Page 51 of One Billion Reasons

Amanda grabs the microphone. “And if anyone gets one hundred percent, you’re meant to be together, because let me tell you, this was hard. Richard and I didn’t come close.”

“What do you think we averaged?” Miles leans forward. His grey eyes are dancing, and his thick hair is tousled from the wind off the water. He looks heartbreakingly handsome, and even more when he smiles. You’re bringing me back to life, Laney. And I’m glad. I’m so glad to see glimmers of the man I know he is.

“I definitely got yours right. But you and Liam were never known for your perceptive skills. So maybe fifty percent?”

“Oh, ye of little faith.” He laughs. “I wasn’t a straight-A student, but I do okay for myself.”

“Miles.” I shake my head. “If you know everything from my least favorite vacation spot to the name of my first pet, then we are meant to be.”

But as we start to grade our answers, I think I might need to eat my words. Favorite food and favorite companion animal are easy—pasta and steak, and cats and dogs, for me and Miles, respectively.

“Least favorite vacation?” Miles asks. “Yours was Cabo.”

“How did you know?” That trip sucked.

“Because of the hotel, of course.” He shakes his head and checks the answer off on his paper. The hotel Liam got us when Mal and I were stranded. My eyes narrow at Miles’s perfect face as he scans his responses. Realization lances through me.

“It was you. You paid for the hotel we needed when we were stuck.”

His head jerks up and he grimaces. “You weren’t supposed to know that.”

I sit back, stunned. “I wondered how Liam could afford that hotel.”

Miles looks sheepish, color high on his cheekbones. “Like I said. I didn’t intend for you to know.”

“How many other times?” I need to know. My heart is pounding like I’ve run a race. “How many other times has it been you when I thought it was Liam?” I think back to all the times I called my brother in a panic. “That time when my rental car broke down in the Bronx and he sent a car to get me?” Miles nods. “The time I broke my hand and the best doctor in the city was willing to see me free of charge for being a ‘friend of Liam’s’? The time I lost a lens I had ordered in the mail, and a new one arrived the next day?”

“Every time,” Miles says shortly. “It was me. Every time.” He looks annoyed that I know and not surprised at any of these stories. I believe him.

I push back from the table, stunned. “I don’t know what to do with this information.”

“Sit down, Lane.” He sighs. “There’s nothing to do.”

I sit back down, shaking. He’s always been there. Even when I hated him. Even when we weren’t speaking. My head swims. What does this mean? I’m afraid the answer means nothing. This is who Miles is. He looks out for his friends. Friends. Fuck friends.

We go through the remaining questions, and Miles’s brows draw further down with every correct answer. His least favorite vacation? Anywhere without a beach. My favorite memory? A night at the Montauk house when we had a huge bonfire and stayed up to watch the sunrise. His is the same.

When we finally put our pencils down, he doesn’t look triumphant, he looks pissed.

“One hundred percent,” I whisper.

“Guess I know you better than you thought.” He forces a smile, but his eyes are shadowed. Mad that he knows so much about me? I will never understand this man.

“Come on.” I poke him. “Of course you know everything about me. We’ve known each other forever.”

He signals for Catherine. She and Amanda come around to congratulate us. Richard slaps Miles on the back, a little too forcefully.

Amanda claps her hands together. “You guys are going to love the couple’s massage. They’re actually going to teach you how to massage each other.” I barely control my flinch. Touch Miles? I’ve never had unfettered access to him, and it might be more than I can handle.

“Great,” he says hollowly. “Lead the way.”

Amanda accompanies us to the spa entrance, where hotel staff meet us. Miles ducks into the bowels of the hotel, but Amanda squeezes my shoulder. “One hundred percent? I’m impressed. You guys are perfect for each other. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’ve been together for a decade.” She gives me a gentle smile, and I force one back before following Miles into the dark. The more people are convinced, the harder this gets to fake.

We’re led to our respective changing rooms, and we meet in the hushed hallway on the other side. My black silk robe covers me head to toe, but on Miles, it’s practically indecent. The fine dusting of hair on his chest is on display, the strong column of his neck.

He flicks a glance over me and smiles. “You look like a nun or something.” I roll my eyes, and his smile grows. I wait for him to stop this, but he seems determined to go through with it.

“No backing out?” I whisper as the masseuse approaches.

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