Page 91 of Home With You

I smile at him. "You're not afraid of the dark."

"Maybe I'm afraid to let you go."

I look up and see the seriousness on his face. He's getting too attached to me, which makes me sad because I don't want to hurt him.

"What are you talking about?" I say in a cheery tone, trying to lighten the heaviness in the air. "I'm not going anywhere."

"But you will, and when you do, I have a feeling you won't tell me where you're going."

I don't respond because it's probably true. When it comes time for me to move on, there's a good chance I'll leave without telling him goodbye. It sounds harsh, but it'll be better that way. A clean break so he can move on with someone else.

"That's what you're going to do, isn't it?"

I pull my hand from his. "I don't know."

"Hey!" a guy says. I look over and see him coming toward us. He's wearing a puffy jacket with a fur-lined hood.

"What do you need?" Miles asks, taking my hand back and pulling me closer.

"Got a pretty gift for your lady," the guy says, taking something from his pocket.

"No thanks." Miles keeps walking, gripping my hand tighter.

"Wait up, man!" the guy says. "You haven't even seen it yet."

The guy's voice sounds familiar. As he approaches us, I see who it is.

"Levi?" I say, trying to see past his furry hood.

He looks at me. "Raine?"

"You two know each other?" Miles stops walking, still holding my hand.

"Unfortunately," I mutter. "Levi hangs out by that office building that looks like it has mirrors on the side."

"Are you the guy who sings?" Miles asks.

"That's me." Levi sings a line from a song, extending the last note to show off his vocal talents.

"You're really good," Miles says.

"Don't flatter him," I say, rolling my eyes. "If you do, he'll never leave you alone."

"She's just jealous I'm successful and she's not," Levi says to Miles.

"If by successful you mean reselling stuff you stole," I say.

"You don't know shit, girl. I only sell the best, and it ain't stolen. Like this here watch." He holds it out in front of us. "Found it on the street but it's like brand new."

I lean closer to look at it. "That's mine!" I whack Levi's arm. "You stole my watch!"

He rears back. "I didn't steal it. I found it."

"Really? And where exactly did you find it?"

"By the garbage can in the park. I swear, girl, I didn't take it."

"Did he?" Miles asks me.

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