ground, closing the condo door, and locking it. “I didn’t know she’d be back from skiing already.”
“Me neither.” I frown as I dart my attention down the hall to Callie’s door.
“I should talk to her,” he grumbles as he tosses his keys on the entryway table and starts pulling off his coat.
Placing my palm on his chest, I shake my head. “She loves you no matter what. But me? I need to go let her know I’m not just fucking her dad to get at her mom.”
He leans down and plants a kiss on my forehead. “Yeah? Why are you fucking her dad then?”
Because I love him.
I have since I was sixteen.
“Because I really, really like him. I want to keep him,” I say instead.
My handsome lawyer sees right through my manipulation of the truth. His green eyes darken as his lips thin into a firm line. “Winter…”
I don’t love you, girl.
Don’t look at me like you do.
You’re a winter fling to me.
Ever since Jackie went to his office the other day, I can’t drive her mean ass out of my head. Anytime I’m feeling low or like I’m not woman enough for a man like August Miller, it’s her inside my mind.
“Just let me talk to her,” I say lightly, patting his firm chest. “I’ll make it all better.”
He pulls me to him and squeezes me in a tight hug. I’m not sure if he’s giving the hug or taking one he needs. Either way, I cling desperately to him. His fingers stroke through my hair and he kisses the top of my head.
“It’s a good thing you’re a shitty-ass cook,” he says playfully, “because here I was beginning to think you were perfect.”
I laugh and give him a shove. “I’m going to be the best cook one day and you’re going to have to eat your words.”
Leaving him to taking off his coat, I hurry to Callie’s room. I kick off my boots, tear out of my coat, and then push into her room. She sits in her desk chair swiveling back and forth as she types rapidly on her phone.
“Hey,” I greet.
She lets out a sigh but won’t look at me. “Hey.”
I walk over to her and pluck her phone from her grip before tossing it on the bed. “Eyes up here, princess.”
She sticks out her tongue, and just like that, I have my best friend back. “Why my dad?” she grumbles, but the defeat in her voice is there.
I sit down on the edge of the bed and shrug. “Because it was always him for me.”
Her brows furrow as she stares at me. “You look happy. I was worried things would be bad, but you’re happy.”
A genuine smile tugs at my lips. “I am happy. He helps me not think about…” I trail off and emotion makes my voice grow hoarse. “My dad.”
“I’m sorry they kicked you out,” Callie says.
“I’m okay.”
She rolls her eyes. “I can see that. It’s still gross to me.”
“It’d be weird if it wasn’t,” I say with a laugh. “Go easy on your dad. This isn’t some fling, okay?”
Her eyes are hard and unforgiving, such a reminder of Jackie’s cold stare, but she must see whatever she’s looking for because she softens. “Fine.”
“Now tell me about Colorado,” I say as I strip out of my sweater and hunt through her dresser for a T-shirt. “You came back early.”
“Lauren wasn’t feeling well, so we came back. Landon wasn’t happy because we were getting some quality alone time, but what could we do?”
I pull on the shirt and then flop on her bed. Callie and Landon’s sister, Lauren, have gotten much closer since she started dating Landon. I’ve seen Lauren around, but never spoken to her. She seems nice, though. “Are you and Landon serious?”
She grins. “I would marry him today if he asked me. Of course he won’t because he wants to make his dad proud and get college out of the way before settling down. But we both love each other.”
“That’s really awesome, Callie.”
We chat about nonsense for a couple of hours until August knocks on the door. He twists the knob and pushes inside. His concerned eyes are on Callie, but he darts his attention my way for a moment. I give him a reassuring smile.
“Are you done punishing me?” he asks as he saunters into her room looking good enough to eat in a pair of athletic pants and a form-fitting T-shirt.
“Technically, I’m still punishing you from that Christmas you