Page 9 of Loving You

Unless, of course, your name happens to be Miles Asher.

“What brings you into the bakery this afternoon? Normally, I see you only in the mornings.” Brooke cocks her hip to the counter and crosses her arms as she waits for my answer.

I let out a long breath.

“Turns out babies know how to party harder than a group of twenty-somethings on vacation in Prague. Those two can pull an all-nighter like it’s nobody's business.”

Both women chuckle.

“Are you staying with your brother all summer?”

I nod.

“Yep, I’m here for a solid eight weeks this time around.”

Grandma Betty loves it, not to mention the little ceremonyshe and Mike are having now that they are engaged. They want to keep it small, and I’m thrilled to be here for it.

“Can you go back and forth between their place and your grandmother’s?” Sadie asks.

I scrunch my face. “That’s not an option.”

“Why not?” Brooke asks.

“Because she is my grandmother and I’d like to forever only see her that way. Call me childish; I don’t even care. Plus, she and Mike are in a special time of their lives—they don’t need some twenty-five-year-old crashing on their couch.”

Brooke hands me a coffee, and I hold up two more fingers. “I’m getting drinks and snacks for Tobias and Natalie, too. I also need a half dozen lemon bars.”

“You got it,” she says, and she starts to box them up, but I do catch the glance she sends Sadie.

Sadie smiles. “I might know of a room you could stay in for the summer if you’re interested.”

“I’m interested,” I say quickly. “Grandma Betty is in love, and Tobias and Natalie are starting to get into a routine, and I’m in the way.”

“All right, but you might change your mind once I tell you where the space is.”

“Does it have a room?”

Sadie nods.

“A shower?”

She nods again.

“A kitchen and space for me to read?”

She keeps nodding, but now it’s her turn to scrunch up her nose.

“I don’t see the problem then. I’ll take it.”

“Well,” Sadie draws out as I hand over my credit card to Brooke. “Miles would be your landlord.”

Shit.

“Sadie, if you knew that detail, why would you even bring it up?” Brooke asks.

I glance between the two best friends. They are both aware that Miles doesn’t care for me, but just like me, they also have no idea why.

Sadie shrugs. “Because Quinn isn’t going anywhere, and he needs to suck it up, so I don’t think it can hurt to ask him about it. But I also wanted her to be ready just in case he tells her no when she asks about it.”

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