Page 8 of Here and Now
The first time we met I thought he was cute, but when he came into the coffee shop, I saw he was really attractive. I was a little worried I’d see him again and find him even better looking, but we haven’t run into each other—until now.
And yes, he is now past attractive and straight into being hot.
I remember he said something about laces, and I shake my head with a smile. “I planned to fix them. I was just trying to ... remember how.”
His deep, throaty laugh goes straight to my chest.
In the last six years, I haven’t found anyone attractive. I thought something broke inside me. My ex loved to accuse me of looking at other guys and raging at me for it. Since him, I’ve spent my life on the run, trying to escape my past and not looking for a man to fill my broken heart.
Which is exactly how it should stay.
Miles winks at me and turns to Kai. “Do you skate often?”
Kai shakes his head. “I’ve never skated before!”
“Never?”
He looks to me, a cheeky grin on his handsome face as he caught me in a lie.
“We skated once,” I say, trying to salvage this horrible encounter.
Miles squats beside me. “Do you mind if I help you, Kai?”
Kai shakes his head. “My mom really doesn’t know what to do. She had to watch videos at home to see what we needed.”
Great, outed by a six-year-old.
“Justtwovideos.”
Miles chuckles. “Well, there are a lot of good ones.”
“Clearly not about skates,” I admit.
Miles walks me through step by step, fixing Kai’s lacesand showing where to make sure it’s tight before moving to the next foot. I pay close attention to the lesson and do everything I can not to watchhim.
He doesn’t look like any school principal I’ve ever known. He’s tall, with brown hair just poking out the back of his hat. What is it about a man and hats? Some can really pull them off, and he definitely does.
Staring at him, cataloging his features, is a really bad idea. I donotneed to find things that are attractive on him.
All that does is lead to stupid decisions.
So, yeah, I have not found men attractive since my ex.
Until now.
I wish I could explain what makes him different, but there’s this ease around him, as though he will protect anyone around him.
“Do the skates feel tight?” Miles asks my son.
“Yup!”
“Good.”
Another boy runs over and stands beside Miles. “I didn’t get to say it before, but I’m Coach Miles, and this guy here is my nephew, Ethan.”
“Hi, Ethan, I’m Kai,” my son says excitedly.
“Hey! Uncle Miles, are you ready now?” Ethan asks Miles.
