Page 28 of A Pizza My Heart

I don’t answer her, heading toward the exit.

“Tomorrow?” she repeats to my back as I retreat. “Foster! You cannotbe serious! We’ve talked about this!”

“Night, Birdie.”

“Oh my god, he’s going to be single forever!”

Not if you just open your eyes, Wren.

I bite back my response and push open the door of Slice, needing the fresh sea air.

“I see you’re leaving alone again,” Winston remarks when I step outside.

Hidden in the shadows of twilight, he’s resting against the brick building, a cigarette dangling from his lips. His hair looks like he’s been running his hands through it and he appears as if he’s worked a full twelve-hour shift, not the measly two hours he’s been here.

I want to remark about how he shouldn’t be smoking, but after a second failed date, I’m about to ask for a hit of the nicotine myself.

“Strike out with the MILF?”

I nod. “Pretty sure her kid is more my age than she is.”

“Damn.” He whistles. “That sucks. She was kinda hot…for an older lady.” He holds his hands up to his chest. “Real or fake?”

“Dammit, Winston.” I shake my head, laughing.Of coursehe’d ask that. Typical Winston. “Real.”

He chuckles. “Knew you were lookin’.”

I shrug. “What can I say? It’s been a while.”

“You headed home?”

“Not yet. Think I might park on the beach for a bit.”

“Without Wren? She’s not gonna like that.”

While I haven’t really talked to Winston about Wren, I am nearly certain that over the four years I’ve been gone, she’s gone to our spot on her own many times.

It’s a hard place to resist. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocky shoreline, that salty scent only the ocean can provide. Being able to see the water go on for miles and the stars above on a clear night. The thrill of pissing off the local law enforcement when we’re out there laughing our asses off at three or four in the morning. Hell, even the sound of seagulls flying overhead and squawking their heads off is alluring.

Everything about that spot is perfect.

Which is why it’s exactly where I need to be tonight, Wren or no Wren.

The revelation that she’s in her dream house, running her own salon like she’s always wanted to…it stings because I didn’t know about any of it. Considering how much she talked about it over the years, I’m pissed at myself for not being there for her, for not ever asking Winston about her.

I shouldn’t have been such a pussy, shouldn’t have avoided my feelings.

I should have told her a long damn time ago how I felt, not panicked at the last moment, confessed my love, and then let her think I wasn’t serious about it before running off with some beach bunny.

But that’s exactly what I did.

Idiot.

I lift a brow his way. “Who says she has to know about it?”

“I like your style.” Winston takes another drag off his smoke, the end glowing a bright orange as he inhales deeply. “I won’t be off until after midnight, and I have a thing after my shift.”

“You can say booty call, Win. I know you.”

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