Page 40

I’m not sure what I’m hoping to see, but I can’t stop the smile from lighting up my face when I see Miles with his fingers against his lips, touching where my mouth had been not too long before. I can still feel the ghost of his lips against mine, and I wonder if that’s what he’s feeling.

For the first time in a while, I’m hopeful for the future. We may not take the easiest route, and there will no doubt be a lot of fucking hurdles to get over, but I have a feeling the prize at the finish line will be more than worth it.

Fuck, why did I let Jake talk me into this?The words repeat in my head, as I pace in front of the mirror, not really taking in how I look. I’ve been obsessing over this coffee date for well over an hour now.

When Jake texted me to say that Miles would be joining us for coffee in the morning, I thought he was kidding, and when I realised he wasn’t, panic set in. The last time we were all in the same room together, Jake punched Miles. How can this be anything other than a horrible idea?

I’m worried Miles will spew his hateful words again, even though I’m very aware I deserve them after everything I put him through. But when he behaves like that, I struggle to see the boy he was before.

There’s also no denying that having coffee with both Miles and Jake will be incredibly confusing for me. Miles is the only guy I’ve ever truly loved, and I’ve never really gotten over him. But I can’t ignore that I like Jake too.

He’s wormed his way under my skin without me even realising, and I have no fucking clue what to do about it. WhileI’m undeniably attracted to him, when we’re together, there’s something missing, something holding me back.

When I learnt that Jake and Miles have a history together, I thought I’d be jealous, maybe even annoyed that Miles never said anything about it when I was with him, but I’m not—I’m intrigued.

Last night, I dreamt of the two men kissing in front of me, and it turned me on so much more than I ever thought it would. And now, I have to meet them both for coffee, hoping they don’t see all the dirty fantasies I’ve been thinking about written on my face.

We agreed to meet at a cafe near Caged, as I have work afterwards, so it’s more convenient. I keep spare work clothes in my locker, as well as my sensible shoes, so I didn’t need to take that into account when trying to decide what to wear. Although I’m only wearing a small heel, they’d kill my feet if I had to wear them for the whole shift.

What do you wear when you’re meeting the guy whose heart you once broke, and the man you’re currently seeing, for coffee?

I don’t think there’s a set outfit for that scenario, so I opt for a light purple sundress that shows off my curves a little more than my usual clothes. After a glance in the mirror, I quickly add a cardigan over the top, as I’m not brave enough to show off too much flesh. I hate drawing attention to myself, or my body.

I arrive at the cafe on time, and am shocked to find that Jake and Miles are already sat at a table in the corner. Jake is well known for being late for everything, so this must be a first.

I watch the two stupidly gorgeous men talking to each other, and for the briefest of moments, I consider turning around and running away. Before I get the chance, Jake sees me.

He stands and rushes over to greet me, his usual bright smile lighting up his face. He leans in and presses a sweet kiss to my cheek, before whispering in my ear. “You look beautiful.”

My cheeks flush as I mutter, “Thank you.”

Jake pulls back, but keeps his hand in mine. “Don’t be nervous. Miles has promised he’ll be on his best behaviour.”

At the mention of his name, I cast a glance over at Miles, and he no longer looks as relaxed as he did when it was just him and Jake. In fact, he’s glaring at where mine and Jake’s hands are clasped together.

I try to pull my hand free, but Jake just squeezes it tighter, as he drags me over to where Miles is sitting. It’s a small round table, and once I’ve taken a chair, Jake is on my right, and Miles is to my left.

“What can I get you to drink?” Jake asks. “We’ve just ordered, so I’ll quickly run and ask them to add yours to it.”

I shift uncomfortably, wincing as I say, “Are you sure? I can buy my own.”

Jake rolls his eyes. “Positive. What do you want?”

“Can I get a salted caramel latte with whipped cream, please?” I reel off the same coffee I have every time.

Jake nods and runs off to find our server, leaving me with Miles. I risk a glance at him, only to find him fighting to hold back a smile. “Your drink of choice hasn’t changed, then?”

“Never. I love whipped cream too much,” I joke.

Miles’ bright-blue eyes darken and his cheeks flush as he says, “I remember.”

My eyes widen and my own cheeks heat when I recall exactly what he’s referring to. I once licked whipped cream off his cock, before he covered me in it and returned the favour. Is he thinking about it too?

My heart is pounding so hard, I can hear the thuds echoing in my ears, and my core heats at the thought. I need to distract myself, to stop my thoughts from wandering any more than they already have.

I clear my throat, hoping my voice sounds normal as I say, “Thank you for agreeing to talk to me.”

Miles’ expression remains guarded, but he doesn’t appear to be as angry as he has been every other time I’ve tried to speak to him. “Jacob asked me to.” He says it like it’s just that simple—Jake asked, so he agreed.