Page 112 of Home With You

"Just open it."

I tear off the paper and open the large box. Inside is a new pair of jeans, two long-sleeve t-shirts, and a sweater, all things I desperately need.

"Miles, this is too much."

"It was all on sale. I went to the mall at lunch and this girl helped me pick everything out. I used the clothes you have now for sizes. I hope it all fits. You want to go try it on?"

"I will later." I reach over and hug him. "Thank you."

"Open this next." He hands me a small box. "It's not really a gift but go ahead."

I open the box and find a small pink canister. "Pepper spray?"

"For when you're out walking. I want you to take it with you whenever you go somewhere. Here's a better gift." He gives me an envelope.

It's a birthday card and when I open it, a small card falls out.

Miles picks it up and hands it to me. "It's a debit card. I loaded fifty bucks on there. You can use it to buy lunch or whatever you need when you're here during the day."

"Miles, I can't accept this. You're giving me too much."

"It's your birthday. You have to take what people give you. No backsies, remember?"

I laugh.

"Last one." He hands me another small box.

"More pepper spray?"

"No, but if you want another one, I'll get you one."

"One is plenty." I open the box. "Miles, it's beautiful."

"It's nothing fancy. It's more symbolic than pretty but I thought it might be a good reminder to keep moving forward."

"It's great, Miles. Thank you. Would you put it on me?" I hand him the necklace. It's a silver chain with a silver arrow pointing forward. A reminder to keep moving forward and not look back. I've made so many mistakes and have so many regrets that it's easy to focus on those instead of focusing on what's ahead. But Miles is right. I need to keep my focus on the future instead of the past. The future I can change. The past I can't.

"It looks good on you," Miles says, as I straighten the chain around my neck.

"It's perfect. I love it. And I love you."

"See? You CAN say it more than once."

I smile. "I'm practicing."

24

Miles

It was a great birthday night, even though it wasn't actually Raine's birthday. For dinner, we left downtown and went to a Mexican place that people at work always talk about. I told the waiter it was Raine's birthday and he brought out a fried ice cream sundae, then put a sombrero on her head and sang Happy Birthday. She pretended to be embarrassed but I could tell she loved it.

When we got home, she thanked me for the millionth time, then kissed me. It wasn't a short thank-you kiss, but a sexy I-want-you kiss that turned into sex before we could even make it upstairs.

We fell asleep on the couch, and an hour later I was about to carry her upstairs but got distracted by her naked body draped over me. I woke her up with kisses in places that made her want me so bad we did it again, right there on the couch. We were hot and sweaty so we took a shower. Together. And that was time number three. I've never done it three times in one night but she gets me so turned on I could've done it three more times. Well, maybe not three but I definitely could've done it once more.

Now I'm at work, and my lack of sleep is making it hard to stay awake. I almost dozed off during a morning conference call. At noon I leave the office to get lunch and some fresh air, hoping it'll wake me up.

As I'm walking down the street, I notice I'm limping. Sex accident. I hurt my knee when I was pumping into Raine in the shower. Our bodies were slick and so was the shower floor and when I thrust into her, my foot slipped and my knee hit the wall. It didn't hurt much at the time, but it swelled up overnight and now it hurts to walk.

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