Page 100 of Here and Now
I laugh, shaking my head. “I guess I’ll be there.”
My phone buzzes in my lap, and I grab for it so fast I almost knock over the water. “I’m sorry, I just ...”
It’s a text from Ashton.
Ashton
How’s the date going?
I’m on it. You just scared me with this text and I almost spilled water on myself.
Ashton
So, it’s going well. Have fun. Love you. Get naked with him!
I ignore that last one and look up at Miles. “I’m really sorry. I thought it might be Kai.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s not easy being away from him, huh?”
That’s the understatement of the year. Little does he know just how much more complicated my story is.
“No, not really. I just worry over him all the time. While the kids you teach aren’t yours, they are when they’re with you.”
“They really are. If anything were to happen to them ... I’d be a mess.”
My leg starts to bounce as I fight the urge to check my phone. Talking about kids and things happening is causing my anxiety to spike.
“Penny?” Miles calls my attention.
“Hmm?”
“Are you okay?”
I nod quickly. “Yeah, fine.”
His head tilts to the side. “Honestly?”
Not wanting to lie, I decide to give a little of the truth. “I just don’t like leaving Kai. It’s really stressful for me to not be able to get to him in a few minutes. I know it sounds ridiculous, but there are ... reasons ... and I want to be here with you. I’m having a great time, truly. I’m trying to keep myself from calling him again.”
He reaches his hand out, and I place mine in his. The warmth that comes from him is felt everywhere. “I’m not going to ask for your reasons. I just hope one day you’ll trust me with them.” Miles lifts his hand and Marge comes over. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Anything. What do you need?” she asks.
“Can you box our meals, whatever you’ve decided we are eating without asking?”
She looks to him, her jaw slack. “What?”
I echo her. “What? Why?”
He faces me. “Because I never want to be the reason you’re stressed or anxious. We can take this meal, go home, eat, and hang out on the couch, and that will be the perfect date. All I want is to spend time with you. We can even take Kai with us for the rest of the date.”
Yeah, I’m so going to fall in love with this man.
nineteen
Miles
Penny looks over at me, her head against the seat rest. We got our cheese tortellini to go and ate them outside her house in the car. Marge put extra bread and dessert in the bag, too, for Kai.
