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I’m about to ask what the problem is when he turns to me.
“Autumn?”
“What’s wrong?” That’s all I assume, just that something’s wrong. His expression gives nothing away.
“I’m just wondering,” he tells me. He pauses to search my eyes, going back and forth between them. “If you wouldn’t mind being my emergency contact?”
I freeze. I blink.
I feel tears gathering as I recall an afternoon we were sitting in his mom’s kitchen, years ago. One where a deep, depressing realization that I had no one hit me like a ton of bricks. It genuinely felt like I was being buried in them, when he pulled me out. When a simple sentence fought through my panic and I was okay.
“You remember that?”
“Of course I remember that.”
I shake my head once in disbelief. “You don’t have to…” I clear my throat because the emotion in my words is too much. The way my voice cracks is embarrassing. “Wouldn’t you rather put Amelia?”
“I think I’d rather put you.” He says it with a small smile, like this is casual. Not life altering.
Okay, calm down.
All I manage to do is nod, not trusting my voice again. His hand travels to mine and our fingers lace together.
It’s thankfully not a long wait before they’re calling him back. I’m not sure at first if I should jump up to follow him or stay put, until I realize no one has given him crutches. I grab his arm, grateful for the excuse.
I wake up to Miles’ alarm. My first emotion is anger, my second is actually just more anger, and my third is concern. I doubt the man who is currently groaning next to me is up for walking around the block right now, even with the fancy boot on.
His ankle is, in fact, fractured. No surprise there.
“Well, shit,” I mumble to myself.
“What?” The word is just a groan too. That kicks my brain into action, and I force myself to get up. I get as far as sitting up against the headboard, my body still needing time to wake up.
“I’m not a morning person, Miles.”
“I am aware.”
“I have to walk Freddy.” The fake sob that comes out of me sounds very real in my exhausted state.
“You don’t have to walk him.” His tone doesn’t sound so sure about that.
I want to roll my eyes at him, but only manage to squint thanks to the early morning sunlight.
“You’re not doing it. He’d be dragging you down the street after a few seconds of impatience. How sad would that be?”
I climb out of the bed, although my entire body aches with the need to lay back down and wrap my arms around Miles until we fall asleep again. It wouldn’t take me long.
“Alright then. I’ll be back.”
“Really?” he asks like he didn’t believe I was going to. Understandably. “You’re amazing.”
I lean over the side of the bed and kiss him on the cheek.
“I’ll walk fast, and be back before you know it.”
When I’m bundled up in his warm clothes and feeling only slightly prepared, I look back at him. A feeling of familiarity washes over me— reminds me of that first perfect morning we spent together. It’s obvious this isn't the time to jump on him and hug him until I can’t breathe, but the urge to do so is intense.
“Don’t forget the bags.”
