Page 61 of Falling

“You could say that.” I rub my temples. “Stupid Miles and stupid dreams.” They laugh, and I go to check my phone. I still haven’t heard from Austin, and my mom has been asking me for updates all weekend. This is just what Austin does. She disappears for a few weeks, lets everyone worry, and then turns up again like nothing happened.

It’s well into the afternoon now, and it’s been a while since I’ve had a lazy day. It also helps that it’s been snowing like crazy these last couple of days. Our little town has been covered in thick layers of snow, and we’ve been bundled up in our apartment watchingGilmore Girlsand pretending our lives are on hold.

“My point still stands,” Kennedy says, turning around to me with two bikinis I haven’t worn yet in her hands. “I say you fuck him and get it over with.”

“Yeah, at least then you’re not still thinking about what it would be like to sleep with him,” Scarlett adds.

“I’mnotthinking about it.” I groan, dropping my head against the headboard.

“Right….” they both say at the same time, looking at each other.

“What are you doing with my clothes, Ken?” I ask as she makes a pile.

“I’m preparing myself for summer. You never let me borrow your clothes unless you don’t want them, so I’m starting my collection early,” she says, smiling at me.

“Do you ever buy your own clothes?” Scarlett asks.

“Why would I? Wren lends me hers, and you get me clothes from Voss all the time,” she argues. Scarlett’s family’s clothing brand has saved our lives so many times. Kennedy shrugs. “The perks of our friendship are finally paying off.”

“Can’t argue with that logic,” I mumble, slipping out of the bed to finally get dressed. I should probably visit my mom or go to the gym or do something that isn’t lying around thinking about Miles. I startle at the knock on the door. “Did you guys order takeout already?”

“Nope, but we are having pizza tonight, right?” Kennedy asks. I snort, walking out of my room toward the door. We’ve had pizza every night this week. She shouts after me, “Right?!”

I ignore her and open the door.

The wind is almost knocked out of me when I see the one thing I’ve been trying to avoid. Miles is standing in front of me, grinning like a Cheshire cat, wearing at least three layers of clothing.

“Miles,” I greet, nodding curtly.

“Wrenny girl,” he says, smiling wide. “I’ve missed you.”

“Wish I could say the same.”

“Are you going to let me in?”

“Depends what you’re doing here.”

“I’m taking you out. Me and you.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “We don’t have anything planned today.”

“I know.”

My patience thins. “Then why are we going out?”

He sighs, rolling his head back dramatically before facing me. “Because I want to hang out with you, you idiot.”

I gasp, trying not to laugh. “Don’t come to my house to insult me, Miles.”

“No, I’m coming to your house to take you out because I’ve missed you, and I want you to put me out of my misery,” he says, removing my arm from the door where I’ve blocked him, and he walks in like he fucking owns the place. “Can you get ready so we can go?”

“Who said I wanted to go out with you?” I argue, crossing my arms.

“Or don’t get ready,” he drawls, scanning my entire outfit. I’m still wearing the shorts I slept in and a thin tank top. “You look perfect like this.”

I huff.

It’s either spending an entire day inside daydreaming about Miles, or spending time with him that proves that he’s actually annoying and Ishouldn’tneed to daydream about him. Really, there isn’t much of a choice.

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