Page 101 of Until August

Her smile slipped.

“I know this is none of my business, but I care about August. He’s a good man. And he’s… he’s been through a lot.” Not that I had to tell her that, but I felt like it bore repeating. “Sage means the world to him, and it would destroy him if you moved to Hawaii.”

“Did he ask you to talk to me?” she asked warily.

I shook my head. “No. This is all on me. Do you really think August would ask for anyone’s help?”

“No. I guess not.” She rolled up her yoga mat, stuffed it in a carry bag, and then slung it over her shoulder. “But if we decide to move to Hawaii, it will be a family decision. No offense, but how does this have anything to do with you?”

Her tone wasn’t unfriendly. Curious, maybe. Wary.

She was probably trying to figure out my relationship with August. If I was just his employer, she’d be right. It wouldn’t affect me in the least.

“It doesn’t. But like I said, I care about August and his happiness.” I probably should have stopped talking, but I was so angry on August’s behalf that I felt it was my duty to present his case. “Did you stop to think what this would do to him? To his life? He came here for Sage, and now you tell him you might be moving just when he's finally settling in?”

Sasha crossed her arms over her chest, on the defensive. “He should feel lucky that I even let him spend time with Sage.”

“How can you even say that? He would do anything in the world for Sage. So whywouldn’tyou let him spend time with hisson?”

She studied my face, and I tried to keep my expression neutral. Not my forte. “You’re sleeping with him, aren’t you?” she guessed.

“I don’t really see how that’s any of your business.” Now I was on the defensive. My response came out clipped and sounded less than friendly. Not my intention. I didn’t want to make an enemy of his ex.

“But yet you think that the choices I make for my son areyourbusiness?”

Okay, fine. She got me there. But still. Someone needed to be in August’s corner. “I’m just asking you to consider August’s parental rights.” I softened my voice. “Sage is finally getting to know his father, and that’s a big deal for both of them.”

“Do you have kids?”

“No,” I admitted. “But—”

“Then you have no idea what it’s like to raise a child. You have no idea how hard it’s been.”

I softened my tone. “I can only imagine. August told me about Sage’s heart defect, and I’m sure it must have been terrible for you,” I said, sympathizing with her. “But August is doing everything he can to make that up to his son.”

“How long have you known August? A couple months?”

“I know him well enough to know who he is. A good man who made a big mistake. And now he’s trying to rebuild his life. He’s trying so damn hard, and I have so much respect for him.”

“I used to be like you once,” she said wistfully. “August was the love of my life. Or so I thought.” She looked out at the ocean, and I saw the sadness on her face. The grief of losing someone she’d loved.

I understood that feeling so well. Thinking someone would be your forever only to lose them.

“I used to think August was the greatest thing since sliced bread. But life with August is not all rainbows and unicorns.”

“I don’t think anyone’s life or relationship is like that.” I waited until her eyes met mine to drive home my final point, hoping that some of my words would reach her and force her to reconsider. “We’re all flawed. We all make mistakes and say and do things we wish we hadn’t. But when I met August, he told me he was looking for a second chance. And this is him trying. He really needs that second chance with Sage.”

Sasha’s eyes filled with tears, and I thought that a part of her still loved him. After all, you never forget your first love.

“We’re not doing this to hurt August,” she said.

“But you know it will,” I said softly. Something about Sasha made me feel like I should tread lightly. A fragility that made me want to protect her.

She shook her head. “I have to go. But take it from me, don’t pin all your hopes and dreams on August. He’s selfish. Determined to get what he wants at any cost. He will make you believe that the sun rises and sets on you, but he will let you down when you need him most. Because that’s what he does. August is never happy with what he has. So when things seem too good, he’ll sabotage everything. He did it with his restaurant. He did it with every relationship he’s ever had. And he will do it to you, too. So no, I don’t fully trust August to be there for Sage. And whatever decision I make, it will be for Sage, not for August.”

With those words, she turned and walked away, and I let her go.

Was that true? I’d accused August of the same thing. Of sabotaging everything good in his life. But that was before I’d heard his reasons.