Page 61 of Hard to Break

“Hey,” I answer, my heart skipping.

“Hi. What’s up?”

It’s so good hearing his voice. It feels like things are normal with us, even if they aren’t.

“Helping Nova get ready for this show. But I sent her home to be with Clay.”

I fill him in.

“Wow. That gallery sounds like the real deal. Way to go.”

“Thanks.” My lips twitch. “Except for the whole missing piece thing. I’m going to send him some new options and everything will be fine. You’re playing tomorrow?”

“Uh-huh. Had a meeting with the guys to get on the same page.”

“I’m glad.”

He pauses. “Jay said something to me.”

“Oh no.” I start pacing the room.

“He wants me to stop hurting his sister.”

My toe catches on a box and I narrowly avoid going sprawling across the floor. “You’re not hurting me,” I say.

“Yeah, I am. I hurt your reputation. I made you worry. All I want to do is make your life better, Princess, and I couldn’t.”

My chest aches. “That’s not true.”

“I’m going to fix it. Starting now. Did you eat?”

“Eat?” I echo. “Dinner or lunch?”

“I’ll take that as a no. When was the last time you were outside? It’s a beautiful Wednesday.”

“It’s Wednesday?” I wince.

“What you need is a walk and a picnic.”

Longing tugs at me. Both sounds great.

“I can’t,” I say reluctantly. “I need to finish this.”

We hang up so I can get back to work.

Half an hour later, there’s a knock at the door. I rise to get it, finding Miles on the other side.

He’s holding a tree in one hand and a huge brown paper bag from my favorite takeout place in the other but it’s the huge grin on his face that makes me feel the more renewed.

“I couldn’t get you outside for a picnic,” he says sheepishly, “so I brought outside to you.”

Miles holdsout the package of rolls to me and I take one. I'm sitting on the blanket he spread across the floor, and when I bite into the roll, I can't help but groan in appreciation. “So good. Missed this.”

“Fresh rolls?”

“Eating with you.” The words slip out before I can stop them.

A slow grin spreads across his face. “What else did you miss?”

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