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He gives a low whistle and stares at me with wide eyes. “That’s like a marathon in relationship terms, right?”

“Oh you know, the typical high school sweethearts making it about three years and five months through college until he breaks up with me after Christmas break during our senior year.”

Miles urges the car forward as the light turns green. “Wait, didn’t you just graduate a few weeks ago?”

I nod. “Yep. Then my next relationship was all of three weeks and you saw how that one ended.”

“Dumpster fire. I get it. But I think we’re both better off without the two of them. Amber wanted to go to my friend Trey’s birthday bash instead of to The Riptide that night. I was planning to take her after dinner. Trey is a good guy, but his food palate is like a four-year-old.”

“Chicken nuggets, fries, and hot dogs?” I ask, thinking of one of the kids Millie nannies for. I helped her one day a few weeks ago and that was the rolling menu for the day.

Miles points at me and says, “Exactly. And then there’s the selection of alcohol that eats up his paycheck for one game. A guy needs real fuel before entering a place like that.”

“I thought hockey players don’t drink or anything during the season.”

“He doesn’t, but he always says he has to keep up his reputation as a great party thrower.” Miles pulls up to the curb and I’m trying to be patient since the entrance to the parking garage is another block ahead of us.

We’re almost directly across the street from where we’d met Sunday. My door opens by a guy in uniform and Miles walks around the car, handing the man the keys.

Miles reaches out and grabs my hand, causing my fingers to tingle and my heart to give a little jump at the fact I’m here at one of the nicest restaurants in town, dressed in clothes that both look fashionable and are comfy, and I didn’t get sweaty taking the T or walking after finding parking.

But we’re a few steps in when my body recognizes I’m wearing heels and homes in on that fact. My left heel gets caught in a crack in the sidewalk but I’m able to pull it free with a quick pull. It’s only then that the right ankle aborts the mission and I’ve got the ground in my sights. Just before I land, I feel strong arms around me.

“I told Evie I’m not trained in heels.” I glance around and we’re posed as if he’s dipping me in the middle of a dance.

“Maybe you should invest in some wedges. Height without the wobbly factor?” The smile on Miles’s face is soft, and a swarm of bees take flight in my stomach. Maybe this fake dating thing is a bad idea. In fact, a quick check of my heart tells me that I’m in trouble.

I laugh and shake my head. “How did you know that?”

He sighs and I can see the far off look in his eyes. “I too had a long relationship that ended in early winter. She was into everything fashion. And I heard a lot about it daily.”

He pulls me to a standing position, and I give him a smile. “Thanks for saving me. And I’m sorry about your girlfriend. Or ex.” She must be the one I’ve seen a hundred pictures of.

With a shoulder shrug, he says, “It’s over. We’ll survive, right?”

As an attendant opens the door to the restaurant, I breathe out, “I hope so.”

CHAPTER11

Miles

Sure, this was a gutsy move to bring Dani. But I already had to meet up with Oliver about backing a research project we want to start at the company and figured this would be a good time to test things out with her.

And getting to know her so far has been worthwhile. I’d meant what I said about feeling comfortable around her. I didn’t have to put on a certain expression or be uptight about things in her presence.

Something in her face gives off the vulnerability I feel ever since Tanya broke up with me. Maybe we’ll be able to help each other.

“Two for the Clark reservation,” I tell the hostess.

“I have you down for three,” she says, glancing up at me again.

I nod. “He should be here any minute.” With a quick glance around the lobby, I don’t see Oliver anywhere.

“Already here,” says a familiar voice from behind.

I turn to find Ollie’s smile stretched from ear to ear. “It’s good to see you again, friend.”

“You too,” he says after a back-slapping hug. We step back and his eyes go to Dani at my side.