Page 126 of Until August

He hesitated, and for a moment, I thought he might apologize. Or worse, shoot down my offer to help. “Thank you,” he said, but I didn’t think it had anything to do with my offer to help. August didn’t need my assistance to create a new special.

“For what?” I asked.

He framed my face in his hands and pressed his lips against my forehead. There was something so gentle and loving about a forehead kiss, and it was such an abrupt change in mood that it took me by surprise.

“For being you,” he said, taking a step back. “For knowing exactly how to deal with me. I don’t think anyone has ever understood me or known me like you do.” He shook his head as if he couldn’t quite believe it.

But I’d felt the same way with him at times.

I was still standing in the same spot, my heart ricocheting off the walls of my chest long after he’d walked away.

Too stunned to move as the realization swept over me like a wave. Not a gentle wave that lapped at your ankles. The kind of wave that crashed over your head and knocked you off your feet when your back was turned.

I didn’twantto feel this way.

I didn’t want to think that another man knew me in a way that Cruz never had.

How strange thatthiswas the moment that really made me feel like I was cheating on my husband.

I knew why too.

Having sex was just a physical betrayal.

But what I had with August was emotional cheating. It didn’t matter if I never shared a bed with August again.

We’d formed a bond. We cared about each other. We argued and fought and exchanged words we didn’t mean.

But it didn’t destroy us.

I would still trust August with my life. With my secrets. With my dreams.

We’d exposed our fears and weaknesses, our flaws and insecurities. We’d confided in each other about the worst times in our lives.

This wasn’t sex with no strings attached.

It wasn’t a casual fling.

Whether we slapped a title on it or not…

Thiswas a relationship.

CHAPTERFORTY-FOUR

August

The nightbefore Sage came home, Nicola dragged me down to the beach after the restaurant closed.

“What the hell are you doing?” I asked when she pulled her t-shirt over her head, flung it on the sand, and reached for my zipper.

“Let’s go for a swim.”

“You want to go for a swim at midnight.”

“Mmhmm. Are you up for it?”

I captured her hands when she tried to push my pants down my hips. “You want to swim in the ocean in the middle of the night?”

“That’s exactly what I want to do.”