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Reed rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze sliding to the side, no doubt searching for a reason to say no. As of late, my brother went to school and came home. He’d dropped his hobbies, and I hadn’t seen many friends around. It worried me. Worried all of us. Getting him to do this with me wouldn’t cure what ailed him, but we could have a nice afternoon together, and that was something.
“All right, but only if you’re sure you don’t need that stuff,” he mumbled in his sullen, put-upon teen way.
“I’m completely sure.”
Our day out together ended up being short, but no less sweet. Reed even agreed to take a selfie with me in our brand-new, matching Andes vests. It might’ve been wishful thinking, but I swore he stood a little taller in his new gear.
I sent Miles the picture of us together.
Me: Send this to Weston and tell him thank you from me and Reed.
Miles: Cute pic, Dunham siblings. Why am I thanking Weston?
Me: He sent me a huge box of Andes gear. Reed and I took a trip to an Andes store and exchanged some of it for his size. Now we look like rich outdoorsmen.
It took so long for him to reply, I thought he was going to leave me on read. Then a text finally came through.
Miles: Sorry. Had to get some screams out. I gave you weeds, and Westie gave you a new wardrobe. Honestly, fuck him. I mean, I’m happy for you, but fuck him.
I snorted a laugh. I could picture Miles pacing in his rubber duckie living room, cursing his brother’s name.
Me: Reed hasn’t left the house with just me in months, but sure, make this about you.
Miles: Okay, honestly, could you make me look like more of an asshole?
Miles: I looked at the picture again. Is he…almost smiling?
Me: Almost! He was feeling himself in his new vest.
Miles: That’s awesome. I forgive Weston for attempting to usurp my place as #1 in your heart.
Me: He did say Elise picked everything out. If anyone in this scenario is going to be #1, it’s her.
Miles: Sounds like her. You guys had a good day, huh?
Me: Yeah. I’ve missed my brother. It was exactly what I needed.
Miles: So, what you’re saying is you’re in a good enough mood to come help me peel wallpaper?
Me: Not on your life.
After a few more minutes of texting, I found myself driving over to his house, eager for another uncomplicated, easy hangout with Miles. It had been a long time since I’d looked forward to anything, but in the short time I’d known Miles Aldrich, he had given me a lot to look forward to, both big and small. I had a feeling, if I stuck around him, this was only the beginning.
Chapter Sixteen
Miles
The week after the hike, Daisy and I worked on my house together twice, and she came to Peak for a strategy meeting. Since then, it had been a week since we’d seen each other. I’d gotten so busy with other clients, almost everything else had fallen by the wayside.
Tonight, though, I was hers. In a professional capacity. It was our first event of the season. I had my cards in one pocket of my jacket, and hers in the other.
I was early. When I’d arrived, she’d yelled at me to let myself in, so I was sitting in her cozy little living room, waiting for her while she finished getting ready.
There was a pink box on the coffee table in front of me, and it felt like one of those tests behavioral scientists gave little kids.
Watch the man with next to no self-control to see how long it takes him to open the box.
I was forcing myself to wait, but given it had been a solid ten days since I’d eaten one of Daisy’s creations, it wasn’t easy. It was good for me, though. It built character. I couldn’t always have immediate gratification. The best things were worth waiting for.
