Page 73 of Paint Our Song

“What do you all want?” Miles pushes his chair back.

After they tell him their choices, Miles goes to the kitchen himself to punch in the order, giving the part-time student a look as he passes. To be fair, the student gets the hint immediately and puts his phone away.

“We went to a restaurant downtown,” Chase is telling Calvin when Miles heads back to the table.

Gil says, “There weren’t a lot of people, so it was a nice, quiet time.”

Miles almost quips,like a date,but he’s not so sure the two of them are even aware that they act like they’re dating sometimes. He doesn’t think even Calvin notices this about his friends, still.

After telling them all about the restaurant they went to, Chase and Gil both get into a strangely passionate debate about whether they should go to the falls again, or if they should rent a boat. While they’re arguing, a knee gently knocks against Miles’s and he turns his head to see Calvin smiling at him.

“Hey,” Calvin says, his voice soft.

Miles is pretty sure he’s never grinned wider before in his life. “Hey yourself. What are you up to today?”

“Either the falls or boating, apparently, but neither if I get my way,” Calvin says. “Sorry I missed you last night. My sister wouldn’t put the phone down, so I ordered room service.”

“That’s okay. So, she’s getting married?”

“Yes. She spent an hour telling me about wedding planning. It gave me a headache. I told her your inn holds weddings.”

“What did she say?”

“She’s interested. She’ll probably get in touch.” Calvin leans hisknee against Miles’s, and this is new. Boldly, Miles puts a hand under the table and rests it against Calvin’s leg, rubbing his thumb against the denim of his pants. It earns him a fond look, and Miles wonders why he ever worried that Calvin would pretend like yesterday didn’t happen.

Chase interrupts the moment, because of course he does. “Am I invited?”

“No,” Calvin says without even turning to him.

Unperturbed, Chase ignores him. “What are we doing today? Let’s put it to a vote.”

“You and Gil can spend the day together. You’re pretty exhausting to be around with.”

Gil bursts out laughing. “True.”

“I’m delightful,” Chase says, earning him a long look from Calvin. “So, what, Cal? You’re going to stay in your room all day?”

“Probably.”

“Boooring.” Rolling his eyes, Chase turns to Gil. “We can rent a boat and hike, then we both win.”

Gil nods. “Sounds good.”

While his friends are preoccupied, Calvin leans in close to Miles and murmurs in a way only he can hear, “I wanted to spend my day in my room with you.”

Oh.Miles restrains himself from jumping up right then and there and dragging Calvin away to get started on that.

“Miles,” Chase says. “What about you? Want to come with us?”

He schools his face as best as he can. “I’m busy today, too, actually. Sorry. I have something to do.”

“What, all of a sudden?”

“I can ask one of the staff to be your tour guide, if you’d like.”

“Nah. Show us around tomorrow, though.” Chase mumbles something under his breath about spoilsports and leans back in his chair.

Gil doesn’t look as disappointed as Chase. Smirking, he looks between Calvin and Miles. And, just like that, Miles knows that Gil’s definitely figured them out already.