Page 33 of Paper Hearts & Plot Twists

“I suppose fair is fair,” Emily mused. “What do you want to know?”

“Anything you’re willing to share.”

“There’s pathetically little worth sharing,” Emily responded with an embarrassed shrug of her shoulders. “I’ve dated a total of two guys, and both of them gave me very little incentive to want to ever try again.”

“Only two?” Miles asked, staring at Emily in shock. “How have you not had men pounding down your door?”

Emily gave Miles a deadpan look and rolled her eyes.

Conversation stopped as the waitress returned and took their order.

“Do you mind telling me about your family if that’s an okay topic?” Emily asked, changing the topic. She knew Miles would see through it, but she hoped he’d go for it. Even so, she wanted to know everything about him, everything he was willing to share at least.

“My family’s pretty small,” Miles admitted, “but what we lack in size, we make up for in heart.”

“It sounds like you’re all pretty close.”

“I’d say we’re closer than most,” Miles agreed. “My family consists of my twin brother and my mom. It’s been just the three of us since we were born. My dad was a great guy, according to my mom, but he was a firefighter and he died on the job before we were born.”

“I’m sorry for your loss and that you never got to meet him,” Emily said. She reached out and placed her hand on top of Miles’s own. “Sometimes I wish I could’ve known my parents before they were so lost in a haze of drugs. Uncle Joel told stories of Mom when she was a kid and she was so bright and lively. I wish I could’ve known that version of her.”

“Those versions of our parents will live on with us in the stories we’re told,” Miles said. “I’m glad to at least have the stories and memories Mom shared, even if those will never beat having my father with me.”

Miles flipped his hand up and cradled Emily’s hand. He wasn’t holding tight enough to stop Emily from pulling away if she wanted to, but she didn’t really want to. They continued talking, stopping briefly to accept their food.

“Be right back,” Emily said, standing. She placed her napkin on the table and headed toward the women’s room in the back.

Miles saw a line ahead of Emily so he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and flipped to his text messages, pulling up Mason’s text thread. He grinned. The last time they’d messaged each other was right before he arrived at their mom’s house.

Doofus. You still in Denver?

Miles didn’t have to wait even a minute for a response.

D: Yes, why?

M: Want to pretend to be me for a bit?

D: What’s in it for me?

M: My eternal love and devotion?

D: I already have that.

M: I’ll get Mom’s Christmas gift for you this year.

D: Yes! What do you want me to do?

M: I have a book signing in two hours. I need you to dress like me. Sign some books, and pose for some pictures with fans. I have to give a talk tomorrow and I want to use that time to finish writing it.

D: Tsk tsk, always leaving things to the last minute. Sure, I’ll be there shortly. What room are you in so I can steal an outfit?

M: 3740, see you in an hour?

D: Perfect, see you then!

Miles grinned and flicked to his email as the waitress cleared the table. He glanced up and noticed Emily was closer to the front of the line, but still waiting, so he had a couple more moments. He opened the email file he’d sent himself this morning, Emily’s poetry document. He downloaded it onto his phone, opened a new email, and attached the file before he typed a quick email.

Hey Clarissa,

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