Page 93 of Loving You

My chest aches at the emotional roller coaster this day has already put me through.

I was fine when I didn’t know Miles and he didn’t care for me.

But now that I know him better, him not caring for me … that hurts.

“I’m sosorry to kick you out so soon,” Mr. Asher says from the chair in the apartment’s living room.

I was just grabbing my last suitcase when he showed up.

“It’s not a problem,” I tell him and look around to make sure I didn’t miss anything.

“Well, it was last-minute, and I told Ruby that we needed to wait, but she had other plans.”

“It’s really fine.”

It really sucks, but that’s for me to worry about and not him.

The sliding door opens and Miles steps through. His eyes find me immediately, and I swear he starts to smile but then quickly changes his mind.

“All settled, Dad?” he asks, grabbing my last suitcase. He’d been over at his house when I bought my first bag over. I left my second bag on his porch so that I didn’t have to face him again so soon.

He must have seen it and made his way over to help.

“I can get it. It’s the last one.”

“It’s okay.”

“I can get it,” I say again in the nicestfuck offway I can in front of his father.

“But you shouldn’t have to.” Miles looks me square in the eye.

“That’s how I raised them, despite the execution of his gesture.” Mr. Asher leans back and glares at his son. “Let’s use a little more kindness and a little less growl next time, yeah?”

I pinch my lips together to hold in my laugh, but it still bubbles in my chest. Miles catches the moment I cough and look away.

“I’ll meet you at the house,” I say quickly and then wave to Mr. Asher. “Good night.”

“Good night, Quinn.”

I close the sliding door behind me and glance over my scheduler to see Miles nodding as Mr. Asher talks.

Is he giving him advice? Is he scolding him for his tone just now?

I was ready to tell Miles off on my own. Once we are out of his father’s earshot, of course.

I sigh as I make my way inside Miles’s home.

This house is a dream, and under any other circumstance, I’d enjoy that I’m moving in, but right now, I’m just flustered.

After his family left earlier, I went back to the office to finish as much work as I could and rescheduled the remaining interviews. Then I went back to get packed and clean the apartment.

Why did Ruby need her dad to move out so suddenly? If my parents had a permanent home, I wouldn’t mind having to live with them, so why didn’t she want to live with their dad? I’m sure there is more to the story, and it’s not my place to ask.

Maybe I could have asked Miles if he and I actually spoke once they left, but we didn’t. We haven’t talked about this at all other than agreeing that I would do it.

I put my hands on my hips and wander down the hallway on the main floor. There is a spare room on the first door to the right. I push the door open to reveal an empty space.

I shake my head.

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