Page 116 of Promise Me Sunshine

She turns and looks at me. “What’d he do?”

Made me want to kiss him.

“Nothing. I’m being a butthead.”

“Oh, okay, then. I’ll protect you, Miles.” She, still in hisgrip, lifts two little boxer fists. “Don’t make me do this, Lenny.”

Miles and I burst out laughing and Ainsley looks mighty pleased with herself. Miles sets her back on her feet. “It’s cold out today,” he tells her, and she scampers to go get her coat and boots.

And then the two of us are standing alone, the dregs of laughter subsiding, with almost nowhere to look.

I kick my socked foot at the carpet. “Where have you been? I haven’t seen you these last few days. I know nothing is settled but…You don’t have toavoidme, okay?”

There’s a long pause and then, “Okay.”

And that’s all I get.

“What’s going on, guys?” Reese asks, leaning against the living room entry and eyeing the two of us. I have no idea how long she’s been standing there.

“I’m rea-dy!” Ainsley sing-shouts from the front hall, once again saving the day.

“Be back in an hour or so,” Miles says with a lightning-quick wave, and disappears.

Reese comes in and picks up the now-discarded sheet. “You reallydon’thave to fold laundry,” she says. “I’d never ask you to do that. No matter what Miles thinks.”

“I don’t mind,” I say. “And he was just…being Miles.”

She eyes me and then tosses the sheet down. “All right. Come clean. What’s happening between you two?”

“Me?” I point at myself. “And him?” I point at the direction he’s gone.

She laughs at my clearly over-the-top acting but then sobers. “I hope…It’s not my business, like at all, but I don’t want Ainsley to…”

“Get caught in the middle of a whirlwind love affair between her babysitter and her uncle?”

Reese raises her eyebrows. “Your words, not mine.”

I start pairing socks.

“First of all, there’s no love affair to speak of,” I say. “And second of all, most importantly, webothreally care about Ainsley and her well-being.”

Reese purses her lips and folds a top sheet.

“Reese.”

She finally looks up at me.

“Miles is never going to do something to intentionally hurt her. She’s one half of the entire reason he’s even in New York City.”And you’re the other half,I don’t say. But her eyes darken. She understands, even if she wishes she didn’t.

—

It’s the groupchat that breaks the stalemate.

I’d forgotten the tentative plans we’d put in place, but Rica hasn’t.

Rica:Still on for tonight, everybody?

I text immediately:I’m in. How’s 8?

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