Page 53 of Just a Distraction

Dear Milo,

I managed to find some old stationery in one of my boxes. I certainly feel the unicorns elevate my letter writing game. Who knows? After this runs out, I might order some Lord of the Rings stationery. I saw some online once, but couldn’t justify the purchase since I had no one to write to. But now, that I have you, I might just go crazy and get it.

It's going to be epic.

My chest warms. I want epic things with Rose. They’re already heading in that direction.

Thanks for not freaking out about Callum. In fact, you’ve done the opposite of freak out. You’ve been amazing with him. He lights up when he’s around you.

I do, too, but that’s another story for another day.

The next few lines make my stomach plunge to my knees.

Look, I need to be honest about something, and I meant to address it earlier, but I chickened out. One of my employees found some balled up pieces of paper in your garbage when she was cleaning out your suite the other day. She didn’t read them, but the name Rose caught her eye. She showed them tome and . . . well, I dumpster dived. I quickly realized you hadn’t meant for me to read them.

That said, they totally made my day. Milo, I really love spending time with you. I do feel you’re my friend, in all the best ways. And to me that’s worth a lot.

I’ve learned to guard my heart well . . . or poorly, depending on how you look at it. As nervous as I am to let you into my crazy life with my crazy family, I’m looking forward to seeing how things go the next four months. Callum needs the example of a good man, as well, and I’m grateful you’re getting to know him. For me, it’s nice to spend time with someone as amazing as you are, even if it’s temporary. It means a lot.

Love,

Rose

P.S. How about Kody? Kevin? Kaden? Kenneth? Karl?

She read those balled up pieces of paper? After some overwhelming regrets that I didn’t take a match to them right away, my embarrassment eases away through the day. Maybe it’s good she read them because now my feelings are out in the open. And this way, it wasn’t like I was pressing the issue by bringing it up.

It’s the truth. Everything I wrote and discarded was the truth.

I can give Rose that, can’t I? She’s had so much heartache from people, especially men, all these years. I can try to give her honesty, can’t I? That part is a no-brainer.

Also, the “Love, Rose” at the end made my heart pound. The change feels significant.

You want to know what else feels significant? That there’s a ticking clock on our relationship, and despite my desire to give her what she wants, I don’t know if I can walk away from this come September.

Chapter 22

Milo

I find her near the end of the day and sling the vacuum off her huge cleaning cart. I know she’s anxious to get Callum from Childcare, so I plug it in and get to work.

“You don’t have to help me,” she shouts in my ear over the sound of the vacuum down the hallway of suites on the first floor.

“I know,” I shout back. I give her a look that saysJustlet me get this done.

She hesitates, a war flickering over her expression. I know she’s torn. She was concerned about leaving Callum all day after he’d been sick, and even though it had been well over twenty-four hours since he’d shown any signs of illness, I know she’s worried. And my brothers might see me vacuuming, which couldraise questions. But it’s nothing I can’t handle. Rose needs the help.

When she still doesn’t leave me be, I turn the vacuum off and rest my forearm on the handle. “Hey, it’s okay. I finished what I needed to do for my own job. It’s no problem to help you out with yours for a few minutes.”

Her brows go high on her forehead and she stares at me, her mouth hardening in a line. “I just . . . I can do this on my own.”

“You can, I know. I just wanted to help you, that’s all. It’s either this or become immersed in some fantasy novel upstairs in my suite.” She doesn’t know that by becoming “immersed” I actually mean by writing one.

She makes a shooing motion with her hands. “So go get immersed! This is . . .” She glances from side to side. “I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

“In trouble? I have a bit of an in, with my brother being the owner and all . . .”

“I know.” Her tone is saucy.

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