Page 71 of Here and Now
“No, but I also know that if it was between a tree falling on me or having to spend time in a house with you, I’d take my chances with the tree.” Lachlan elbows him, and then the two of them start to do that weird guy tackle thing. After a few seconds, Miles releases him and Lachlan comes back toward me. “I just wanted to make sure. I know Justin can’t get out there today; he’s been helping us clear branches that fell on power lines.”
“Hopefully he can get to the tree before it falls. Otherwise, it looks like I’ll be moving.”
“We’ll get it taken care of,” Miles promises.
“Are we planning to practice or what?” Everett yells.
Lachlan flips him off, and then a water bottle hits him in the back. “I’m going to kill him,” Lachlan warns.
Oh, this is going to escalate. Sure enough, Lachlan runs after Everett, and Miles sighs. “Go hang with the girls. I need to handle the children.”
Laughing at their antics, I head over to where Ainsley and Hazel are hanging out. “Hey, guys.”
“Fancy seeing you here,” Ainsley says with a grin. “Do you have power yet?”
“No, you guys?” I ask them both.
“Not yet,” Hazel says.
“Ours came on literally as we were walking out the door to come here. Hopefully more people will be online soon.”
Hazel drops her head back, fanning herself with her hand. “It’s so damn hot. I can’t do another night in that apartment.”
“Come stay with us,” Ainsley offers.
“I might take you up on that,” Hazel says.
“Good.” Ainsley turns to me. “You’re also always welcome to stay with us. Rose loves Kai, and I’m sure they’d have a great time hanging out.”
Sometimes it feels like a bizarre world I’ve stepped into here. People are just sonice. They offer to help anyone in need, and it’s really amazing. It’s just not the normal I’m used to, which is a sad thing in and of itself.
We should strive to be more like the people in this town. I think the world would be a better place, that’s for sure.
“Thank you. It means a lot to me.”
Hazel smiles. “She’s staying with Miles.”
“I figured as much,” Ainsley says and then waggles her brows.
“It’s not like that,” I say.
I mean, it’s not. We’re not sleeping together. Sure, we kissed and it was the most extraordinary and fantastic kiss of my life, but that’s just because it’s been so long for me.
Years since I’ve felt like this for a guy at all. Years since I’ve even considered letting a man touch me.
That’s the only reason.
The only reason, my ass,my brain chimes in.
“Why?” Ainsley asks.
“Why what?”
“Why isn’t it like that? Miles is a great guy. We all love him. He’s got a great job, loves his family. I mean, look, he canceled a trip to Michigan that he paid a lot of money for just to coach his nephew’s team. He’s a former marine and has a good head on his shoulders. I don’t know, it seems like green flags everywhere I look.” Ainsley sits back in her lawn chair after making my head spin.
I know all of this about him. I tell myself his list of attributes on a daily basis and then have to remind myself that it’s not really abouthim.
It’s about me and Kai.
