Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
I can’t remember the last time someone held my hand, and I honestly feel a little like I’m back in middle school, over analyzing the simple contact. Memorizing the texture of his skin against mine, the tightness of his hold, the way it feels right, like we’ve done it before. When we get in the elevator, he glances down at me with an odd look in his eyes.
“What?”
“Be prepared to answer a million questions.”
My stomach bottoms out. I should have thought about the fact that we’re going upstairs, where his brothers, my best friends, and the kids are hanging out. Without a doubt, Miranda and more than likely Willow are going to have questions, especially since Clay and Tucker were both at the bar with Miles when he came to get me. “It will be fine.”
“What did you tell them?”
“Nothing.”
“So you just said I’m going to pick up Emma, who is in the middle of a date? You didn’t give them a reason why you were doing that?”
“I didn’t need to say anything.” He probably didn’t. I’m sure they all made some assumptions.
“Great.” I let out a breath as the doors open, and a moment later, we enter Clay and Willow’s apartment. No one is in the living room or kitchen, but you can hear voices coming from the playroom, where everyone typically congregates when we’re here.
The moment we enter the large room, all eyes come to us, then drop to our hands still linked together. I’m torn between shaking off Miles’s grip and holding onto him tighter.
“I’m guessing your talk went okay?” Willow is the first to speak, and I bite my bottom lip, then narrow my eyes on Clay and Tucker, who both make an almost-identical deep grunting sound, like they’re trying not to laugh.
“Emma!” Winter shouts, and Miles releases my hand, only to wrap his arm around my waist as she slams into my side, knocking me into him.
“Hey.” I smooth her bangs back out of her eyes when she tips her head to look up at me. “How was school?”
“I wish you picked me up.”
“Me too,” I say softly, then smile at Kingston when he crashes into my front and wraps his arms around Winter and me. “What are you guys up to?”
“Playing. Do you want to play tag with us?” Kingston asks, bouncing on his tippy toes.
“Absolutely, but can you give me a little time to catch up with everyone? Then I’ll come and join you.”
“Yes!” the two of them say at once, then just as quickly as they appeared, they’re off running out of sight, with Skye right behind them.
“Well,” Willow says, sliding off the stool she’s sitting on. “I’m going to go open a bottle of wine.”
“I’ll help,” Miranda says, stepping away from Tucker.
“I think....” I start to say I think I’ll stay, but the pointed look my best friend gives me as she walks in my direction has me changing my mind. “I’ll help too.” I sigh.
After a squeeze of my waist from Miles, I follow Miranda and Willow to the kitchen and pull out a stool. The heels I’m wearing are more decoration than they are practical, and I have a feeling we’re going to be here a while.
“You have some explaining to do,” Miranda says as Willow opens the door of the glass-fronted wine fridge and pulls out a bottle of rosé.
“I still have no idea what is happening, so maybe you can fill me in,” I mumble, and Willow laughs while Miranda gives me a doubtful look.
“So nothing happened between you and Miles while we were gone?”
“Nothing.” I shrug. “It was all very normal.”
“Normal?” She raises a brow.
“Normal,” I repeat. “I helped him out with Winter, he helped me move into your apartment, we ate dinner and hung out…. It was all very normal until he showed up tonight while I was out on my date.”
“Well, there you go,” Willow says, and Miranda and I both focus on her. “You gave him something he hasn’t had in probably years, if ever, and he wants more of it.”
“That’s what I said,” I say softly, accepting the glass of wine she slides across to me. “I told him that he’s just confused, because we’re friends, and we kind of got caught up in playing pretend-family for the week.”
“And what did he say?” Miranda asks as I take a sip of wine.
“He got pissed and kissed me.”
“What?” She glances over at Willow before looking back at me. “He just got mad and kissed you?”
“Yes, then he told me that he doesn’t want to be my friend, he’s not confused, and that he didn’t get caught up playing pretend.”
“Go Miles,” Willow whispers.
“What happened after that?” Miranda questions, studying me.
“We talked.” I shake my head. “Or he talked.”
“These guys do like to talk,” Willow mumbles, and both Miranda and I smile at her.