Page 13

thirteen

Penelope

A t Eloise’s insistence, Kai is spending the night at her house. I guess they are playing some game and then going to help with the horses. I was really uneasy about agreeing to it, but Kai pleaded so I ... let him have his first sleepover.

However, this now leads me to spending the night—alone—with Miles.

This is so bad.

All I can do is replay that kiss. I have never gotten so lost in someone before. All the thoughts and worries disappeared the second his lips were on mine. It was only him.

And I was really stupid to let it happen.

Staying in my room, though, feels like the coward’s way, so I’m going to go out there, not kiss him again, and stay focused on my rules ... no dating.

He’s in the living room watching television, and I take my spot on the couch.

“All right, now is when we really test our friendship,” Miles says, and dread pools in my stomach.

“Why is that?”

“Are you coming with me to the field or staying here?”

“The field?”

“I have practice tonight.”

“Oh! For your little Frisbee thing? ”

Miles pulls his head back. “Little Frisbee? Little? Woman, I am a member of the Disc Jocks and we are a championship-winning team.” He scoffs and throws his hands up. “Little Frisbee ... I’ll have you know we were kicked out of our league for being so good.”

Since I saw them play the other day, I had no idea they were good. I mean, they didn’t do all that great.

“That’s not at all hard to believe,” I tease.

“You’re thinking about the game you saw? Don’t take that as an indicator of our talent. We’re much better; we just had an off day.”

I fight back a smile. “I see. Eloise and Ainsley were saying that you guys are usually worse than that.”

“They lied. They wanted to make me look bad,” he explains and then gets to his feet. “I have to leave in about five. If you want to come, Ainsley and Rose will be there. Also I think Hazel is going as well, since her power is still out.”

Staying alone in his house seems a little weird for me. Plus, it would be nice to hang out with the girls. It’s not like I’ve had any of that in six years.

“I’d love to go.”

“All right, grab whatever you need and I’ll get you a camping chair.”

I’m not sure what I need, so I grab a sweatshirt, not that it’s remotely cool out, but you never know, and I meet Miles out front. He’s loading his truck and opens the door for me as I walk toward him. “Your chariot awaits.”

I hop up and smile. “Thank you.”

He winks and then closes the door, leaving me feeling like a sixteen-year-old girl who has her first crush.

I’m a mess.

I focus on my fingernails so I don’t stare as he walks around the truck. He gets in, he turns the music on, and we head to the field.

“It’s so strange because while the town is super small and not exactly a metropolis with lights everywhere, this feels so ... eerie,” I say after a minute or two of silence.

“I feel like Main Street is really where it’s different. The entire town feels desolate.”

I nod in agreement. “But the park lights are on? ”

“The park lights run off a generator, so we didn’t have to worry about that.”

“I see.”

“Listen, I need to tell you something. It’s very serious.”

“Oh?” I ask. “Of course you can tell me.”

He sounds so concerned I kind of am now.

“My friends, the guys on the team, are all suffering from a disease that the medical community is still trying to get under control.”

Well, now I’m not concerned. I cross my arms over my chest and shift to look at him as he drives. “Really? What disease is that?”

“Stupidity. I mean, we know some things about it, but there’s a lot the doctors are still trying to unearth.”

“I see, and do you also suffer with this affliction?” I ask, fighting back the urge to laugh.

“No, I was cured of this a long time ago.”

“Oh, but you had it once?”

Miles grins. “Depends on who you ask.”

“But you’re not sure?”

“I’m pretty sure I had a mild case, but it was easily treated.”

“With?” I ask.

“A kick in the ass from my gran.”

“I really want to meet her,” I say, not thinking about how that sounds.

Why would I want to meet her? We’re not dating. We’re definitely not going to date. We kissed once, it’s over, I’m just staying at the house one more night so that I can get the tree in the back taken down and not die in my sleep.

All things that don’t require the meeting of any family member.

Now, if Eloise wants to introduce me, that’s one thing. She’s ... not going around kissing me.

“I’m sure Gran will love you,” Miles says with a little swagger in his tone.

Great. He thinks it means something too.

“Does Eloise think your case of stupidity was cured?” I ask, bringing it back to the easy teasing we had going.

“Definitely not.”

We pull up to the field, and Miles grabs the chair and his bag from the back. When we get down from the parking area, the lights illuminate the field. All the guys are on the sideline stretching, and Everett is taping Killian’s ankle.

