Page 40 of The Game Plan

“Miles!”

I catch up to him in the vestibule of the ASC. He shoves open the door, and we’re hit by the icy cold blast of the night air.

“What?!”

“Um, what the hell was that?” I dodge in front of him and stand my ground. I won’t let him push past me. “What happened to ignoring him?”

He’s still breathing hard, his face now a dull pink. “I couldn’t…” He flounders. “I couldn’t let it go by. The shit he was saying… I had to let him know. It’s not right.”

“I don’t care about him. Nothing he says has any power over me.”

“It’s not right,” he repeats firmly. “I couldn’t just stand there and let him spew his bullshit. He needed to be put in his place.”

There are three feet between us. I cross the distance in two steps, tugging at the front of his hoodie.

“What?” His voice softens now. He swallows thickly.

I tug on his sweatshirt again. “You’re too tall.”

He towers over me, at least a foot taller. He bends his knees a little, and I pull him into range. My hand closes around the strong expanse of his shoulder.

His stubbly cheek is scratchy beneath my lips.

“Thank you. You didn’t have to, but I’m glad you did. Thank you.”

His hands settle tentatively on my hips. I slide my arm around him, bringing us chest to chest in a hug. We’re hugging. It takes him a second to react, and then he’s wrapping his arms around me. He tucks my head under his chin, one hand cupping the back of my head. He’s shaking. I tighten my grip on him.

“You’re okay,” I tell him quietly. “Everything will be okay.”

“I’m not that guy.” His voice breaks. “I don’t fight. I’m not that guy.”

“I know.”

“I couldn’t let him—” His voice hitches. “Icouldn’t.”

“I know, honey, I know.”

It takes a few minutes for his shaking to stop. I release him, taking a step back and adjusting the weight of my backpack over my shoulder. I don’t think he would hurt me. He’d die before he ever hurt me. The safest place in the world is for me to be by his side.

“Let’s go home,” I tell him quietly. I offer my hand and he takes it, squeezing. “It’s been a long day.”

Miles lets out a blustery sigh. “Yeah.”

We walk home in silence. His tight grip on my hand is an anchor to this world, grounding me. Grounding him, too.

Reaching my house, he tugs on my hand before I can climb the porch steps.

“Sam…”

My heart is in my throat.

“Yeah?”

He swallows thickly. “Thank you.” He darts down and kisses my cheek, his lips warm and soft against my skin. “For being you.”

I offer him a nervous smile. “There isn’t anyone else I’d rather be.”

Chapter fifteen

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