Deflected Hearts

Poppy

August Whitley was supposed to be simple. A fun, no-strings fling to fill the quiet moments between seasons of my life. But feelings don’t play by the rules—and I knew it was already too late the moment I walked away.

I left town with a secret and a promise to myself: I’d do this on my own. No regrets. No looking back. Until one night, fate decides otherwise... and August walks into the restaurant where I work. And everything changes.

August

Poppy Williams was the one I could never quite figure out—and the one I never wanted to lose. But before I could get close, she disappeared. No goodbye. No explanation. Just gone.

I searched for her. I tried to move on and I failed both miserably. And then one random night, while on a date with someone else, I find her again—apron tied around her waist, eyes just as fierce, and pregnant. With my baby.

I don’t know why she left. I don’t know if she’ll ever trust me again. But I do know one thing—I’m not walking away this time.