“Hey, hey, if it isn’t Miles and Penny. Let me guess, Romeo came and rescued you in the storm?” Everett asks.

“He did, actually.”

Lachlan walks toward us. “I heard about the tree in your yard, you’re staying somewhere safe, right?”

“I am.”

“Like I was going to leave her and Kai in that house,” Miles says with a hint of irritation.

“No, but I also know that if it was between a tree falling on me or having to spend time in a house with you, I’d take my chances with the tree.” Lachlan elbows him, and then the two of them start to do that weird guy tackle thing. After a few seconds, Miles releases him and Lachlan comes back toward me. “I just wanted to make sure. I know Justin can’t get out there today; he’s been helping us clear branches that fell on power lines.”

“Hopefully he can get to the tree before it falls. Otherwise, it looks like I’ll be moving.”

“We’ll get it taken care of,” Miles promises.

“Are we planning to practice or what?” Everett yells.

Lachlan flips him off, and then a water bottle hits him in the back. “I’m going to kill him,” Lachlan warns.

Oh, this is going to escalate. Sure enough, Lachlan runs after Everett, and Miles sighs. “Go hang with the girls. I need to handle the children.”

Laughing at their antics, I head over to where Ainsley and Hazel are hanging out. “Hey, guys.”

“Fancy seeing you here,” Ainsley says with a grin. “Do you have power yet?”

“No, you guys?” I ask them both.

“Not yet,” Hazel says.

“Ours came on literally as we were walking out the door to come here. Hopefully more people will be online soon.”

Hazel drops her head back, fanning herself with her hand. “It’s so damn hot. I can’t do another night in that apartment. ”

“Come stay with us,” Ainsley offers.

“I might take you up on that,” Hazel says.

“Good.” Ainsley turns to me. “You’re also always welcome to stay with us. Rose loves Kai, and I’m sure they’d have a great time hanging out.”

Sometimes it feels like a bizarre world I’ve stepped into here. People are just so nice . They offer to help anyone in need, and it’s really amazing. It’s just not the normal I’m used to, which is a sad thing in and of itself.

We should strive to be more like the people in this town. I think the world would be a better place, that’s for sure.

“Thank you. It means a lot to me.”

Hazel smiles. “She’s staying with Miles.”

“I figured as much,” Ainsley says and then waggles her brows.

“It’s not like that,” I say.

I mean, it’s not. We’re not sleeping together. Sure, we kissed and it was the most extraordinary and fantastic kiss of my life, but that’s just because it’s been so long for me.

Years since I’ve felt like this for a guy at all. Years since I’ve even considered letting a man touch me.

That’s the only reason.

The only reason, my ass, my brain chimes in.

“Why?” Ainsley asks.

“Why what?”

“Why isn’t it like that? Miles is a great guy. We all love him. He’s got a great job, loves his family. I mean, look, he canceled a trip to Michigan that he paid a lot of money for just to coach his nephew’s team. He’s a former marine and has a good head on his shoulders. I don’t know, it seems like green flags everywhere I look.” Ainsley sits back in her lawn chair after making my head spin.

I know all of this about him. I tell myself his list of attributes on a daily basis and then have to remind myself that it’s not really about him .

It’s about me and Kai.

I am protecting not only myself against being hurt, but him too.

They always find me and it’s not an if ... it’s a when .

When it happens, I’ll have to go.

I can’t.

My heart is racing and I feel sick just thinking about it.

“Penny?” Hazel calls my attention.

I turn to her, forcing a smile and pushing the panic that was rising back down. “No, I know he’s great. Truly I do. I think, for now, I just want to settle in more. Getting into a relationship isn’t really a good idea.”

Hazel nods once. “That makes sense.”

I’m glad it does to someone.

There’s a knot in my stomach, sinking lower with each breath I take, though. I know that men like Miles don’t come around often. There are far more assholes than good guys—at least it feels that way. I’m sad because I want Kai to have a father and for me to have someone to love and grow old with.

That fantasy has never faded.

I know that real love and happiness are possible. I’ve seen it with my brother, my friends who are in wonderful marriages, and Ainsley and Lachlan love each other beyond reason.

It’s just not in the cards for me.

I stare out at the field when the guys start yelling. Miles catches the Frisbee and then grins as our eyes meet.

If only my dreams never became nightmares, because I could’ve lived this one.

