Page 41 of The Perfect Putt

“I forgive you. And I’m glad you’re thinking about it. Let me know if you ever want to talk.” He steps back and I feel the weight on my chest lessen. It’s not completely gone, but at least things are good between me and one of my closest friends again.

“Thanks, I might take you up on that.” I turn to Sutton and open up my arms. “Can you forgive me too?”

She steps into my hug. “Of course. We just want you happy, Miles.”

I give her a quick squeeze, then step back.

“I know you do. I’m just not sure if the happiness you two have will be for me,” I reply honestly.

“Well, we’ll be here for you while you’re figuring it out,” Shaw says.

“Thank you both.”

After another round of hugs, I watch them head into security, then pull my phone out to check it.

Red: I’m awake. Naomi is going to pick up your dry cleaning today, and I can work on emails from here.

Miles: Why aren’t you asleep? You should be resting.

Red: It’s an ankle injury. I’m resting my ankle. Though I am tempted to see if I can make it down to Coastal Coffee. My neighbor broke her foot last year and had a special walker for it. Maybe I could borrow that.

I rake a hand through my hair, already exasperated with this woman and it’s not even seven in the morning yet.

Miles: DO NOT walk to Coastal Coffee. That is a terrible idea.

Red: See when you type in all caps like that it only makes me want to do it more.

I chuckle in spite of my worry for her.

Miles: I thought assistants were supposed to make their bosses' lives easier, not harder.

Red: How is me going to Coastal Coffee making your life harder?

Miles: It’s not, because you’re not going.

Red: I don’t like your tone.

Miles: This is a text. I can’t have a tone.

Red: You can, and you do. I’m calling my neighbor to see if she still has that knee scooter thing.

I start to speed walk my way through the airport and out to the parking lot. It’s clear that Ellie is rebelling against the recovery process. So if she won’t take care of herself, I’ll just have to get back to Coastal Cove so I can.

Miles: I’m on my way. Don’t move.

Red: What happens if I don’t listen?

My blood heats. Maybe you can have a tone over text, because that one is definitely flirty. Which means I shouldn’t go see her. I should go home, catch a few hours of sleep before my time at the driving range, and maybe call the coffee shop to see if Molly can take her something instead. But I know I won’t do that, because just like Ellie, I get a little thrill bending the rules. Even if those rules are self-imposed.

Chapter twenty-two

Ellie Hart

A knock sounds at the door and my heart jumps to my throat. I roll my head to the right on the arm of the couch to look out the window next to my door. The black SUV Miles rented for Sutton and Shaw’s visit is in my driveway. I can’t believe he really came.

“Come in!” I call out, my voice cracking a little.

Miles walks inside and I have to clench my jaw to keep my mouth from falling open at the sight of him. He’s in gray joggers that hug his legs, and a black t-shirt that’s just fitted enough to show off the muscles he works so hard for. But the cherry on top is the iced coffee in his hand, one with enough caramel drizzle that I can see it from across the room. It’s like he stepped out of a dream, or a factory where they make perfect boyfriends from scratch. Every woman knows that a man is exponentially hotter when he’s bringing you coffee.

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