Page 73 of Just a Distraction

We chitchat, and I try not to stare too much at this lovely man across the table from me. But sometimes I can’t help it.

Once our food arrives and we begin eating, his face grows somber. “Rose, I want to thank you for something, but it’s kind of hard to explain.”

I rest my elbows on the table and then sink my chin in my hands. “I’ll take a thank you anytime. Go for it.”

“I have to thank you because you helped me pull my head out of the muck and realize what’s truly important. Rose, you know that I really, really like you. You inspire me to settle down, work hard, and get serious about my career. I want to be able to support a family, you know? It’s what I want.”

“I don’t know what to say besides you’re welcome.” I’m touched. But I also feel the familiar touch of claustrophobia that comes when I think of what that might mean for my future with Milo.

I know I’m wishy-washy, one minute all in and the next minute pushing him away. I frustrate myself, but I don’t know how to change it. Still, I’m not going to give up the time I have with him.

“Just understand that you’ve had a big impact on me in a lot of ways. I want to be the kind of man you need, Rose.” He shifts back in his chair. “I know you think things have to end in September. I know we’re different in a lot of ways. But I’m here. And I’ll be here for you. I want to be stable and steady. You haven’t had that before, not from anything. I want to be the man you deserve.”

Tears well up in my eyes and my throat burns. “I’ve never had anyone say anything even remotely like that to me before.”

“And you didn’t deserve to be treated the way you were. Not from your father or from Blaine or anyone else.”

“I know. I didn’t deserve it and no one else in my family did, either.”

“I want to do all I can to help you in whatever you need, Rose.”

“Right now, working at Tate is in some ways perfect, with the free childcare and benefits and everything. But I am getting excited to go to school.”

Milo nods. “And I know you have some reservations about your family being here and you being there.”

“It was hard enough to think of leaving my family to go to North Carolina two years ago. I mean, I wanted to get away for a while and live my own life. But I was the one to take Eden’s other kids to appointments after T.J. died. For a couple of years after, every time I came over to her place, she could hardly get up off the couch. I don’t blame her, I really don’t. But she had other kids to take care of and her husband was long gone. He left when T.J. started declining.

“My mom was struggling at the time and working a lot. She showed up for Eden, too, but it was harder on her, you know? It’s like the more bad things happen to her or her kids, the more she shuts down in some ways.” I swallow hard. I hadn’t meant to go on and on like that, but now that it’s out there, I don’t hate that I said it.

“My mom has had times like that, too,” Milo says. “I think motherhood is just really hard sometimes. Life can be really hard.” He takes a sip of ice water and shakes his head. “Not that that’s a big profound statement. Of course it’s hard.”

“I know what you mean. We all like to walk around pretending we have it all together, but most of the time we don’t.”

“We just don’t want to admit it.”

“Yeah. I was accepted to UNC ‘s medical program and all set to go when I found

out I was pregnant. It was like the worst case of secondhand karma, like the universe was telling me,Hey we see you’re trying to break free from the family patterns, the family drama, but nope! Think again.UNC let me defer for one year. I knew that wouldn’t be enough, especially since I’d have anewborn. Then, because I absolutely used my Jedi mind powers on them, praying so hard that entire year, they approved my request to defer another year. If I don’t go this fall, there won’t be any more chances.”

Milo swallows hard and tugs at the collar of his shirt. “I don’t doubt you used your Jedi mind powers. You’ve used them on me, too.”

I smile, glancing down at my food a moment before I take another bite, chew, and swallow. “I have a confession to make.” And before I can talk myself out of it, I spill all about how I overheard him talking with his brothers. “I admit I was jealous of this Gloria woman! But you know what? At the same time, I knew there was a logical explanation. I can’t explain it, but I knew you wouldn’t lie to me. I knew there was no one else.” My shoulders slump. “Which is surprising considering my own track record—and that of my family’s.”

His cheeks redden. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. My brothers are . . . protective.”

“As are my siblings.”

“Do you have any questions about what you heard?”

“Hmm. Where do I start? Do I ask you about your brothers saying we’re in completely different leagues? That it won’t work because I’m a single mother? Or that part about how I tracked you down at Tate and only got the job to convince you to date me?”

“Wow.” The tips of Milo’s ears turn pink. “You did hear a lot. I’m sorry about that.”

“And I’m sorry I eavesdropped. I should have left the room right when I realized I could hear what everyone was saying.”

“Those aren’t my beliefs, though, Rose. Every single one of my brothers had obstacles to overcome with the women they fell in love with. Sebastian’s wife, Elianna, was his assistant. Talk about opposites attract! Sophie and Oliver had been solidly inthe friend zone for like twenty years before they finally started dating. Henry and Quinn had been divorced for a year before they reconciled! Oakley started helping Alec with his knee injury. Neither of them were looking for a relationship at all, but it was meant to be, so it worked out. And don’t even get me started on Gabriel and River. They had the crazy idea of getting married to pull one over on my dad. They had afake marriagebefore they finally realized they were actually in love with each other for real.”

I reach across the table and grasp Milo’s forearm. “What in the . . .?”

---