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“I’ll be right there,” Miles tells me, interrupting his mom. His stern expression, not directed at me, stops me in my tracks for a second. There’s something so awe striking about the fact that he’s defending me. Looking out for me, even when it involves his own mother.
It’s not like Iwanthim to take my side over hers. Nothing good ever comes of the girl that gets in the way of a mother and her son. It’s just a lot. It hurts me that he has to deal with two sides to begin with.
The shocking cold of the breeze outside hits me, and forces me to give in to self pity for a moment. I wish I wasn’t here where my only options are freezing my ass off in this dress, or having to deal with the people inside.
Is it even worth this job, really? Every day it feels like working with Amelia is hurting me more.
I walk around to the side of the building, where the wind can’t hit me so harshly. This space between two buildings is actually quite peaceful, lit with street lanterns along with a trail of sidewalk that eventually leads to a small dog park. I discovered it on one of my lunch breaks, and found myself wondering if Miles had ever taken Freddy there. I could picture the two of them running around each other, surrounded by nothing but trees andgrass. It was a warm and cozy image, although most everything about Miles usually is.
I get lost in my thoughts, zoning out in the direction of that trail. If only it wasn’t so dark, and the weather was on my side. I would walk in that direction until this weight on my chest went away.
If that were even possible.
26
Autumn
Iknow Miles is walking up behind me before I even hear his footsteps. My shoulders sag with relief when I turn to see him walking in my direction. I didn’t doubt him, but I couldn’t be sure that Amelia wasn’t finding some way to trap him in there with Chloe.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
As gloomy as his expression was, a smile cracks through at my words.
“I think I should be asking you that.”
I shrug. It’s better now that he’s out here with me. Now that I know I don’t have to go back in there.
“I just really want to leave.”
He sighs loudly, and I watch his breath cloud in front of him.
“Yeah, me too. I don’t want to be found out here after the scene I just caused.”
“Oh?” I ask, and he nods. “What happened?”
“Well… Chloe knows I’m far from interested, and my mother is more embarrassed than I’ve ever seen her. I’ll never hear the end of it.”
He rubs the back of his neck.
“I’m sorry, Miles.” Before I can say more, he blurts out a laugh. One of his arms reaches out around me and he’s pulling me into him. I don’t overthink it, I just let my cheek rest against his chest. I never want to move.
“You have no reason to be sorry,” he says into my hair. “It’s not your fault that my mom wanted to set me up in front of all of her clients. I’ve told her so many times that I’m not interested in dating anyone, and she doesn’t listen. This was bound to happen eventually.”
It makes me sad to hear. Not just that she’s been pressuring him, but the reminder that he’s alone. Not dating, not trying.
“Chloe’s pretty,” I say without thinking. It makes me glad I can’t see his face and vice versa.
Miles scoffs, and I can’t deny how satisfied I am by that reaction.
“I couldn’t care less.”
“Why?”
Then his hands are on my shoulders, and he gently puts space between us in order to look down at me. I try not to let my feet give out beneath me when those hands move up to hold my face.
Any chill this night has given me vanishes. It's possible I might actually be on fire, but I can’t look down to check because my eyes are locked onto his.
I think he might be about to do something crazy, but he changes the subject instead.
