Page 69 of Loving You

“See what I mean.” Miles chuckles but stands with me. “See you all around.”

With that, he places his hand on my lower back and pushes me toward the door.

As soon as we are outside, he pulls his hand away.

“I told you my idea would work. Look how fast we got out of there,” he says and starts to walk faster. It’s annoying. “Now put some pep in your step so that we don’t get pulled into another?—”

“Wait!” Andy calls out. “We wanted to invite you hiking this Thursday. It would be great if you could come with us. Since you know the area.”

Hiking, again?

Miles scratches the back of his neck.

“Hey, Miles,” a high-pitched voice says behind us.

Cherry.

“Oh, hey.” He takes a step closer to me. And because I’m not a dick, even though I’m extra annoyed with him right now, I lace my fingers with his.

Andy waves at Cherry but doesn’t move. She’s waiting for a response, after all.

“Thursday is a busy day for us,” I say. “Maybe a different day.”

“Friday?” Andy suggests.

“Friday for what?” Cherry asks.

Now, normally, I’d be thinking how rude that she just engaged herself in our conversation, but right now I’m not normal Quinn. I’m matchmaker Quinn.

I smile big.

“We are all going hiking—would you want to come with our group?”

Ouch.

Fuck.

Fuck.

My hand.

Why is he squeezing it so hard?

I try to pull away, but Miles just jerks me closer and wraps a hand around my waist. He pulls me close as if he were about to kiss my cheek.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he whispers.

“Trust me,” I say just as quietly.

I resume my smile in Cherry’s direction. “Next Friday works for us if it works for you.”

“Oh, um, I don't know. I don’t know any of you but Miles,” Cherry says quickly.

“I’m Andy.” Andy offers her hand. “I’m getting married at the end of the summer and I used to travel a lot with Quinn. I can share my social media with you, and you can check me out before you decide, but the more the merrier.”

Cherry eyes her cautiously.

“Are you going?” she asks, her question directed at Miles.

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