Page 46 of Messy Strokes (Wrecked Roommates)

But shy Milo? He’s a thing of beauty. And I’ve only seen him once when I caught him staring at me with his hands in his pockets after I complimented his clean kitchen the first time we hung out. Cutest. Reaction. Ever.

Yet here he is again.

I dig my fingers into my thighs to stop myself from ripping off his sunglasses so I can get a better view of his blush, knowing it won’t last long until he covers it with his usual cocky persona. But I don’t move.

He glances over at me, the same familiar smile turning my stomach into knots as he pulls into the parking lot. “Come on. Let’s get your number changed.” He motions to the red brick building in front of us, where a Verizon sign is glowing.

My brows pinch as I’m brought back from my drool fest. I’d been so distracted with our conversation, which, for once, didn’t involve yelling or pointing fingers, I hadn’t noticed where he was taking me.

“Milo, I’m with a different carrier,” I protest.

“Yeah. Well. Now, you’re on mine. I share a family plan with the guys. It’ll be cheaper if you just join it.”

Aaaand, there’s bossy Milo again.

“Milo––”

He turns off the ignition and climbs out of the driver’s side without waiting for my rebuttal.

Stubborn bastard.

I don’t bother to argue as I watch him grab Peanut from her car seat and open the company’s door with my baby cradled against his chest. It’s too picture-perfect, too normal, for me to break it with reality.

In a different world, I wouldn’t blink at joining his family plan.

In a different world, I wouldn’t balk at him taking care of me.

In a different world, we would’ve made it.Together.

And I’m too much of a coward to face reality today.

Nope.

Instead, I’m gonna soak up the imaginary world of Milo and Maddie sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G.

The one where we lived happily ever after.

Without Marty. Or Gibson. Or past mistakes.

Only us.

And our little Peanut.

Sounds pretty perfect to me.

* * *

“You didn’t haveto do this, you know,” I tell Milo, my shiny new iPhone in hand.

Slipping on his sunglasses, he mutters, “It came with the two-year contract.”

“Still.” The bright sun glares down on me, burning my retinas and making me squint as I smile at my own grumpy Prince Charming, who bought me something fancy a few minutes ago. “Thank you.”

With a low grunt, he buckles Penny into her car seat in the back of the car, and I slip into the passenger side, waiting for him to join me in the front. The car he bought because he found out he was going to be a father and wanted to be able to drive with her. The car feels like the tip of the iceberg regarding what he’d be willing to sacrifice for my baby girl. Hell, I’ve already seen it firsthand, and it makes me want to kiss him for it.

But kissing him would be a mistake. A huge, catastrophic, unerasable mistake that can never happen. Because no matter how sweet he’s being, it’s for Penny’s sake. Not mine.

Something I desperately need to remember.

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