awesome.”

I manage a small smile because I don’t want to ruin this couple’s engagement day.

“I’d ask you to join us, Opal, but you look like you’re on your way to a date,” Chuck says.

I shake my head softly. “It’s not a date.”

“I’ll see you the next time you get a shipment of board games.” He chuckles. “I’m glad you got to meet my girl.”

Jan smiles at me. “It was great to meet you, Opal. Chuck told me all about your game bar. We’ll stop in for sure.”

“I can’t wait,” I whisper, feeling like I’m in daze.

“Talk to you soon,” Chuck tosses that at me before they brush past me and blend into the pedestrian traffic on this crowded sidewalk.

I turn my attention back to William just as he’s helping the woman he’s with load the children and their stroller into a black SUV parked at the curb in front of his building. He’s in and out of my sight because the vehicle partially blocks my view, but I see more than I want to when the beautiful woman he’s with kisses his cheek before she slides into the SUV.

I can’t take any more, so I hurry in the direction I was initially headed while trying to come to terms with my new reality.

I fell in love with a cheat once. I promised myself I’d never do it again, but I’m a foolbecause even though I didn’t want to admit it, I opened my heart up to William.

“Never again,” I mutter to myself.

I should turn back around and head home, but I can’t wallow in my grief again. I can’t allow a man’s actions to weigh me down that way.

I’ll go to dinner, toast to Malvie’s new job, and return to the life I was living before I knew William Knight existed.

It won’t be easy, but I’m determined to do it. I have to.

52

William

I tried callingit a night hours ago, but everything feelswrong.

After I helped Aleena get her twins loaded up for their journey home to the Upper West Side, I caught a brief glimpse of a woman across the street sprinting through the crowds on the sidewalk.

Her blonde hair bounced from her shoulders as she ran to wherever the hell she was going. The heels on her feet didn’t slow her at all.

I couldn’t tear my gaze from her because her hair color matched Opal’s. Her body shape did, too.