Page 32 of Catch
The problem was, in a few weeks, I’d be back in Nashville, ready to face whatever chaos this break had been sowing. He’dstay here, surrounded by his family and friends, living his life the way he was meant to before he met me.
It was foolish to let myself get too attached. I couldn’t risk missing him when I left.
But deep down, I knew it was already too late.
Chapter Seventeen
MILES
Catfish salad would not be goingon my top ten list of favorite meals, but I was impressed with the way Lox made something out of nothing. After we ate, we quietly went our separate ways for the rest of the night. I thought about teasing her some more, but the more I did, the more I wanted her.
Apparently, my shower session didn’t fix anything for me. In fact, it may have made it worse because now not only did I want to hear her again, but I wanted to see what she looked like when she came.
I got up early on my day off knowing it was my day to mow Mom and Dad’s yard. It wouldn't be too much longer before mowing every three weeks wouldn’t be my responsibility. It made me smile, to know Easton would be turning the old house into something beautiful. But it also meant there would be less time getting to talk to my parents alone, connecting with them the only way I knew how.
All the tools I needed were in the shed at Mom and Dad’s, so there wasn’t really anything to do other than get dressed. I walked past Loxley’s room on my way out, pausing for a minute, wondering how she was going to spend her day. I shouldn’t havecared, but I did, and it was almost embarrassing how much I was going to miss her.
Without giving it too much thought, I knocked on her door. She opened it after a minute, leaning her head against the door frame. Her hair was a mess, and she was wearing one of my t-shirts, which made me smile before I even said a word.
She smiled back, eyeing my jeans, plain white T-shirt, and boots. I had an Atlanta Kings baseball hat on, and I tipped the bill at her before adjusting my feet nervously.
“Wanna go with me?” I asked, without much context.
“Where?”
“Mom and Dad’s. There’s a huge oak tree with lots of shade and it feels so good outside today. We can pack a lunch and take the guitar. I thought it might be nice to get out of the house for a while. You know, without stealing a vehicle.”
“Haha,” she deadpanned, but then nodded. “I’d like that, but I don’t think I’m ready to meet the parents, Miles.”
“Would you trust me if I promised everything would be okay?”
She was giving that a lot of thought, considering whether it was a good idea or not, but she eventually nodded, choosing to trust me. “Give me 15 minutes to get dressed.”
As she pushed the door closed, I put my foot in it, stopping her from shutting it all the way. “Peanut butter and jelly? Or turkey and cheese?”
“Peanut butter and jelly,” she laughed, like that was a no brainer then closed the door all the way.
By the time I had some sandwiches in a cooler, with some drinks and snacks to last all day, Lox was coming into the kitchen. She was dressed in jean shorts and an Atlanta Kings sweater. Her hair had been pulled back into a ponytail and she reached for one of my hats off the hook near the door, securing it on top of her new hair color.
“Ready?”
“I’m ready. I just need to grab the guitar.”
Once we were on the main road, we turned the music up on The Highway XM and listened toWhat Kinda Man.
“You know,” Loxley shouted over the music. “This guy once asked me out after an award show.”
“You trying to make me jealous, Lox?” I teased her a little, making her shake her head with a laugh.
“He isn’t half the man you are.” She shoved my shoulder and then added, “Although I bet he has better tile work than you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. She wasn’t shying away from what happened and I loved it. If anything, she was taking what happened with the tile and using it to tease me the way I always did with her. She was good at it too, because I felt a flutter in my stomach, and I licked my lips and responded.
“My oldest brother is the one that had the tile done,” I laughed. “I’ll have to ask him who he used so he doesn’t make that same mistake again.”
“Your brother?” She shouted. “Is he a builder or something?”
“Sorta,” I shrugged. “He owns the house I live in. Do you think a small-town cop still working patrol can afford a place like that?”
