Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The notification of her email sent me spiraling. I couldn’t have her thinking I was behind their plan, because I wasn’t. That isn’t something I could just stand by and let her think that I was.
Hearing today that she was staying took some of that worry off my chest. I just don’t know how she found out, but I have one name in mind and know I’m right. Molly.
Watching August walk around the bakery, a bakery I bought for her so long ago, was surreal, but then reality hit me in the face, which turned me into a complete dick.
Knowing I’m hurting her with the words I speak, hoping she feels some of the pain she inflicted on me.
It’s not right, but I don’t know what I’m doing.
‘No one wants you here.’ I knew that would strike her where it would hurt.
Did I feel bad for saying it? Yes, but at that moment I didn’t care.
Watching her tore my heart apart. And now, to save my heart, I feel like I have to be the one to hurt theirs first, and that’s been with everyone that came after August. The one-night stands, summer visitors, and then Molly.
But truly, it wasn’t until after I found out about Molly’s parents' plan that I switched up. Because I was thinking she was my forever. I gave up on August and settled on Molly. And then, she showed me why I’ve kept my heart safe for so long.
Blackmailed, backstabbed, and used is what the Williams did and are still doing.
I walk along the beach back toward the Williams estate. I could have driven to August’s, but walking felt better. And now I have a thirty-minute walk to cool off.
Seeing her in that kitchen did something to me; watching her mix her batter for the cake brought back memories, and being so close to her could wreck everything I’m trying to keep.
I’ve thought about reaching out to Kai, but I know he isn’t in the right place to be able to help. With buying their home and renovating it, I can’t put that on him, too. This is my burden; this is my doing, and I have to figure it out.
The sound of the ocean is the only other noise on my dark walk. August replays in my mind. Her face when she saw me at the storefront. And her face when she was checking it out, trying to keep herself contained, but no matter how many years passed, I know August.
Walking the steep stairs up the side of the rocky hill front, I prepare myself for what I’m going to walk into when I get to the guesthouse.
Molly loves to stick a knife in someone; it’s in her blood. And that’s what she tried to do tonight, and it backfired. If they think August is going to just give up her home, that’s not happening. She will stay in spite of them. I chuckle thinking about that, because she would.
Sighing, I open the door, and Molly waits on the sofa, wine in hand. Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes, and really, it never does. She always has some other motive going on.
“Hi, baby,” she coos to me, setting her glass down on the table.
Walking past her to the refrigerator, I say, “Hey.”
“Where have you been, Bo?” She laces her words with accusation, but I ignore them.
Cracking the tab of my beer, taking a deep sip, quenching my thirst, “Just walking the beach.”
I want to head straight to bed, but I know if I do, she’ll just follow and bring her drama along with her. One thing about Molly is that she won’t stop until the other person gives in.
Falling into the chair across from her, I try to make my face look like I care when I ask, “What have you been up to, babe?”
And that’s what she wanted me to ask, so she could lead into her run-in with August.
She gets more comfortable on the sofa. “I went to the grocery store to get a few things and guess who I ran into.” Her eyes are wide, as if she’s surprised by who it was, too.
Shaking my head, I play dumb. “Who?”
I watch the smile on her face widen, showing her teeth. “August.”
Trying to look uninterested, I lean back, taking another sip of my beer.
“I accidentally let it slip what we had planned for the cove.” She smiles with each word, letting me know it wasn’t an accident.
I play into her game. “How did she take that?”
Molly giggles. “She said she isn’t selling.
” Rolling her eyes, she continues, “She’ll sell; she’ll have to.
I know she probably needs the money. And I can’t wait to tell her after she signs that this has been in the making since her father bought August Cove, thinking he saved the place, when really my family decided to buy their time. ”
Squinting my eyes, I’m not sure what she’s talking about. She sees the confusion.
“My parents were the ones Craig Graft fought to buy the land over thirty years ago, and now it’s coming back to the rightful owners.” Molly smiles, like what she’s saying is no big deal.
I keep my face neutral; I don’t pry; I’ll find out my way, so I let her keep talking. But the whole time I’m not listening to her; I’m trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
Tipping back the rest of my beer can, I stand up, walk to Molly, and give her a kiss. “I’m tired, baby.” Our eyes lock, and I don’t see an ounce of care in them, for me or for anything.
