Page 10 of Tender
He felt uneven, and a little dizzy as he adjusted to hearing only on one side, but he’d regained his equilibrium by the time they made it down to the first floor of the parking garage.
Miles thought about Oliver as he glanced back at his building.He'd been like a big brother to Miles—only a few years older, but he’d been through a lot worse than Miles had.His wisdom was sage and it kept Miles from falling apart even after Oliver had been selected by a family and taken away from their little group home.
And now Oliver had a home like this. The only difference was—it was his. His and Victor’s sure, but he still worked for what he got, and he was loved and adored by Victor more than Selene could ever hope to.
She barely evenlikedMiles these days.
Oliver was living the life Miles once dreamed of having.He was a Doctor of History, he had a job in a university, and he was married to a man who was absolutely and completely obsessed with him.
The wedding had been gorgeous.Miles felt like he was going to choke on his envy if he wasn’t careful, but he couldn’t be bitter.Oliver deserved all his happiness, and Miles could only hope that whatever he had with Selene would end up deeper than what they had now.
He was no stranger to hope.
And no stranger to it also being crushed.
The restaurant was fancy, something Miles was also becoming used to after dating Selene for so long.It was on the water with several stairs ascending to the dining room.Itwas valet only, so he handed off the keys, grateful in that moment that he’d sold his ugly little beater so he didn’t have to embarrass his girlfriend.
He kept close to her as they headed for the doors, but Selene’s attention was focused on her phone.That was happening a little more often these days, but every time he tried to figure out what was going on, she brushed him off.
“It’s nothing,” she’d say and roll her eyes.Then she’d go out with her “girls” and swagger home sometime after noon the next day.
He knew he’d need to make a choice for the relationship eventually. He needed to lean in or step out because he couldn’t keep living like this.
And he would.
Once grad school was done kicking his ass and he secured a job that would allow him to feel more independent of his current situation.If he pissed her off enough right now—or if she got tired of him—she would simply tell him to leave. And he would be screwed.
And while he knew a few people who’d let him couch-surf, he was tired of living on the grace of others.
“Watch your step,” he warned her as they approached the staircase, and she still hadn’t looked up.
She murmured something that he missed since she was walking on his deaf side, but she did throw her phone into her bag and grab the railing as they followed the hostess, who had been waiting for them, toward the dining floor.Miles was grateful for the low noise when they reached the landing, but he figured Selene’s parents were used to being careful where they took her.
There was just a soft murmur of conversation, and maybe some music, but he wasn’t sure if that’s what he was hearing.The room was vast though, and the tables farapart.The massive floor to ceiling windows were open to let in the breeze off the water which held just the barest heat of impending summer.
The air was briny and it made him want to hit the beach, pull off his shoes, and dig his toes into the sand.
“There they are,” Selene said, tapping his arm.
Miles followed her gaze across the room to a pair of men sitting at a table in a stream of sunlight.They were everything and nothing like Miles imagined they’d be in real life. They looked exactly like the photos she had showed him, but also…different.
Both men were taller than him, and it was obvious neither one of them skipped arm or leg day at the gym.They were dressed casually like they’d just stepped off a yacht, and the shorter one with the lighter hair—Emmett—was smiling.
“Hey, sweetie,” he said. His voice was higher pitched and very raspy, like he was coming off a cold.
Selene scoffed and allowed him to kiss her cheek, but she brushed off the hug he tried to give her.“God, stop calling me that. It’s so gross.”
Emmett shrugged, then looked over and did a double take at Miles.The moment stood still, like the earth stopped turning.Then Emmett cleared his throat.“This isn’t Jake.”
Selene’s eyes widened, slightly panicked. Then the expression fell away and she shrugged.“No.Jake’s my personal trainer.This is Miles.My boyfriend.”
Miles’s gut churned with unease as he watched Emmett and Cosimo exchange a look.Cosimo stood a few feet away, thick arms crossed over his chest.His long sleeves were rolled up, bearing thick, dark arm hair which matched the shade on his head.His eyes were narrow, and Miles got the impression the man didn’t miss much—which was probably good since he was a surgeon.
Miles looked at Selene.“They know Jake?”
Hebarely knew Jake. He was just a name in her phone and an appointment she had a few days a week. But Christ, every insecurity he’d had about her life outside of him was threating to choke him to death right in that moment.
“Don’t worry about it,” she said flippantly, waving him off.
