Forgetting August(104)

Sarah chuckled, rising from her chair to stand next to me. She looked small and short as I towered above her on the carpeted pedestal, and the realization made us both instantly laugh. Turning to her, I took her hands in mine and pulled her up to stand shoulder to shoulder with me.

“Now we just need to find your dress,” I said.

“I think we need to spend a bit more time staring at this one,” she pressed, holding my fingers up high in the air in an attempt to awkwardly twirl me around. We laughed and giggled as we tried to mimic a horrible rendition of a waltz.

“Maybe we should leave the dancing to you,” I suggested.

“Or maybe you just need a man.” A familiar voice cut through the silliness of the moment like a knife, freezing me in place instantly.

He couldn’t be here, I chanted in my head over and over as I turned. I kept my eyes squeezed tightly shut in a desperate attempt to rewind time.

I’d walked away. I’d chosen the safer path and this time, I’d been happy with that decision.

He needed to stay away.

I needed him to stay away.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Sarah’s icy voice rang out as my eyes betrayed me and opened, and I came face to face with the one person who could tear my entire world apart.

Again.

“I just came to wish the bride congratulations,” he said smoothly.

Everything about him was different. From the way he dressed, in a crisp black suit, to the rigid posture he held. Even his gaze was different—cold, heartless, and almost cruel.

Where did you go, August?

“You need to leave,” I managed to say, my voice shaking with sheer effort.

“We need to talk.” His eyes briefly traveled toward Sarah. “Alone.”

Sarah’s hand tightened around mine. “If you think I’m going to leave you alone with her…”

“It’s fine, Sarah,” I said softly, my words barely above a whisper.

Her wide eyes turned to me. “You’ve got to be insane. Why would you agree to this?”

Looking up, I caught the curious eye of the attendant and a few nosy customers. “I don’t want to make a scene,” I said into her ear. “If I just give him what he wants, he’ll be in and out and it will be over.”

“Ryan will never forgive me for this,” she pleaded.

“Let me handle that,” I said. “Just go wait outside by my car. I’ll meet you out there when I’m done.”

I could see she didn’t want to go. After living together, and seeing days and weeks go by when I could barely pull myself out of bed, I understood why. August was the enemy—the reason for my pain and heartache. But as much as I agreed with her, I had also put much of the blame on myself. I’d made my decision. I’d chosen one man over the other.

And I’d chosen wrong.

Staring into those cold, lifeless eyes couldn’t make that statement any truer.

“If you need anything, call me and I’ll be back here in a second,” Sarah said, squeezing my hand before she left with her head down, quickly moving toward the exit. Her gaze met mine briefly before she disappeared out the door, and I gave her a quick nod. Then she was gone.

And I was alone with August.

“It’s cute how protective she is with you. Although, she did promise to tear off a few of my more precious limbs if things ever went sour between us…”

“You have me to thank for calling her off on that particular promise. She, unlike others, is good at keeping her promises.”

He smiled, a menacing smile that made my skin go cold. “That’s harsh.”

“What are you doing here, August? How did you even find me?” I asked, not moving a muscle, as he took a confident step forward, loosening his tie.

“I told you—I came to wish you congratulations.” He grinned, not bothering to answer my other question. “I hear you’re engaged. Again. I’m really quite surprised at how quickly Ryan welcomed you back with such open arms, considering how quickly you ran from them when given the chance to fall into mine.”

“You son of a bitch,” I seethed.

He ignored my comment as his eyes slid down the length of my body, softening slightly. “You really do look quite stunning.”

“If that is all you came for, than you can go.” I began to turn away, but he closed the gap between us, making my heart stutter.

“I wanted to show you something,” he said, the proximity of his body to mine making my breath rush in and out of my lungs like wind on a stormy day. When Sarah had stood beside me on the pedestal, she’d looked short and goofy. Even though I was still looking down at August, his presence was anything but silly, and I felt intimidated by his size even though I stood over him slightly.