Page 64 of Reconcile
“You better get out of here before Spence comes out of his office and gives you shit.”
“Thanks.” I wave and drive to Viv’s after sending Sawyer a message to tell him I’m off work a little early and will pick Audrey up today.
When I get to their house, I hear children’s happy screams of joy from the backyard and make my way there, opening the fence and seeing Viv getting some sun by the pool while the kids play in the shallow end with Asher. “Hi there.”
She pushes her sunglasses down her nose and beams happily at me. “Are you off work already?”
I nod, taking a seat next to her, waving at a happy Audrey and Baz in the pool and saying hi to Asher before turning back to Viv. “I decided to take off early tonight.”
“Well, good for you.” My stomach clenches, thinking about the real reason I’m here, and Viv must sense it because she sits up, placing her hand on my knee. “We can talk about it. Do you want to go inside?”
I glance briefly at Asher, who has the kids and isn’t paying attention to us, and then back at Viv. “You already know?”
She looks sheepish and then shrugs. “Not much is a secret around here, and Sawyer was pretty shaken up.”
My jaw nearly drops to the concrete at our feet. “He told you?”
“He told Ash. Ash has a big mouth.”
“You love my mouth!” Ash hollers, and she just winks in his direction before looking back at me with sympathy.
She stands up and grabs my hand. “Let’s go talk for a bit.”
I don’t argue and let her lead me into the kitchen. She pours us both glasses of lemonade and then takes a seat across from me.
“So, you’re freaking out about sleeping with him.”
“Wouldn’t you be?”
“Of course. Love is a tricky bitch, Piper.”
I scoff, taking a drink of the tart lemonade. “I’m not in love with him.”
“Oh, sweetie.” I roll my eyes, and she just laughs.
“I’m not. I can’t be. It’s just... God! How can I be this stupid? I fell for him all over again so fast. I thought I was stronger than this.”
“Going after what you want. Falling head over heels. Demanding respect while allowing yourself pleasure. Those are all strong qualities. You’re strong, Piper, and he’s changed. You know it deep down. He was heartbroken this morning when you weren’t there. He wanted to wake up with you. Does that sound like the old Sawyer?”
He did? “No.”
She smiles sweetly. “You guys have a lot to work out, but don’t for one second think you’re weak for giving into what you truly want. That’s a beautiful thing.”
Emotion threatens to choke me, but I manage to thank her before engaging in small talk and asking her about her day with the kids and her pregnancy. After a couple of hours, I bring Audrey home, finding Sawyer in his office.
Audrey is in her room playing when I take a seat in the comfy chair across from him. “Can we talk?”
He puts his phone down and nods, staying silent and allowing me to say what I need to say.
“I’m afraid.”
“Of me?” He looks so damn hurt it nearly breaks me.
“No. Not really, just of you hurting me.”
“I won’t.” He looks desperate, his hands raking through his thick hair as he stands and moves toward me, kneeling down in front of me. “I won’t.”
“I want to believe you, Sawyer. Last night...” I stop and clear my throat, afraid my voice is going to crack. “It was beautiful. The way you let me have control. Every bit of it was perfect, I didn’t want it to end.”
