Page 40 of Reconcile
I think about that kiss. I let her lead. But then she pushed me away, and it fucking hurt. Why did it hurt?
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure she’s always going to hate me.”
Viv shrugs her small shoulders. “As she should.”
I chuckle, stretching my legs out in front of me. “Yeah.”
“Hey.” I look to Viv, realizing I was looking down at my feet. “You’re a good man, Sawyer. You were a shitty teenager, but who wasn’t?”
“You, Little Miss Perfect.”
She rolls her eyes and punches me in the shoulder. “I was the girl who got knocked up at a party with a guy I’d barely even spoken to before.”
I don’t argue, but she was still pretty damn perfect. Piper and she were similar in high school. Although Viv was clenched even more tightly, only focusing on school.
“I really hurt her.” Piper’s eyes, full of tears as she stood in the doorway at that party, looking at Paisley and me in horror, flash through my mind and sends a sharp pain through my chest.
“Focus on being there for Audrey. You’re doing great. Piper sees that.”
I want to be a dad to Audrey more than anything, but that kiss confused shit. It brought back so many memories I wanted to push down.
And I’m starting to realize it’s notonlybeing a dad to Audrey I want out of this.
It’s Piper too.
It’s always been Piper.
24
PIPER
Ihate coming home late. Fucking Spencer. He’s such an asshole.
I walk into the house, placing my purse on the couch when I hear my daughter’s giggle coming from the open patio door. I smile to myself.
Sawyer sent a text today, asking if it would be okay for him to take Audrey swimming in his pool.
He’s been picking her up at Viv’s every evening, making it home before me. And although I want to hate him, he’s making it difficult.
He’s been so good with Audrey. And I hate to admit it, but she absolutely adores him.
I kept her from him, afraid she’d get hurt. But it’s pretty clear he’s stepped up. Still, I’m guarded. I have to be for Audrey’s sake.
I walk outside, and the scene before me melts my heart instantly. And okay, it might affect a little lower south too. I need to keep that in check.
Sawyer and Asher are in the pool with Audrey and Baz on their respective shoulders while the kids battle it out, laughing hysterically. Sawyer sees me first and offers that sexy as hell grin. “Hey. Long day?”
I nod and take a seat on one of the lounge chairs. “Awful.”
“Mommy!” Audrey waves at me. “We’re winning!”
“Nuh-uh!” Baz challenges, and Asher shushes him.
“Yes huh!” Audrey argues back, and I shake my head.
“Audrey, be nice.”
She scrunches her little nose and looks down. “I’m being nice, but we won.”
