Page 22 of Tender
Emmett rubbed the back of his neck nervously, then headed down the stairs, fumbling with a set of keys.“We don’t use this very often.We got this place when Selene was in high school.We figured she’d bring friends around, but…”He stopped and turned, his face a little pink in the patio light.“Sorry.You probably don’t want to talk about her.”
Miles’s shoulders hunched.“No, but…I mean.She’s your daughter.I get it.”
Emmett looked like he didn’t want to agree but had no choice.He nodded once, a little sternly, then turned and opened the door.
The inside was what Miles expected—sort of a beachy theme with a lot of pastel cushions and paintings on the walls.It was cozy though, and warm.The air was a little stale, but it was fragrant—something like lavender which was immediately calming.
The room had a sofa, a papasan chair, and in the corner, a twin bed with a thick duvet and more pillows than Miles had ever seen in one room.
“Yeah, so…”Emmett shrugged, turning so Miles could see his lips.“Bathroom’s through that door.Tub and shower, so if you want a soak, go for it.Cosimo’s kind of a slut for Lush, so if you want a bath bomb or something, just come up to the house for one.”
Miles couldn’t imagine asking Cosimo for anything let alone one of his bath bombs, as nice as that sounded.He hadn’t had the ability to pamper himself in a long time, and while he was terrified of crossing some invisible line he didn’t know was there, a long soak and a good cry sounded cathartic.
“And food,” Emmett said, loudly enough to make Miles jump.He slapped a hand over his mouth, then circled his fist over his heart which Miles knew meant, ‘Sorry.’
Miles waved him off.“I think I’m a little on edge.”
“Yeah.I don’t blame you.Fuck, I know I keep saying sorry, but…”Instead of leaving, Emmett walked over to the sofa and flopped down, rubbing both hands down his face and took a breath before muttering something.
Miles hated asking people to repeat themselves, but he knew Emmett would understand. “Can you ah…can you look up? Sorry, I know it’s?—”
Emmett’s head snapped up and his cheeks were pink. “Don’t apologize. I’m fucking up left and right.” He cleared his throat, then said,“If we’d known she was going to introduce us tothe boyfriend she moved into her apartment, we would have cancelled the lunch today.”
Miles’s eyes went wide.“Why?”
“To spare you,” Emmett said.“We knew about Jake. I would have ripped Selene a new one and forced her to make sure you were secure before telling you that she was, well, doing what she was doing.We wouldn’t have let it happen like this.”
Miles gave a tired shrug. He wanted to care. He knew he probably should care. He should be heartbroken—or something like it. But all he felt was numb.“It is what it is, and it’s not really your job to make her be kind.And not to sound like I don’t give a shit, but I’ve been through worse.”
Emmett’s eyes were soft.“That’s not a reason to accept what she did, Miles.I know we don’t know you that well, but you seem like a really good guy.”
He couldn’t help but laugh.“Yeah.You seem like a good guy too which is why I can’t wrap my head around how she turned out the way she did.And I know it’s not the money.I was friends with plenty of spoiled rich kids who never had to fend for themselves, and they were never like her.”
Emmett let out a small puff of air, then looked up at Miles.“May I ask you something that might sound a little…insensitive?”
Miles couldn’t help a small smile.“You want to know why I was with her.”
Emmett looked chastened, but he nodded.“Yeah.I mean, we love her because she’s our daughter, and we’re morally obligated to.But you seem like a smart man, Miles.A good man.You’re incredibly gorgeous, and I generally have a decent sense for people, so I don’t think I’m off base when I say I also think you’re very kind and deserve someone much better than she is.”
Miles flushed from his toes to the tips of his ears.He’d been complimented before.He’d been in short-lived relationships with men and women who took the time to tell him they liked his company, or they found him hot.
But something about the way Emmett said it felt…different.
He swallowed heavily.“I think I’m some of those things.But I can also be messy.I have abandonment issues that therapy was able to soften but not really heal.I’m afraid a lot.I’m deaf, but I don’t know where I fit in because I was never allowed to be part of any community, and it makes being with me frustrating for some people.My relationships never lasted, and I was tired of being alone.It was nice to have someone want me around for more than a few months.I guess I just don't understand whyshekeptmearound for so long.”
Emmett climbed to his feet and crossed over, taking Miles by the shoulders.“You have time to figure yourself out.You know that, right?You don’t have to settle for someone who treats you like shit just to stop yourself from being alone.”
He wanted to laugh, to tell Emmett that was easy for him to say.He had money, a gorgeous husband, and a life that Miles would kill for and would likely never have.He’d be a guest for a little while—a visitor.Then he’d go back to his sorry existence, and he’d just be a story Emmett and Cosimo told their friends.
He kept all that to himself instead and took a step back.“I plan to make better choices in the future.”
Emmett’s mouth worked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t.He walked around Miles and opened the door to a small wall cupboard.“Snacks and a mini fridge with drinks.There’s booze if you want it.But we’d like you to come up to the house for dinner tomorrow if you want.”
He wanted to say no to that, but he knew better.“I’ll be there.What time?”
Emmett stared a long moment before answering.“Seven-thirty.Text me if you have any allergies.I’m going to cook a feast.”
Before Miles could tell him that he’d be lucky to keep down a couple tablespoons worth of food for the next few days, the man was gone.Silence fell, pressing around him, and he decided to lean in. He took his processors off and set them on the counter, then let himself feel his profound deafness.It was a comfort in that moment, and he closed his eyes, sinking into a dark void.
