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He moved to go around Mama, but his mother grabbed his arm and hissed, “I cannot believe you would?—”
Eva made it inside. She ran past Walker, Jared, and Easton, who all stood in the foyer looking at her. She couldn’t look at any of them.
She was on the third stair when Walker’s voice stopped her. “Eva, my brother wouldn’t?—”
She cried out and put her hands over her ears. “Please don’t.” Racing up the stairs, she made it into her room and slammed the door, pushing the lock button. She hurried into the bathroom and shut that door and locked it as well.
How could Miles do that to her? To Lily?
Tears trailed down her face. She touched her lips, unwittingly reliving the most incredible kisses she’d ever received in her life. She’d been swept away like magic in a Disney movie. But that wasn’t real. She knew that.
Had he kissed Lily like that earlier tonight? Before he broke up with his lifelong girlfriend so he could be with Eva Chevron, the famous actress. Was it her insecurities acting up, or was a relationship with Miles doomed just like every other relationship she’d ever tried?
“Argh!” she screamed. She sank to the tile floor, her back against the door, and put her head between her hands. The tears came more freely.
For the past twenty-four hours, she felt like she’d found the man she’d always longed for.
And he would dump a thirteen-year relationship to his loyal girlfriend for someone he didn’t even know. Why? Because he was infatuated with Eva because she was famous and he thought he knew her?
That felt wrong for the Miles she knew, but she’d seen it so many times she couldn’t deny it was probably the reason. She had believed they had a bond that was unparalleled, but she didn’t know what to think now. All she’d known up to this point was Lily was the ‘girl back home’, which could mean any manner of things. But the way his family reacted to him breaking up with Lily, and thirteen years together? Thirteen years of Lily waiting faithfully for him? This was much more serious than Eva had understood.
Eva felt awful for herself, losing the dream of Miles.
She felt more awful for Lily.
Miles Coleville was a deceitful playboy. She would never have believed it. Somehow, she had to wrap her mind around it and digest it.
She could only pray Aiden’s team would solve her other dilemma. She had no idea how she’d last another day around her bodyguard.
Chapter
Fourteen
Miles stayed on the porch and talked through everything with his parents, repeating a lot of what he’d told Clint earlier and going over the details of his relationship with Lily. He explained he and Lily had agreed tonight that they were done and they hadn’t had a real relationship in years.
He and Lily had sat on the dock talking for a long time. She’d admitted there was someone she had fallen for, but she was adamant they couldn’t be together. She refused to give him a name. He guessed it could be Clint or Walker but wasn’t about to pry. His brothers were man enough to step up and pursue her if it was right.
She told him part of the reason she broke down six months ago was in regards to that man, but another reason was a ‘bad situation’. She wouldn’t give him any details about the situation and let him go ‘renegade’ on her. Having a Navy SEAL boyfriend had protected her throughout school and at the hospital. When Miles had said he didn’t want to date anyone else every time they talked about it, she’d been relieved to keep up the status quo.
Lily agreed it was past time they were done ‘pretending to be a couple’ in her words. He was relieved he wasn’t breaking her heart or anything, but he wanted her to give him more details about the bad situation and let him help. Lily was more strong-willed than even he remembered and she said she would figure it out. He finally extracted her promise that if she was in danger, she’d let Clint know. She acted really off about that, and it made him wonder more than ever if she had feelings for Clint.
There wasn’t much he could share with his parents as he’d promised Lily, so the questions went round and round and his mama got more frustrated with him by the moment. He normally wouldn’t feel so impatient about it. He enjoyed discussing things with his parents and getting their advice during the rare times he was home.
But Eva had stormed off, thought he was a two-timer, thought he only wanted her because she was famous. He had to get to her, talk this through, and pray she’d listen and give him a chance to prove how loyal he could be. Had those out of this world kisses not affected her at all? He knew that he and Eva had something much more substantial than a physical relationship, but those kisses consumed him.
Mama finally calmed down and his parents both conceded that he was right, he and Lily weren’t a fit and Lily should date and move on. They exchanged a look after the words ‘move on’ and he wondered if they’d both noticed Walker and possibly Clint’s interest in Lily.
“You need to go patch things up with our Eva,” Mama surprised him by saying.
“I want to,” he admitted, edging toward the door.
“I like Eva. I just always thought you’d marry Lily. Ivy and I have been planning it for years.”
“I know you have.” He didn’t tell her that was part of the pressure he’d felt. It was eye-opening that Lily had clung to the relationship for different reasons than he’d foreseen. He’d have to mention to Clint to keep an eye on her, even if he couldn’t tell his brother why. That would bug Clint. It was bugging him.
“It’ll take me a spell to wrap my mind around this.” She pursed her lips. “If you marry Eva, you’ll never move home, will you?”
“Oh, Mama.” Miles chuckled and gave her a quick squeeze. “I’m not anywhere close to marrying anyone.”
