Page 70 of Here and Now
“The park lights run off a generator, so we didn’t have to worry about that.”
“I see.”
“Listen, I need to tell you something. It’s very serious.”
“Oh?” I ask. “Of course you can tell me.”
He sounds so concerned I kind of am now.
“My friends, the guys on the team, are all suffering from a disease that the medical community is still trying to get under control.”
Well, now I’m not concerned. I cross my arms over my chest and shift to look at him as he drives. “Really? What disease is that?”
“Stupidity. I mean, we know some things about it, but there’s a lot the doctors are still trying to unearth.”
“I see, and do you also suffer with this affliction?” I ask, fighting back the urge to laugh.
“No, I was cured of this a long time ago.”
“Oh, but you had it once?”
Miles grins. “Depends on who you ask.”
“But you’re not sure?”
“I’m pretty sure I had a mild case, but it was easily treated.”
“With?” I ask.
“A kick in the ass from my gran.”
“I really want to meet her,” I say, not thinking about how that sounds.
Why would I want to meet her? We’re not dating. We’re definitelynotgoing to date. We kissed once, it’s over, I’m just staying at the house one more night so that I can get the tree in the back taken down and not die in my sleep.
All things that don’t require the meeting of any family member.
Now, if Eloise wants to introduce me, that’s one thing. She’s ... not going around kissing me.
“I’m sure Gran will love you,” Miles says with a little swagger in his tone.
Great. He thinks it means something too.
“Does Eloise think your case of stupidity was cured?” I ask, bringing it back to the easy teasing we had going.
“Definitely not.”
We pull up to the field, and Miles grabs the chairand his bag from the back. When we get down from the parking area, the lights illuminate the field. All the guys are on the sideline stretching, and Everett is taping Killian’s ankle.
“Hey, hey, if it isn’t Miles and Penny. Let me guess, Romeo came and rescued you in the storm?” Everett asks.
“He did, actually.”
Lachlan walks toward us. “I heard about the tree in your yard, you’re staying somewhere safe, right?”
“I am.”
“Like I was going to leave her and Kai in that house,” Miles says with a hint of irritation.
