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“You’re sure?” He was protesting a bit too much.
“See you tomorrow.” Clint strode to his truck and was roaring out of the driveway before Miles could tap out the text asking Walker to borrow his truck. He got a thumbs-up back almost immediately.
He debated what to say to Lily as he drove toward the large lake near town where everyone boated in the summertime and ice skated or played hockey in the winter, but his mind kept spinning to what he’d say to Eva. He wanted to simply kiss her for a long time first, get out some of the withheld emotion he felt about her, and then talk through everything. The sparring match with Clint had probably gone on for over forty minutes and still he needed to release more tension.
Lily waited, standing on the dock in the shadows. The lights from the parking lot didn’t quite reach her. When he stepped on to the wood, she hurried toward him.
“Miles!” She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. She was a beautiful and fit lady, an accomplished nurse, and her family ran a charitable ranch for those displaced from their homes due to one reason or another.
Lily was an example of Christian light, hard work, and loyalty. There was not a thing wrong with her. She simply wasn’t his right fit. He’d known it for a while. It was time to help her see the truth she’d been denying for some reason.
He hugged her briefly and then stepped away.
“You look fabulous,” she said. “It’s been too long.”
“Yeah. You look great too.”
“Why are you home?”
“Helping out a friend,” he said. “Lily, listen. We’ve got to talk about something serious.” He should maybe take her hand, but that might make it harder, and he only wanted to hold Eva’s hand.
She looked up at him, smiling as if the something serious was a good thing. Nothing to do but plunge through this.
“Six months ago, I tried to break it off between us, and you cried and … I had no idea what to do.”
Her smile faltered. “Before Clint’s wedding day.”
He nodded and rubbed at his jaw. It was interesting that Clint’s wedding was her point of reference, but that wasn’t the subject tonight. “I never want to make you cry again, but Lily … it’s over. It has to be over.”
“What’s over?” she asked cautiously, though her eyes revealed she knew what he was saying.
“You and me. Our relationship. It’s done.”
“Why?” Lily backed up, her face pinched.
“You were one of my best friends, Lily, but we’ve grown apart over the years. If there were romantic feelings as teenagers, they’re long gone now.”
“That’s just because we don’t see each other,” she protested.
He knew that wasn’t the issue. Not after the ‘sparks’ he’d felt with Eva from one look or touch. “I’m not moving back here, and you’ve never even brought up the subject of moving to California,” he said instead.
“I could,” she said, but he could tell she didn’t want to. She’d never wanted to, and that was fine.
“Your family is here. You love your work, you love all the children on your ranch, and you love Montana. I get it, Lily. Our relationship is not enough of a draw for you to relocate.”
“That’s not fair,” she said.
“It’s not, and I’m not putting this on you. I should’ve set you free years ago.”
She blinked at him. Her lip wobbled, and he felt like the biggest of jerks.
“Lily … can you honestly say that you love me desperately and you hate every day we’re apart? Can you say that you light up when I look at you or touch you, and you’d elope tomorrow if I could make it work?” These thoughts were all churning in him as he realized he hated each second away from Eva, and she lit him up with one glance or brush of her fingers.
Lily stared at him. Tears rolled down her smooth cheeks and made her eyes even brighter.
Not tears. Not again.
Miles prayed he could make her see they weren’t a right fit without hurting her.
