Page 13 of Tender
“Christ,” Emmett breathed out. He slowly withdrew his hand and placed it on his lap before meeting Miles’s gaze again. “Can we start over?”
Say no, his mind screamed. Say no. Say you need to leave. Make up a lie and tell them you’re late for something. They won’t call you out on it. Not after this.
But the words wouldn’t come. For some reason, he felt almost compelled to do whatever Emmett was asking him. He found himself nodding. Licking his lips. Smiling.
“Yeah.” His voice felt a little rough in the back of his throat, and his only saving grace was that he couldn’t really hear it. “We can start over.”
Emmett smiled and warmth bloomed to life in Miles’s chest because dear god, the grin was so sincere. “Why don’t you tell us about yourself? You said you’re getting a degree in ancient history? That sounds like a difficult program.”
Was he really expected to answer that? After everything that had just gone down. The silence was still ringing as loud as a goddamn church bell around the table. But Emmett was smiling, and Cosimo’s attention had zeroed in on him completely.
He took a calming breath, then looked between both men before answering.“Yes. I’m a Ph.D. student,” he said. “I’m almost done. I defend my dissertation in November.”
Selene scoffed. “Pointless fucking bullshit degree.” Then she went back to her phone.
Emmett looked at her, and there was something in his eyes, something almost…crushed. The disappointment in her was tangible.“Go on,” he said.
Miles laughed tiredly and shrugged.“There’s not a whole lot else to tell.I’m working on my last chapters now, and I’m teaching a couple of online classes this summer…”
“Seriously?” Cosimo asked, his tone flat.
Miles hunched into himself.“I know I don’t seem, um, that smart, but?—”
“No,” he barked.“You seem incredibly smart.I just meant I’m surprised Selene is dating someone like you.”
Miles genuinely couldn’t tell if that was an insult toward him or her.“Well.Um.We met in a group for deaf kids.Not, like, deaf with a capital D, you know?”
Emmett laughed softly and squeezed his hand again.“We know the difference.”
Miles’s ears were burning.Why was he soawkward?“Right, sorry.Yeah.”
“What about your parents?” Emmett asked. “Are they coming down to see you graduate?”
Miles hadn’t realized Selene told her dads nothing about him at all. But he also wasn’t surprised. He caught her gaze and she shook her head, but he was done letting her bully him about who he was.
“I don’t have parents. I grew up in the foster system.Mostly in group homes, so I wasn’t able to learn sign or anything like that.I want to,” he added, feeling a tiny spark of shame in his gut, though he knew none of that was his fault.“I really wanted to, but I ended up needing German, Latin, and Attic Greek for my degree. Then I did two semesters of Italian because it made studying Dante’s writings a little easier, and I wouldn’t have to work with poorly done translations.”
Emmett whistled.“Impressive.”
Miles shrugged.“It’s not.There are way more accomplished people in my program, but I’m hoping it’s enough for me to get a job right after I graduate.”
“Where?” Cosimo asked, his tone almost like he was conducting a job interview.
Miles licked his lips nervously.“Um.Anywhere?”He laughed, feeling tense all over.“My friend just got hired on at the University of Rhode Island, so I might ask him for some contacts.I’m hoping I can stay on the East Coast.I don’t have any family, but I have friends here.”
Emmett and Cosimo looked at each other again, communicating silently before Emmett shifted in his chair to look at Miles properly.“Well, I think you’ve got a real shot at staying close.And I’ve had work with several Universities so I could probably call in some favors.”He tapped his chin thoughtfully.“Where are you living now?Campus housing, or?—”
“Selene asked me to move in with her,” Miles said slowly. “I’ve been there…a while.” He was a little afraid to tell them how long considering they didn’t even know about him.
“Oh my God,” Selene said against her dads’ sudden and profound silence, “shut the fuck up.That’s none of their business.”
Miles had a feeling the looks on Emmett and Cosmio’s faces didn’t have anything to do with them disapproving of their daughter living with him.
“And you two have been together how long?” Emmett asked.
Miles swallowed thickly, but he wasn’t about to lie to this man. He couldn’t. “Four years.”
Emmett’s eyes widened, then he cleared his throat.“I see.”He reached for his water and took a long drink.“Did you two drive separate today?”
