“Wow, that’s not what I thought you were going to say.” I laugh. Miller doesn’t seem like the type.
“No one is more shocked than me.” Fields’ dry delivery shows he’s being sarcastic and there’s more to Miller than meets the eye.
“I’m a complex man, okay. Get used to it.” Miller shrugs.
“So, you planned dates and she changed her mind? What was the thing that finally tipped the scales?” I’m invested now. Maybe I could get some ideas on how to change Bree’s mind about us.
“I’m not sure it was just one thing. It was a lot of little things over time. We watched TV together. We played scrabble. I taught her how to cook.” Fields sighs, reminiscing.
Miller leans over and looks at me with wide eyes. “If you ever eat any of their food, ask who made it and if there was any fondling involved. Trust me.”
“We never have sex near the food!” Apparently, this is a constant debate between them.
“Suuuurrre, I believe you.” Miller shakes his head at me and mouths ‘no I don’t.’
Exasperated, Fields continues “We hiked, paddle boarded, snorkeled, explored together. All of it added up. She found herself again after playing a role all her life, and I was there to witness and support her.”
Miller rapidly taps Fields’ shoulder. “Tell him the grand gesture!”
“OH MY GOD!” Fields pushes him back.
“What? Sorry I just get so excited.” Miller ducks his head like he’s about to be in time out. Maybe not a bad idea.
“I planned a spa day,” Fields smiles, pride and confidence on his face. “Since the moment we met, I just wanted to take care of her. She deserves the world and to be pampered. So, I found this village that sold supplies and created our own spa in the bedroom of the small house we were staying in at the time.”
“Candles, oils, bath salts. This guy even did a mud mask.”You’d think Miller was actually there with how much detail he has on their relationship.
“It made her smile,” he says matter-of-factly, as if that’s the only reason he needs. “And the rest is history. We were together after that. And when the time came for us to go our separate ways, I knew it would be temporary. I also knew we were strong enough to withstand the distance and the turmoil that was headed our way. We built that foundation first. She didn’t trust easily. She needed reassurance and action to speak louder than words.”
“Heartfelt.” Miller wipes an imaginary tear off his cheek.
Fields finally looks at Miller. “You’re an ass.”
“Come on, Gramps. You love me.”
“I tolerate you.”
“Tolerate it,” Miller sings to the tune of a familiar song I’ve heard recently.
As the jet descends into Nashville, I wonder how I can get Bree to break down her walls like Ivory did, because lately all I can think about is changing her mind about the possibility of us.
“Burgers are on the grill,” Preston says, coming back inside. After the game this afternoon, Preston and Ivory invited everyone over for the official announcements of the All-Star Team roster for next week’s game in Atlanta. Preston and Miller already made the team, but it was another excuse for a family cookout. Days we’re all together are my favorite.
“Thanks, babe.” Ivory loops her arms around Preston’s waist, tilting her head up for a kiss.
“Who made them?” Miller asks skeptically.
“I did,” Ivory beams. She loves cooking now. She barely knew her way around a kitchen when she first met Preston, but he taught her a few things during their time together in Belize, and even more since they moved in together. Any chance she gets to try a new recipe or show off her skills, she takes, which is why our family cookouts are normally at their house.
“You didn’t have sex on the counter when you made them this time, right?” Taylor questions, and I spit out my drink.
“We didn’t have sex the first time,” Ivory responds, sticking her tongue out.
“We could have,” Preston mutters under his breath.
“Who knew mashing ground beef together could be so sexy,” Miller chimes in. “Tell me, was it the texture, the temperature, or the boner in your ass that got you going?” Taylor high-fives Miller as they laugh at his joke.
“Definitely the boner,” Ivory and I say at the same time. Preston and Ivory were locked in a house together for almost a month, combatting their attraction to each other. One of the first nights he taught her to cook, things got steamy. I’m surprised neither of them gave in then and instead waited another few weeks before getting together.
