Page 27 of Resorting to Romance

“Right. Yeah. My meeting. That’s the one. The meeting. Of managers. Weekly. The one you know about.”Shuuuuttt up, Kai.

I smile, hoping it covers the stream of words that just erupted out of me like word lava from an over-informative volcano.

Mila’s eyes flare momentarily wide. And then she’s nodding repetitively like a bobble-head version of herself.

“Yep,” she says, smiling at me. “That’s right. Your weekly managers’ meeting.”

A laugh starts to bubble up at the absurdity of this moment, but then I glance at Brad and remember the depth of what Mila’s up against. She needs me. I can’t mess this up for her.

I take a cleansing breath and steel my features.

“Good to see you again, Kai,” Brad extends his hand, looking far more confident and at home with Mila than he did yesterday when he blindsided her.

I nod at him, not taking his hand at first, but then I do when he continues to hold it out to me.

“So, uh …” I don’t even know what to say.

“We were just talking about Brad’s request,” Mila informs me. “About Noah.”

She surprises me, stepping away from his side and moving over so she’s next to me. In a moment of genius or stupidity, I’m not sure which, I wrap my arm around Mila and place a soft kiss on her temple.

She smells like coffee and cinnamon and herfamiliar warmth—home.

The kiss is for show, of course, but the moments my lips meet her skin, I’m thrown off. It’s been a long, long time since I kissed anyone. Kissing Mila feels different. Probably because of my dry spell. I shake all those thoughts and force myself to focus on the situation at hand.

“You okay?” I murmur into Mila’s hair, truly wanting to know, but also fully committed to this unexpected encore of our farce.

Mila looks up at me. “Yeah. I am. I’m okay now.”

My head swims. Is she okay now because she talked with Brad, or because I showed up? Or is she just saying that to make our play-acting seem more convincing?

Brad looks between the two of us. His face is inscrutable. I’m sure it’s not easy for him to see his ex-wife in someone else’s arms, but I’m not here as his therapist or emotional support animal. I’m here for Mila, and apparently my loyalty to her will take me to great lengths—ones I never imagined I’d be capable of or willing to go to.

“So, I’d better … pack,” Brad says, still looking from me to Mila, to the point where my arm rests behind her back.

“Okay,” Mila says, and I think she sinks into me just a little more when she says it. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Thank you.”

Brad steps forward like he’s going to hug Mila, but when she remains tucked into my side, he steps back, running his hand through his styled hair.

“Okay. I’ll be hearing from you then.”

“Yes. I don’t know when,” Mila tells Brad. “I’ll text you when I’ve had time to process everything.”

Her voice is steady, but I feel a slight tremble running through her, so I give her a gentle squeeze of assurance on her waist where my hand is resting.

“Sounds good.” Brad quickly gives us a curt nod and then he turns and walks toward the bank of elevators on the other side of the lobby.

Mila and I stand together, unflinching, until Brad is safely inside an elevator. Then, I drop my arm.

Just like yesterday, I apologize, and at the same moment the word, “Sorry,” comes out of my mouth, Mila says, “Thank you.”

“I probably should have left the two of you alone.”

“No. It actually couldn’t have been better timing. It was fine—meeting with him, I mean. But I was nervous and jittery the whole time. Seeing you helped. Having you here settled my nerves. So, thank you. You’re a good friend, Kai. I appreciate you.”

“Anytime,” I assure her. “I told you I’m here for you. Only, I didn’t mean to extend our charade.”

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