To my relief, not only was the power back on when we got back to Miles’s house, but Justin called letting me know he was in the area and went and cut down the tree for me before it was dark.

It doesn’t seem that Miles is too happy about this, but it’s honestly for the best.

“Let me drive you back at least,” he says, standing in the doorway of the room I put all my stuff in.

“I have my car.”

“Okay, then let me follow you back. What if Justin cut down the wrong tree?” I grab the heavy bag, tossing it over my shoulder. Before I can even take a step, Miles is there, taking it from me. “I’ll carry that for you.”

“You are making it really hard to resist you.”

He turns to me, his eyes feel like a caress. “That’s my goal. I’m an irresistible guy. However, that’s not why I’m going back to your house with you. I’m going because I want to make sure you’re safe.”

I sigh, my heart aching from the pull I feel towards him. “If it will really make you feel better, then you can follow me up to my house and make sure that your very capable friend—who you promised was great—didn’t cut down a different tree than the one that was struck by lightning that’s hanging over my bedroom roof.”

Then I realize I just invited him to my bedroom.

Miles takes a step to me, nodding slowly. “Good. That’s settled.”

Most of the debris has been cleared off the road, and my little crappy car makes it up without any issues. I look at the tree in the front and want to weep. The branch that offered me so much privacy is gone. It looks like he trimmed some of the other branches that were really close to the house.

Miles comes up behind me. “Good man for doing a little extra. I’m going to have to make sure his son gets an A in his math class.”

I snort a laugh. “You can do that?”

“No, but ... I can at least tell him I did. His son is a straight-A student, so it bodes well that’ll be the case anyway.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“And charming.”

“And that,” I agree.

“Look at that, you admitted it. Next thing you know you’ll be asking me out.”

“I wouldn’t count on that,” I joke and then we make our way to the front door. The lights in the foyer turn on, and he follows me through the little space out to the back. “Look at that, the right tree was removed.”

“I guess you’ll be safe here then.”

I smile, my hip resting on the countertop. “I guess I will.”

“You know, I might have other reasons why I wanted you to stay another night.”

I bet he did, and those reasons keep me up at night, dreaming about what it could be like if I gave in to it. Keeping up our playfulness, though, I raise one brow and grin. “Oh?”

“Not like that!” he says quickly. “There is a little of that, but it’s not what I meant.”

I chuckle. “Please explain then.”

“I need coffee.”

“Coffee?”

“Yes, you’ve created a monster, and I think it’s only fair you continue to feed that monster now with ground coffee beans that are cold brewed only.”

Playing along, I nod once. “I see, and you can’t get that at your house why?”

“Because I can’t make it like you do.”

“That’s sweet, but ... it’s not hard.”

“Yes, but you’re an expert.”

I sigh heavily. “What if I bring you coffee on my way to get Kai in the morning?”

“Not the same.”

“What?” I ask, laughing at the same time. “How is it different?”

“We’re not on the same well. Your water might be more acidic or have more lead in it. That’s something you should test.”

“Lead in the well water?” I ask to clarify.

“I’m just saying, it’s happened somewhere.”

“You’ll get some cold brew tomorrow, but for now, I need to do laundry, clean up, and enjoy having a house to myself for the first time in well—ever.”

Miles lets out a long breath and pushes off the wall. “All right. You have your night of freedom and I’ll go back home—alone—and think of coffee I won’t be getting.”

“You’ll survive,” I tell him.

“Remember that the next time a tree almost falls on your house and car.”

“You’d let that happen?” I challenge. Partially because while I’m pretty sure he’s joking, I don’t always trust myself.

“No, God no. I would never. Did you think I would?”

I shake my head quickly. “No. Of course not.”

Just for a second and I knew it was stupid .

He moves to me, his hands cupping my cheeks. “Anytime you need something, call me. Anytime. I’ll always show up for you.”

As though he can sense the storm that’s raging in my chest, he gives me a moment to let it sink in.

I thought I was a mess before, but it’s nothing compared to now. I’ve never had someone, other than Quinn, make me a promise like that, and I believe it.

He was so honest, so sincere, that I’m questioning everything.

Then, with the tenderness of how you’d handle a breakable doll, he slowly brings his lips to the tip of my nose before releasing me. “Always.”

Miles walks out the door, and I stand here, wishing I’d said something, but not sure what it would’ve been.