Page 25 of Keeping It Professional

Kate spluttered laughter, spraying beer on the table. She pointed at Miles. “Look at his face!”

“Ignore them,” I said. “They’ve had a few drinks.”

“But,lookat him.” Kate pulled a face. “He looks like he just sucked a whole, entire lemon. Come on, life is good. Turn that frown upside-down.”

Miles flashed an awkward smile. Kate and Jen burst out laughing. I shot them a warning look,okay, enough.

Jen squinted at Miles. “He doesn’t seem that bad.”

“Well, let’s find out.” Kate sat up straighter. “You been treating our Sophie good?”

“I’d say so,” said Miles.

“And is it true you, uh… checking my notes…” Kate squinted at an imaginary notepad. “Is it true you and Sophie had a fight so loud, you got yourselves tossed out of the ambulance bay?”

I flapped my hands, outraged. “I never said that!”

“It was just me,” said Miles, and he winked at Kate. “I got kicked out, but Sophie has manners.”

“Ooh, he’s a gentleman, taking the heat!” Kate raised her beer, and she and Jen clinked to him. I covered my face.

“Did I say they’re my friends? I swear we just met.” I took Miles by the arm and led him away, Jen’s tipsy laughter loud in our ears. Kate yelled something after us that sounded a lot likenice ass, but I ignored it and Miles did the same. We wound up by the window under the bar sign, bathed head and shoulders in bright neon pink. The way Miles smiled down at me made me warm inside.

“Sorry,” I said. “They’ve been drinking tequila.”

Miles laughed, a deep rumble. “And how about you?”

“I’ve had a drink or two, but I’ve been doing half water. I’ve got a breakfast date first thing tomorrow.”

Miles raised a brow. “A breakfast date, huh?”

“Yeah, with my mom. It’s our tradition. We get pancakes, then pedicures, then we watch bad TV.”

“Sounds hot.”

“Oh, yeah.” I chuckled, then sobered. “Listen, I’m sorry about that, with my friends. Obviously I was venting, before we made up.”

Miles winked. “That’s okay. I vented to Brian.”

I gasped. “You what? What did you say?”

Miles tilted his head, pretending to think. “I told him, let’s see… you heat fish in the microwave. You kick off your stinky boots right in the bus. You use barf bags for lunch bags. You?—”

I smacked him. “Stop!”

“You drink coffee all night. You have coffee breath.”

“Youdrink coffee all night.Youhave coffee breath.”

We both broke up laughing. Miles shook his head. “I never said any of that, except maybe the coffee breath. And we’ve established we’re both guilty of that.” His smile had gone crooked, almost uncertain, like he was worried I’d be angry for real. I fought the strange urge to reach up and touch him, stroke his hair, maybe. Caress his cheek.

“You couldn’t have told Brian anything that bad,” I said. “He seemed happy to meet me, not horrified.”

“He’s a good guy. He— Uh-oh. Incoming.”

I turned just in time to stop Jen from tripping. She swayed, happy-drunk, and tugged on my sleeve.

“We’re going to the Brewery. You coming, or what?”

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