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I just stare at him for a minute while my brain tries to get over the panic it’s experiencing.
When did he start wearing glasses?
He stares back for a few seconds, like he’s trying to figure out the thoughts racing through my mind.
“Are you okay?” he asks, snapping me out of it.
I shake my head– before realizing I should be nodding and switching to that. “Yep. Yeah… sorry. That was embarrassing.” I take it from him with trembling hands. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” With that we both bend down to grab the remainder of my groceries off the ground. If two bags of mini donuts, plastic shot glasses, and a six pack of Gatorade count as groceries. Miles magically pulls a reusable bag out from under his arm and starts to set my things in it. Then he turns to me so I can do the same.
“This is what I get for leaving my reusable bags in the car,” I try to say lightly, but I know I still sound distressed. “I can transfer this into one of mine and give this right back. I’m parked—”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ve got tons of them.” This time when he smiles at me, I’m completely caught in another trance. One of his dark curls falls onto his forehead before he runs his fingers through the front of his hair, pushing it back in place.
Is it hot out here?
No, it’s definitely not that. The sun is hidden behind suspiciously gray clouds, and I want to get into my car before that becomes a problem. I dressed for plans that would be indoors.
“Thank you,” I tell him again. “I’ll see you around?”
“Definitely,” he replies with a small wave.
Once I’ve loaded everything into the trunk of my car and slide into the driver's seat, I text my friend, Reya, to let her know I’m on my way.
Picking her up is absolutely necessary, otherwise there’s no telling when she would show up. She’s a professional when it comes to being late unless it’s her actual job. I was happy to learn that recently, she’s not completely hopeless.
We’re headed to a house that my best friends and I rented for the weekend. All of us pitched ineagerly, due to the much needed hot tub. It’s already been a particularly gloomy October, and we’re all missing the warm weather.
I’m excited to relax, have some drinks, and be around my favorite people. Although, Ialmostdon’t want to mention running into Miles. They’ve never met him, our friendships forming after that time in my life, but they’ve heard plenty. An embarrassing amount for someone I haven’t seen since I was a teenager.
Reya has taken it upon herself to find me a love match, and if she thinks that simply being my upstairs neighbor is enough toknock on someone’s door and ask him what he thinks about me? There’s way too much ammunition here. A history. An old crush that I’m thinking might not be so old anymore.
He’s gotten better looking over the last few years. The dark curly hair that he’s grown out slightly, the tasteful shadow of stubble on his face.
Those black, square-rimmed glasses that fit his features so perfectly.
I wonder if Kara is still the lucky lady, or if he’s moved on to someone that’s better for him. I should hope so, but I can’t ignore the tiny voice in the back of my mind that wants him to be single. Not that there is anything I could do with that fact.
Miles Cress is completely off limits.
3
Autumn
Six Years Ago
I’m sitting on a curb, crying my eyes out, and it’s a very snotty ordeal. It only makes sense that Miles would choose that exact moment to pull up into the gravel driveway. Theexact momentI wipe my snotty nose on the sleeve of my shirt.
It’s just my luck. One would think that things couldn’t get any more embarrassing than this, but I’ve had an extremely mortifying year.
It wasn’t my plan to make a scene, but once my thoughts wandered I couldn’t stop the tears from coming. Thoughts of him, his family,myfamily, my best friend. The list is a long one, and the thought of any of them is enough to send me spiraling.
I get a quick glance at him through the windshield, and he looks impossibly put together for someone who’s been at work all day. I quickly hide my face in my arms, and rest them on my knees. I don’t want him to see me like this.
Not more than he already has, anyway.
It’s like I’m his complete opposite most of the time, and I wonder if he thinks the same. No one would ever describe him as a burden. No one would ever catch him crying at their front door. I can’t even remember the last time I brushed my hair, and his looks likethat.
