Page 43 of Loving You

“Yes, he is.”

Danny spins and steps back, revealing Miles and his brothers.

The look in Miles's eyes is dark. He sets our drinks down and sits at the table, one leg on each side of the bench, with me sitting between them.

And then he kisses my temple. It wasn’t the cheek or the forehead, but I’ll accept it.

And it seems to be the gesture that makes everyone accept our relationship as well.

“I’m Miles,” he finally says to Danny.

“Danny.”

They shake hands.

“I hope you guys enjoy Lovers over the summer. It’s the best time of the year to be here. The lake is warm, and the mountain has trails to explore for days.”

“Yeah,” Danny says hesitantly. “I’m looking forward to it. I think I might be most interested in the festivals I’ve heard you all have here. I’m a big-city guy, so this will be good for me. A refreshing break.”

“That’s what we're here for. A wonderful palate-cleansing town.”

Danny smiles, but I don’t miss the tone of Miles’s last comment.

He’s insulted.

This is his town.

His family.

His friends.

And Danny just let him know it’s only good for a break.

Something I’ve said before, too. Never out loud, though. But it makes a lot of things about Miles clearer to me.

“Well, see you around,” I say to Danny, and he nods, waving at the table as he leaves.

Everyone is quiet for a moment, eyes on me and Miles.

Miles leans in and whispers, “Did you really just tell him you’dsee him around?”

The humor is back in his voice, and I can’t help but smile wider.

I turn to him, my nose brushing his unintentionally.

“Maybe.”

His eyes lock on mine, and he shakes his head.

“Now you’re just asking for me to tease you.”

“Okay stop, stop,” Luca says rather loudly, causing me to jump back.

I forgot they were here.

“I can’t have you two making out”—he points at Hudson and Sadie, then to me and Miles—“and have you two be all swoony over each other all summer long.”

Miles enjoys a deep belly laugh that instantly warms my heart.

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