Page 70 of Deception & Daylight
Ivy snorts. “Given the present company, I won’t ask you to elaborate on that, but I want details later,” she says with a bemused expression. “Did anybody not finish the book?”
Olivia shifts uncomfortably. “Yeah. Uh. It was a bit much for me,” she admits, twisting the hem of her shirt.
“I agree. It was a lot of dick, if I’m honest,” Mo adds, ruffling the green half of their split dyed hair. “I barely know what to do with one, let alone three.”
Nana Sofia opens her mouth to speak but thinks better of it when she catches Paige’s eye. Paige looks horrified by the insinuation and I’m just thrilled the attention has shifted away from me. “Oh, don’t you look at me like that. I might be old, but I’ve got a good fifty years of sexual exploration under my belt, poodle. Ever heard of a key party?”
“Oh my god!” Paige shrieks. Nana winks at me, and I can’t help the bark of laughter that escapes. Fuck, I’m gonna miss this when I leave.
The discussion shifts to the meager love triangle subplot, and the consensus is to select something a little more plot focused for the next book. The meeting winds down, and we break off into groups. I find Callie at the snack table, filling a plate with chocolate desserts. “Who makes these? They’re like crack,” she says, shoving a chocolate truffle into her mouth.
“That would be Olivia. She’s a magician with baked goods.”
“So. Miles Barlow on the stairs…”
“With a giant dick? Yep.” I quip, giving my answer like it’s a game of clue and I just got dicked down by colonel mustard in the library with a candlestick or something. “Honestly, I’m not entirely sure how we managed it.”
“You go, girl,” she says, licking the chocolate off her thumb, making no attempt to hide her interest. “He’s a lucky man.”
Before I can respond, her phone rings and she excuses herself outside to accept the call.
“Now who’s got the good dick glow?” Ivy says, echoing my sentiment from last year when she and Luca got together. “Happiness looks good on you, Mags. You seem lighter.”
My instinct is to deny her observation, but that would be an outright lie. Iamhappy, I’m just scared of the implications. What does it say about me that I want to run at the first sign of permanence? The truth is, I don’t know what home really feels like. I’ve never had a family outside of the man who pawned me off on nannies, and the best friend I forced myself upon in college. Nobody has ever made me feel like staying until now, and that thought is utterly terrifying.
“I knowthat look. It’s the same one I saw in the mirror before I fled to Colorado. You’re getting in the way of your own happiness. And for what? Is it because you’re scared to love? Or are you scared to let yourselfbeloved?”
I take a step back as her harsh words hit their mark. “Don’t sugarcoat it, Ivy. Tell me how you really feel.”
“It’s not about howIfeel, hun. That man would burn the world down for you just to build it right back up if you let him.”
“And you think I should let him?”
“That’s not for me to say. I know you have your own history that nobody else is privy to. You have to decide if it’s worth letting that go so you can be happy. My advice? Put him out of his misery, Mags. He’s been pining after you for years.”
I scoff at that, knowing he couldn’t possibly be pining whenhe’sthe one who leftme. But the incredulity is short-lived as reality sets in — I alreadyhavelet it go. Our past no longer haunts me like it once did, despite the fact that I still have unanswered questions. None of it matters now, because when push came to shove and I needed a lifeline, Miles was there. And he’s been there every day since, slowly piecing me back together. It doesn’t matter what came before, because I’m falling in love with Miles Barlow.
Chapter 29
Mags
? Lady May - Tyler Childers
While I work on my final copy edits, legs draped over Miles’ lap on his oversized sectional, my phone chimes with a text. Flipping it over, I find an awaiting message from Paige.
Paige: Movie night at the cabin?
Mags: I’m in. Do I need to bring anything?
Paige: Your boyfriend. Consider it a double date.
Mags: Fake boyfriend. No thanks.
I’ve been staying with Miles for the better part of a week now, and we have yet to define our relationship. Lucy hasn’t asked me to check out of myroom, but she knows I’m not staying at the inn anymore. I’m a feminist through and through, but I’m deferring to Miles on matters regarding the status of our arrangement. This wasn’t supposed to escalate to something like a real relationship, but I’m finding it difficult to compartmentalize what we’ve been doing from what a real partnership looks like. If I’m being completely honest, I no longer feel the itch to run, but I’m still waiting for a concrete reason to stay.
As my phone vibrates in my hand, Miles’ phone chimes on the coffee table.
Miles has been added to the chat.
