Page 43 of Catching Feelings

“I am sunshine, aren’t I?” He beams at me and I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up inside.

This is much better. I’m more comfortable with his joking nature than his serious side.

“Are you sure she wants cooking appliances? Most Boston apartments have kitchens the size of a linen closet.”

At least mine does.

“She’s got the counter and cupboard space. Stubborn brat refuses to spend money on anything decent though. Ramen and plain spaghetti are fine meals if you’re struggling, but she’s not.”

“I’m all too familiar with the cost of grad school. I’ll be paying off my college loans until I’m ready for a nursing home.”

“I made sure Julia won’t have that kind of debt, and I pay the rent on her apartment so she doesn’t have to stress about money and can focus on her studies.”

“That’s really sweet of you, Miles.” I reach across the center console and squeeze his forearm.

It’s something I’ve done before. To his friends. To him. But this is the first time I felt a current of electricity running from his skin through my fingers.

Have his forearms always been so thick? Has he always had those veins that pop? Especially when he grips the steering wheel like that.

He clears his throat and turns into the parking lot in front of Crate and Barrel. And here I thought we’d go into Target again. I guess when you’re a professional football player, money is no object.

“She’d do the same for me if she could.” He blows off the compliment and turns off the car. “Jules freaks out on me when I splurge so I’m gonna need you to let me know if I pick out stuff that’s unnecessary.”

“I’ll try.” I unfasten my seatbelt. “But since I have no idea what she already has and what she likes to cook, I’m not sure how much of a help I’ll be.”

Miles meets me at the front of the truck and holds the door open for me when we reach the store.

“She lives off caffeine, pasta, and Snickers.”

“Three important staples.”

“Jules doesn’t want to take time to cook, so something that will help her eat better without all the fuss.”

“Does she have an air fryer?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why don’t we start there? Although, I’m not sure you’ll find one here. We can stop at Target or Walmart on our way home.”

“That works. Let’s see what we can find here too.”

I follow him around the store and laugh at half the stuff he picks up. I’m pretty sure he’s joking when he holds up a two hundred dollar garlic press, but who knows with Miles.

We leave the store with two full bags of kitchenware. Most of it is practical. I especially love that he tossed in cute kitchen towels and potholders.

From what I gathered, Jules isn’t the type to have festive fall decor in her apartment, but I don’t want to burst Miles’s bubble.

He locks the bags in his vehicle and takes my hand, pulling me to an athleticwear store next door.

“She wears the same disgusting sweatpants every time I stop by. Says they’re comfortable, but I don’t care. I’m getting her new ones.”

“There’s something about wearing a pair of worn-in sweats while studying all night. A little comfort when your brain is on overload.”

“She’s close to your size. Will you help me find something for her?”

Julia is nowhere close to my size. My thighs are double the size of hers. I don’t correct him as I push through the racks until I find a pair of the softest joggers I’ve ever felt and pull out a small.

When I see the price tag, I gasp and put them back on the rack. Ninety bucks for sweats?

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