Page 90 of Loving You

“Was it Mr. Pepperton?”

“Drop it, Quinn.”

“No. Talk to me.”

He spins quickly and steps toward me so fast that I instinctively step back.

“Like you talked to me earlier? You said you were fine, and I didn’t push it. Why are you pushing it now?”

“Because,” I start and let myself think over my words for a moment. “Because I wasn’t fine, and I should have told you.”

“Yeah, you should have, but since then, I’ve had time to think about us, and it’s not a smart idea.”

“What?” I ask as he walks out of the room. “What does that mean?”

“I just think it’s better if we keep this exactly as we planned it. If we do anything more, it’ll complicate things.”

I open my mouth to argue that he should have thought about that before last night, but I don't want to be that girl.

Things … happen. People get caught up in the moment more often than we realize. Emotions run high and lust takes over.

Plus, he’s right. It could complicate things.

Ending whatever that was now is for the best.

I give him one firm nod and smile.

“Yeah, we should?—”

“Uncle Miles!” A small voice fills the garage, and a tiny body whips between us, crashing into Miles’s legs, almost taking him down.

The pained expression he wore seconds ago swiftly morphs into pure joy.

“Maximus, my man!” Miles says back, scooping the kid up and giving him a hug that triggers the boy’s deep gut laugh.

“Careful, he just ate his weight in snickerdoodle cookies from B’s.”

A woman with long dark hair and big brown doe eyes approaches us. Miles’s dad is right behind her, which means this must be Ruby.

“Hey, sis,” Miles says, still holding her son as he gives her a side hug. “Dad, it’s nice to see you today.”

“You too,” he says. “Quinn, you look lovely today.” His dad hugs me and then Ruby claps.

“Oh my gosh, you’re Quinn?”

I nod.

Now it’s her turn to wrap me in her arms.

“Sadie has told me so much about you, and I am absolutely loving this for my brother.”

Miles just rolls his eyes. “What are you doing here?” he quickly changes the topic.

His dad clears his throat. “We actually need a favor.”

“Yeah, sure, anything,” Miles says.

This a family thing. I give a small wave and turn for the office.

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