He went through my phone. And held me down for Sawyer. I glare at him and yank open the fridge. Which is nothing compared to what Sawyer has done, but I’m still pissed.
“Good morning to you, too.” Miles throws me a smile.
He looks like he’s forgotten the past few days. I slam the fridge. “Don’t you guys have something less healthy? Like cereal?”
He nods at a cabinet. “Top on the left, sunshine.”
“Don’t call me that,” I mutter. He brought Halloweiner. That has to count for something.
“Okay, someone needs an attitude check.” Miles stands. “Pump the breaks on the food.”
“I’m hungry.” I pour a bowl of Fruit Loops.
“You can eat after.” Miles stalks up, looking me up and down. “Get your shoes on.”
“For what?” I snap.
Miles snaps his hand out and grabs my arm faster than I can track. “We’re going on a run.” He starts towing me behind him.
“Let me go!” I try to tug away. His grip is gentle but firm.
“No. You’ve pouted long enough.” Miles tows me into his room where my shoes are. He waits for me to put them on, one brow raising when I hesitate.
A thrill goes through me at the dark look he throws me. He says calmly, “If you want to find out, keep fucking around.”
“I’m not—“ but I put my shoes on. Before I can do anything else, Miles snatches me back up again and hauls me out of the room and then out of the house.
The sunshine is bright, and I blink and put my arm up to shade it.
“Let’s go.” Miles starts jogging slowly down the driveway, dragging me with him.
“I don’t want to run!” I yank my arm away. The last time he took me on a run, I about died. My legs turned to jelly, and I’m still a little sore.
“Too bad.” Miles tosses the words over his shoulder.
I glance around. No one else is around.
“I think you know what’ll happen if you run from me, Cali.”
I slowly start jogging toward him, grumbling, “You said a run. You didn’t say it had to be with you.”
“Pick up the pace, princess. I know you can go faster than that.”
I go a little faster, the gravel crunching under my shoes. The morning sunshine is bright on the fields, the sky gray-blue, and the air crisp. Once I go fast enough for his liking, Miles shuts up. It’s just the sounds of our feet and the birds. And my heaving for breath.
It feels like death – just like last time. Before long, I taste blood. Miles keeps us going for longer than I think I can make, and then finally, he stops.
I bend over, gasping for breath. The man isn’t even breathing hard. Fucking god of fitness over here.
“You did good, sunshine.”
Miles’ cheery tone makes me hate him even more. I flip him off, and he chuckles.
“We’ll walk back. Keep moving. It’ll help you catch your breath.”
I don’t even have the energy to argue. We walk in silence for a while. Finally, I catch my breath, and for half a second, I feel good. The fresh air feels amazing, and I feel freer not being trapped in that house.
Not that I’d tell him that.