Page 31 of Catching Feelings

“We can give you a ride home,” Kendall offers.

“I can too,” Miles says. “Probably a safer bet going with me, so you don’t have to put up with their groping and shit.”

“You said a bad word, Bucky.” Paisley points at Miles. “You have to put a dollar in the swear jar.”

“Got me there, Pickles.” Miles takes out his wallet and pulls out a ten-dollar bill. “Here’s an advance for next time.” He opens her crossbody bag—because why wouldn’t a pampered little six-year-old have one when they’re all the rage—and tucks the money inside.

“Great. It’s settled.” Jackson takes the diaper bag from Riley. “Have a good time, kids. I know the house code, unless you changed it.”

Walker shakes his head. “Same as always. Thanks, man.”

“There’s freshly squeezed milk in the fridge and bags in the freezer if you need more.”

Miles chokes and pounds his fist on his chest. “Freshly squeezed? Shit. Now I have inappropriate images of Riley squeezing her—”

“Fuck off, Buck,” Nash growls.

“Daddy!” Paisley holds out her hand, palm up.

“Take it out of Buck’s ten.”

“I’ve got you, Paisley.” Taylor hefts her higher on his hip. “Have fun tonight.”

“You’ll need to take my car to hook Emmitt’s car seat in.”

“And I have Paisley’s booster seat,” Kendall says.

Riley, Walker, Kendall, and Nash follow them out to the parking lot, leaving me with Miles and a few other guys.

“Looks like I got ditched.”

“I gotcha, Row.” Miles rests his giant hand on my lower back and guides me out of the stadium and to his truck.

He helps me into the passenger side and gives me a wink before rounding the hood and climbing in behind the wheel.

“Thanks for giving me a lift to the bar. I can hitch a ride home with Kendall and Nash later.”

“Not a chance I’d leave you to suffer a twenty-minute ride with those two.”

I chuckle. “Nash isn’t a big fan of PDA. I’m sure he’ll keep his hands to himself when I’m in the car.”

“It’s not Nash I’m worried about.”

“True.” I giggle. “Kendall’s got it bad for him. They’re perfect for each other though. I wouldn’t call them a grumpy sunshine pair since Kendall is more snark and sass than sunshine, but I love them together. And I love Paisley for Kendall too.”

“Do you want kids?”

“I mean, yeah. Someday. Putting myself through a rigorous nursing program didn’t leave much time for dating, and I don’t have the energy to be a single parent.”

I cringe at how pathetic I sound. No need to advertise how pathetically single I am and have been since forever. Not that he doesn’t know.

“Well, now that you have a more regular routine, maybe you’ll meet someone?”

“Maybe. Since my nine-to-five keeps me busy and exhausted on weeknights, it’ll have to be someone with a similar schedule who isn’t pushing for midweek dates. I’m luggage as soon as I get home and can barely find the energy to squeeze in a few workouts during the week.”

Again, not the best way to promote myself. Not that it matters. Miles is like family. He’s always around and is fun to hang out with.

The fact that he’s the hottest guy I’ve ever met doesn’t hurt either. Not that thirty-one is old, but at this age, I’m not looking for meaningless hookups, and that’s what Miles excels in.

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