When Sky Breaks: Burn & Break Duet Book 2

41. Sky

After a light breakfastat the coffee shop, August invited me back to his place to hang out. A few hours of talking turned into several, and while he doesn’t seem to mind in the slightest, it’s probably best I go home before I decide to just move into his house.

“I don’t want to leave,” I say instead.

“No one is telling you to.” August looks at Winter and they both turn to stare at me.

“Well, that’s not fair. Giving me literal puppy dog eyes. I have no defense. The both of you are terrible influences.”

“That was the goal, wasn’t it, Winter?” August lifts his brows at the dog and she woofs. “That’s right, girl. We did it.” He ruffles her fur, and my heart warms even as I roll my eyes.

“I really do have to go check on Foster. Trek said he wasn’t going to be home tonight.”

August stands and lets Winter outside before coming back to me, wrapping an arm around my waist, hauling me flush to his chest. “I know. Doesn’t mean I won’t miss hanging out with you.” He brushes aside a strand of my hair before dipping his head to look at me. “You’ll be back. Right?”

And there it is. The underlying fear that this was all a fever dream.

To banish any doubts, I rise to my tippy toes and kiss him. “Yes, I’ll be back.”

The sound of rain interrupts our prolonged goodbye. It tings and pings off the steel roof faster and faster. Startled, I peek out the window to watch it fall in waves from the clouds.

“I didn’t know it was supposed to rain today.”

August scratches his temple and squints through the wall of water cascading from the gutter. “Me either. I’ve got you on the brain.” His grin falls. “Oh shit. Winter.”

He jogs to the backdoor and tugs it open, yelling out at the pooch sniffing something on the ground completely ignoring her owner.

A giggle erupts from my mouth as I watch him struggle between wanting to run out to get her or letting her get drenched.

Finally, she lumbers to the door, her tongue happily hanging out of her mouth, her fur soaked. I run to the hall closet and grab a towel, tossing it to August so he can get most of the water off her paws. Again, I laugh when she shakes and sprays rainwater all over us.

“God, she’s a mess. I’m going to put her in the bathroom to dry off. Otherwise, it will smell like dirty dog in here.”

August returns with a wry smile. “She’s a maniac.”

“But she’s so cute.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” He bites his lip, watching outside as the rain picks up its assault on the windows. “Look, I know you need to get back home but it’s really coming down and—well, let me take you home, I can always get you later to pick up your car. I just…”

He doesn’t want me to leave. I don’t really want to either, and a tiny bit of guilt winds around my chest. “Worried about me?”

“Out in this mess? Absolutely.” He lifts my chin with his forefinger. “I only just got you back, so the thought of anything happening…”

To be fair, I don’t want to drive home in the pouring rain either. And when he looks at me like that? Like I’m his whole world? It’s difficult to concentrate on anything else.

“Maybe I can stay until it stops?”

I pull my phone from my back pocket and check the radar. Only a few hours and it will pass. “I’ll text Foster. He’ll probably be resting anyway.”

“So likely nothing to worry about.”

“I know, it’s just he can get pretty ill some days…”

“I get it. You want to be there just in case. If it will worry you too much, I’ll drive you home. No questions.”

I lean into his chest and breathe in. The fabric of his shirt is soft on my cheeks, and I sigh as his strong arms encircle me. “Thank you. He’ll be fine. Besides, this is nice. Just being here with you during a rainstorm. It’s cozy.”

“So what do you want to do then?” His chest rumbles with his words and I could curl into that sound and sleep for days. “Oh wait. I have an idea.”

He kisses my forehead and disappears down the hall to his room and I take the moment to text Foster and Trek anyway to ease my mind.

Group chat: Berry Trio

Me

I’ll be home as soon as I can, gonna wait til the rain stops.

Foster

Okay, good idea, baby girl. ??

Trek

That’s just code for wanting to stay at loverboy’s house.

Me

It’s an entirely logical excuse. It’s pouring out.

Trek

Still an excuse. No worries, sis. Dad and I don’t need you anyway. I decided to stay home tonight. We got it all covered here at the Berry house. Game’s on tonight, beer (for me) in the fridge, and pizza on the way. Hell, why don’t you just move into August’s, I’m sure there’s room. ?? ??

Foster

What he said. ??

Me

You two are the worst. I’ll see you guys later. Be good. ??

Trek

If we’re not, I’ll be sure to tell you about it. ??

Foster

Have fun, sweetie. (We won’t get into too much trouble, I promise.)

I grin to myself. They’re bad influences on me, too. They’re supposed to need me and beg me to come home but no, they’re capable all on their own and didn’t hesitate to tell me that.

August returns but not empty-handed. There’s a book in one hand and what looks like an e-reader in another.

“You read my mind, sir.”

“Reading on a rainy afternoon? It’s the best way to do it.” He flops on the couch and pats the space next to him. “Come here.”

I settle down, and he hands me the book. “I managed to find a real bookmark for you instead of toilet paper. Really, Shortcake? Is dog-earing pages honestly that terrible?”

I swat him with the book. “Hey, it’s like three-ply. Definitely sturdy. But folding the pages? No way. Bad form.” I snuggle into his side. “What are you going to read?”

He bops me gently on the nose with his e-reader. “Same as you. I downloaded the e-book. I caught up to where you stopped the last time you were over.”

God, he’s so freaking sweet. This grown-up version of August is made entirely of my dreams. I expected a harder copy, a man still living in the past, but it seems my forgiveness has softened any rough edges that might have been left.

“Hope those eyeballs of yours are ready. I read fast,” I say.

“I’ll never back down from a challenge.”

As the rain patters against the windows, we read. At one point, August lets Winter out of the bathroom and she watches us with her doe eyes from her dog bed like she knows how engrossed we are. Two hours and a bag of popcorn later, I gasp. “No way!”

August glances over as my eyes ping back and forth on the page in utter disbelief.

“Rein it in, Winters,” he growls playfully. “I’m not even at a gasp-worthy part.” He covers the page with his large hand. “Don’t tell me.”

“I won’t. But hurry up! I can’t contain this!”

“I’m trying, woman.”

Finally, after another thirty minutes, he pops his head up. “You’ve got to be shitting me. It was him the whole time?”

I nod and laugh. “Yep. I never would’ve guessed it was the neighbor’s son.”

“Damn. Me either. He was so…nice.” He rests his head back on the couch cushion, staring at the ceiling. “Usually, it’s who we least expect. But I never saw that coming.”

“Exactly,” I say, watching as goosebumps mound on my arms. I love mystery novels. Wish I was that clever to think of this stuff on my own.

August shifts and faces me on the couch, his hand resting on mine. “Just like I never saw you coming. I didn’t back then, and I definitely didn’t now. I don’t want to waste it.”

I cling to his hand. “You won’t. We won’t. Not everyone gets a second chance. But we do.”

There’s a fire in his eyes, a light I missed. He drags me in for a kiss. It’s warm and safe and feels exactly like I need it to.

Like flickering fireplaces and fuzzy blankets and the sweetest hot chocolate. Thick socks and oversized sweatshirts. Low, twinkling lights and the promise of another tomorrow.

Like home.

August tightens his grip on my face, and the pressure between my hips increases. I need him and I’m tired of waiting. I could come from kissing him alone, but I need his touch again.

“August,” I pant, my eyes glazed over once he releases my lips.

“Yeah?”

“It’s my turn.”

He cocks his head in confusion, looking too much like Winter; I almost giggle.

I stand and drag a hand through his tousled hair before walking backward to his room. “It’s my turn to find out what you sound like as you come.”