Page 54 of Loving You

He pauses and tilts his head. “If I recall, you told me that this deal of ours doesn’t need to change our daily routine. Mine includes occasionally walking to B’s for coffee. So, let’s go.”

He marches past me, and my eyes drift to his backside. Specifically, to where his jeans hug his ass.

Miles knows how to wear jeans better than any man I’ve met. I also love that he's a simple T-shirt guy. His tattoos are accessory enough. And I really like the backward hat look today.

All in all, Miles looks good, and for some reason, that makes my heart race a little more than normal.

I quickly catch up before he can spot me checking him out.

“Why couldn’t you sleep last night?” he asks to fill the silence.

“Just couldn’t.”

“Nothing in particular kept you up?”

“Nope.”

And that’s going to be my answer, because there is no way I’m going to tell him that spending the morning with his family yesterday is what kept me awake. How they all know each other’s day-to-day, how they all make it a point to meet weekly, how they all live in the same town and love being around each other.

The memories they could make felt endless.

I grab my phone to text my brother and grandma.

Quinn

Dinner this week.

I debate usinga question mark but decide against it. I’m tired of asking to see my family. I need them to know Iwantto see them. So, I send a follow up text.

Quinn

Just tell me the day.

“Well,I’ll tell you what kept me up,” Miles pulls me back into the conversation.

I put my phone in my purse and look at him. “What’s that?”

“I found a dog in Wind Valley, and once they approve my application, I’m going to go get him.”

“What? A real dog? I thought you were making that up. You’re not just buying a dog to confirm our story, are you?”

He laughs at that. “I am not. I’m buying one because I always wanted one and I keep telling myself I’ll get one, but I’ve never done the work to make it happen.”

See, he’s making things happen too. Taking charge isn’t so bad.

“What kind of dog are we getting?” I ask.

“We,” he says, “are adopting a golden retriever.”

“That sounds like the perfect dog for us. What will we name?—”

“Wait.” Miles jerks his arm out in front of me to stop me before we open the door to B’s Bakery.

I pause and look side to side, as if something happened that I can’t see.

“What is it?”

“Look at the line.”

---