Page 41 of Tender
“You didn’t,” Emmett said very quickly.“Sweetheart, in the middle of a storm in the house of two strangers who took you in when you had nowhere to go, you tried to save a man you thought was being abused.After you were emotionally mistreated by the woman you loved who was also their daughter.”
Miles closed his eyes in a slow blink.“That’s not on you.And if we’re being honest, I didn’t love her. I didn’t evenlike her very much.I just thought it was better to settle than to be alone.And seeing you two like this, it’s giving me hope that I can find someone who will take care of me the way I need.”
The couple exchanged a look, then Emmett said, “It’s getting late, and we’re all exhausted. Why don’t we show you to the guest room?”
Miles quickly shook his head.“No, listen. I know I disrupted your scene, but I don’t want to impose further.In fact, I’m going to ask a friend of mine if I can crash at his place so you two can get back to your lives.”He stood, but Emmett was at his side before he could take a step away.
“Mo and I do this sort of thing once a year for seven days.For that week, it's normally a twenty-four seven sort of deal.He uses his vacation time for it,” Emmett said quietly.“After the lunch with Selene, we both made the conscious and consensual choice to reschedule because we want you to be safe here.Tonight, we slipped.It won’t happen again.”
Miles swallowed heavily. He wasn’t ready to accept that. He wasn’t ready to let them sacrifice for him. He knew they’d fight if he tried to leave now—even to try and go back to the pool house. But there was a compromise. A decent one, if they were willing.
“What if…”He stopped, panicked because what if he was wrong about this?
“What is it?” Cosimo urged.
Miles closed his eyes and searched for the courage he rarely had.“What if I stay here, but you two…don’t put it on pause. Now that I know, I won't interfere. And I can be totally deaf, especially when I sleep, so I won’t hear anything at night.”
The silence in the room was almost more profound than the one he experienced when he took off his processors.It pressedon all sides of him, consuming him.Telling him that maybe he’d fucked up.
Emmett eventually cleared his throat.“Cosimo and I need to discuss that.We’ve never…not with someone else around.”
Miles wasn’t surprised to hear that.“I won’t be offended if you choose not to.And I’m also happy to leave because I understand how important this is to you.”
“I won’t break without it,” Cosimo told him.“It’s not like before.We’ve learned how to communicate better.We’re not at risk of splitting up because you’re here. Quite the opposite. So please know we want you to be in the house with us.”
Quite the opposite? What didthatmean? But he was too tired to dissect cryptic words. His brain was a hot mess, and he really did need some sleep.
Miles nodded, then glanced out the window hoping to see the rain had slowed, but it looked even worse than before.He took a deep breath, then said, “I’ll stay in the guest room.”
Both men looked relieved.
“Let me walk you to the bed,” Emmett told him. When Miles opened his mouth to protest, Emmett held up a hand. “I need this, okay? This shook me up, and I think I need just another moment to be sure that you and I are okay.”
“We’re okay,” Miles promised, but he didn’t argue when Emmett put a hand to the small of his back and began to walk him toward the room.
Miles made a show of taking off his processors while Emmett was still in the room so he’d understand that he and Cosimo would have total privacy to talk about everything.Emmettraised his hands like he wanted to sign, then shook his head and held his arms out.
Unused to being hugged, it took Miles far too long to realize what he was asking for.Emmett was patient though, and Miles eventually cracked, letting the taller man pull him in.He was strong, and warm, and he smelled so fucking good.He kept Miles wrapped up in a tight embrace until Miles began to sway, then he pulled back and pointed to the bed, a stern look on his face.
A warmth rushed through Miles, hot and a little tingly like tiny sparks were firing off in his veins.The feeling only got worse when he climbed beneath the covers, and Emmett gave him a look like he was proud of him.He leaned over and pulled the duvet high on Miles’s chest, then brushed his hair back.
“We’re really okay, right?” Emmett asked.
Miles read his lips, then nodded and leaned into the touch. “Yeah. Absolutely. And I’m really, really sorry for ever thinking you could do…that. To him,” he added. “Today was one of the best days of my life. Being with you was…” He stopped himself. He couldn’t confess this now, to a hurt, married man.
Emmett stared down at him for a long beat, then palmed his cheek. “You’re…special, Miles. I’m sorry…seen it enough…you. Tomorrow, let’s…a clean slate…okay?”
“Yeah,” Miles whispered. He missed a good chunk of what Emmett was saying, but with context, he was able to put it together and he felt better.
Leaning down, Emmett pressed a long, lingering kiss to his forehead. His lips were so warm, so perfect. Fuck. Miles was in so much trouble.
“Sleep well, sweetheart,” Emmett said when he pulled back.
The comfort was so nice, Miles wanted to cry.He licked his lips, then felt for his voice.“You too.”
Emmet nodded, then brushed his hair back one more time before turning and walking out.
Miles didn’t sleep much that night, but then again, he didn’t expect to.He kept his back to the door, eyes on the massive window as he watched the gale ravage the shoreline.He wasn’t sure he’d have the little pool house to wake up to come morning, but he was warm and comfortable.