Leaving her on the sofa, I toe my shoes off, followed by the rest of my clothes, burrowing into bed.
I lay there in the darkness, thinking about everything.
I have to get out of this fucked up mess.
A mess I didn’t know I was making eight years ago when I decided to use a girl to hurt my own.
And now, here I am with that girl, hating the life I’m now living.
Forced into it for the sake of my own family.
Pushing my head into my pillow, my eyes start to burn, but I don’t let myself cry. I’m a man, and I have to figure this all out. Crying will not help me or anyone. I have to fix it all.
I can hear the shower water running as I open my eyes, the sun announcing its new day. I don’t give myself time to think, jumping out of bed and throwing on the clothes I left on the floor last night.
Leaving before Molly can ask what I’m doing.
Starting my motorcycle, I hurriedly put my helmet on and take off. The rubble underneath my tires is flying.
I glide through the back roads, taking the turns with ease, all the while not letting myself think.
Coming to the turnoff, I maneuver down the steep driveway, parking and jumping off my bike, leaving my helmet on the seat. I make it to the door in a few strides, trying to hurry up and tell her before I chicken out.
A few knocks on the door, and then I can see her old bedroom door open, a black head of hair peeking out through the stained glass in the door.
Her steps are slow as she makes her way to the front door.
I stand there, heart pounding. Scared of how this will play out.
Her sleep-filled eyes greet me before her raspy voice does. Eyebrow arched, “Bohdi?”
Licking my lips, “You can buy the storefront.” The words fly out and slap her. August's eyes widen as she tries to understand what I just told her.
Confused, “What?” She opens the door wider, and I smile at the T-shirt she’s wearing…again.
“You want to buy the storefront; you’re staying in Driftwood Bay, so if you still want it, you can buy it.”
Her eyes bounce all over my face, trying to decipher what I’m truly getting at.
“Why the change of mind?” August leans on the doorframe, her T-shirt falling just at her thighs.
Closing my eyes and looking back at her face, “You are wanted here.” Did I really fucking say that? Hurriedly, “Meet me tomorrow and we can sign the papers. Just have a cashier's check made out to me.” Turning around, I haul ass to my bike before she can say anything.
Entering town, I slow in front of the store, hopping off the bike. I stand in front of it, trying to picture it decorated by August, and I can’t picture anything. I don’t know this August.
Inside, I take off the for-sale sign and stand in the middle of the room, imagining the crowd she’ll bring in with her baked goods and back to the day Craig walked inside, catching me cleaning the place up.
“What are you doing here, son?” Craig, August's father, stands at the door, filling the frame with his huge body, looking at me as I clean the glass of the display cabinet.
I stop and stand up straight, throwing the rag over my shoulder. I could lie, but why?
Weakly smiling, I say, “I bought it for her.” I don’t need to say her name; he already knows. I see the shock slowly roll over his face. It’s been a year since August left, and here I am, buying something for her.
“Oh, Bohdi.” He says my name like he feels sorry for me.
Craig has never told me where August is. She changed her phone number, deleted her social media, and disappeared. He’s only ever told me she’s doing as well as expected, letting me know she’s alive. Other than that, I’ve never gotten anything else out of him.
“Losing the person you love is the worst feeling in the world. It’s a pain that can’t be dulled; it only eases with time, but that ache lingers, never truly going away. But we can still love them, want them, and yearn for them.”
I stand there, knowing he’s talking about his wife. I break. I break in front of August's dad, letting someone see the pain for the first time.
This man doesn’t hesitate, walking to me and giving me a tight hug, slapping my back.
“You have to let it out, Bohdi; it will eat you up inside if you don’t.
Feel the pain, the hurt, the loss. Feel it and then let the thought of them mend you somewhat back together.
But life has to go on.” Craig shakes his head, his own eyes glistening.
“Thank you,” I tell him, because those are the only words I’m able to say.
As Craig opens the shop door, he looks back at me. “She’ll come back home. No time soon, but she’ll come back.”
He leaves me there; the words digging themselves inside my mind and heart.
Snapping myself out of the memory from so long ago, those words reemerge with it. ‘She’ll come back home.’ And she did.