His eyes roamed upwards until he met my eyes. “I thought you might be more comfortable upstairs. My room is the third door on the left. It gets cold down here at night. I don’t mind switching with you.”

I smiled up at him, tugging at the hem of Troy’s shirt “Thank you, I’m alright here.”

He waited, taking a deep breath as if he needed to say something else. Then finally nodded. “If you need anything. That’s where I’ll be.”

It was impossible to concentrate on anything after August left my room. All the lights went out and the rain had finally stopped, but I knew it was temporary.

Sleep was indeed out of the question between the howling wind, the movie, and thoughts of August and how on earth I was going to fix this mess I’d allowed us both to make.

Unable to stay put, I stepped out to the kitchen and started the kettle. The clock on the stove read just after midnight and I was anything but tired.

The back porch light was on and I’d wondered if it was on purpose. I peeked out and caught glimpses of the strong ocean waves. Perhaps a closer peek at the loud angry swooshing against the shore was exactly what I needed to wash away this growing ache.

I didn’t bother with my jeans, but I threw on my trench coat and boots and took my hot cup of tea out on the porch with me.

The wind blew against my bare ankles and my face, but I went toward it regardless and closed the door behind me softly. Sipping on my tea, I enjoyed the sound of the waves, but my legs were freezing, looking to my left, I noticed lights on in the guest house. There was a wood-planked walkway from the porch leading to the other house and I followed it until I reached the back door of the small structure.

The lights were off for the most part except for one floor lamp. The décor was cozy with throw blankets and pillows scattered between two small sofas. A wooden coffee table that looked like it was homemade had stacks of various magazines from home improvement to sports.

I went into the small bedroom, where there was a modest full-sized bed, an armchair and a single window overlooking the beach. It was quiet other than the pattering of the rain, but it wasn’t coming from the window or the roof. Turning, I realized the shower was running behind a closed door I assumed was the bathroom.

Suddenly panicked, I moved to the doorway, ready to leave, until I noticed August’s clothes laid out on the bed.

20. August

20

The cold shower did nothing to get my dirty mind from Harper and all the things I wanted to do knowing she was right downstairs.

Neither did coming here just to put some distance between us.