Page 44 of Chasing Stars
“Yo, Caden, settle down,” Nate scolds, making an attempt to grab the little tornado’s arm. “Well, if you go too big or too expensive, you’re going to freak her out,” Nate reminds me. Caden buzzes around us again, and this time Nate is successful at gripping him around his torso and tossing him over his shoulder. He dissolves into a fit of giggles.
“I know. I figured a moderate size… If she gets mad, I could tell her it’s for selfish reasons. I want to watch TV at her house.” I purse my lips, weighing my options.
“You can get a thirty-two-inch TV for less than a hundred bucks now,” Nate points out. “That’s probably less than taking her to dinner. And probably the least likely to freak her out.” Caden squirms in his arms. “You got to decide quick though—this kid isn’t going to last much longer. Probably should have skipped the chocolate ice cream.” Nate hangs Caden upside down and swings him around, eliciting another loud giggle.
“Okay, let’s go thirty-two-inch,” I say definitively.
An hour later, I drop Nate and a sleeping Caden off at their house and drive straight to Jenna’s.I pull up to the curb and there is only one light on in the upstairs bedroom. My plan is to drop the TV on the porch and then text her, telling her to get the surprise I left for her. It’s the perfect plan, but as soon as I’m walking up the front steps, the front door swings open.
“Miles?” Jenna furrows her brow, clearly surprised to see me. “What are you doing here? What’s that?”
“I, uh…bought you a new TV.” I lift it higher so she can see what is already obvious.
“Huh.” Jenna clicks her tongue. “And just why did you do that?” She puts her hands on her hips. “I thought I told you I don’t need a TV right now.”
I scoff. “Please. This is for me. I need to be able to watch TV when I’m over here,” I say matter-of-factly.
“Is that so?” Jenna huffs, an almost hopeful glint in her eyes. “Well, I guess that’s fine then.” She bites back a smile.
I sigh with relief. If she got mad at me, I’d have to drive all the way back to the store. Then I would have had to figure out how to make her un-mad at me. I move to put the box down on the porch when Jenna says, “Are you going to just leave it here forme to deal with or are you at least going to set it up?” She pulls the door open further and walks inside.
I chuckle. “You drive a hard bargain, lady,” I call after her, catching the door with my hip.
The TV from the nineties only needs to be unplugged, but it is insanely dusty and surprisingly heavy. I almost call one of my buddies over to help me move it, but Jenna and I manage to do it together—solidifying her sexiness in my mind—and get it out to the curb.I love a strong woman.
“I can’t believe we watched TV on that thing,” Jenna mutters, dusting her hands off, as we walk inside.
I laugh, kneeling to unbox the new flat screen. “I know. Prepare for your mind to be blown.”
In ten minutes, I have everything hooked up. Jenna plops on the old tweed sofa with the remote. I’m standing awkwardly, preparing to leave, when she looks up at me, a coy smile on her lips. “Don’t you want to stay and watch a movie?”
Do I ever.I grin. “I wish I could…but I have early meetings. I should probably get home.” I already regret declining her invitation, but I know I’m in too deep. If I stay with her tonight, I’m never going to leave again. I’m already becoming too attached to her, and if she still plans to leave—and she hasn’t said otherwise—I’m the one who will be hurt here. I really need to tell her how I feel.
Jenna juts out her lower lip. “Boo,” she whines.
“Don’t you have work tomorrow anyway?” I ask.
“I do,” she sighs. “Okay, fine. Another night.” She stands up to walk me to the door and when we’re there, she catches my wrist. “Thank you, Miles,” she says, reaching up to peck me on the lips. “For everything.”
My smile widens unconsciously. She’s not mad at me. I actually made her happy. Maybe she does want a white knight.I know Jenna could go buy herself a TV. But she hasn’t yet, so Iwanted to do it for her. I want to show her that I’m thinking of her and even if she doesn’t need my help, I want to give it. I want to take care of her.“Don’t mention it.” I tip her chin up and kiss her goodnight again. “I’ll be by tomorrow after work with some couple’s costume ideas,” I say, a slow smile sweeping across my face.
“Oh,really?” she teases, “I’ll look forward to it.”
“Bye,” I say, pulling the door closed behind me.
I am out of my depth and it’s scarier than the wave that took me out the other day. I know I’ve been out of the game for a while but…I think I’m falling for Jenna.
23
JENNA
“Well, I didn’t have Miles Corbin buying a girl a TV on my Bingo card for this year, but what the hell do I know?” Joy quips.
Leo barges out of the supply room. “Hold up. Miles bought you a TV?” He raises his eyebrows and shakes his head in disbelief. “Dude’s whipped.”
I frown. “Stop it. No, he’s not.” I fold my arms across my chest. “I’m still leaving anyway,” I say, more to convince myself than my well-meaning but disbelieving coworkers. “This thing,” I wave my hands around for lack of description, “is nothing more than a little fling.”
Joy gives me a pointed look. “Like I have been saying, that’s all Miles is known for. So as long as you know that and you’re okay with it, then great. Might as well enjoy yourself while you’re here.”
