Page 52 of After You Returned

Hazel’s eyes widen. “You’re going to babysit for a weekend?”

I wasn’t planning on it since I never agreed to babysit baby Adele but her surprise has me scowling. “I can babysit. I’m responsible.”

“Miles Raider is going to miss a weekend of surfing to babysit?”

“You make it sound as if I spend every single moment in the surf.”

She lifts an eyebrow. “Don’t you? After all – there’s nothing more important.”

“Wrong,” I grumble. “I can give you a list of things more important than surfing – starting with spending time with you and ending with spending time with you.”

Her eyes dilate, but she shakes her head. “You’ve been drinking again.”

I bite my tongue before I growl. I’m about done with her thinking the only reason I want her is because I’m drunk. I’ve proven otherwise but she’s still skittish.

“I had one shot of moonshine. Nothing more. But if you don’t believe me, you can message Weston and have him come here and do a sobriety test.”

She rolls her eyes. “Please, we spent a month practicing the walk-and-turn and one-leg stand until we could do it while completely smashed. A sobriety test means nothing.”

“I meant a breathalyzer.”

“You would do a breathalyzer test right here, right now?”

“Yep.”

“You haven’t been drinking?”

I guide my finger down her cheek. “I told you, Blaze. I want you. I want my second chance with you. I’ll do whatever you need me to, to prove I’m worthy of a second chance.”

She nibbles on her bottom lip as she studies me. I want to be the one nibbling on her lip while my fingers thread through her silky hair.

But there’s more to us than our chemistry. So I inhale a deep breath and keep my hands to myself.

“You surprise me, Miles.”

“If you let me, I’ll surprise you every single day for the rest of our lives.”

“The rest of our lives?”

I shrug. “Or until we’re senile.”

“Miles!” Kai shouts. “It’s your turn.”

“There’s no rush, Blaze. Take your time and think about what I said.”

I wait for her nod before I stand and saunter away. I will continue to push her, but it’s enough for today. I don’t want to overwhelm her. I want her to have fun. She deserves to have all the fun in her life.

Chapter 18

This surfing lesson did not end the way I intended.

Hazel

“This is ridiculous,” I mutter as I make my way through the sand to Miles’s surf shack.

I can’t believe I have to take a surfing lesson because I lost at bowling. Which wasn’t my fault. Lane seven is cursed. If we had any other lane, I would have won no problem.

When I reach the shack, a crowd has already gathered. A crowd of women wearing the tiniest bikinis in existence. I frown down at my swimming outfit – a pair of surf shorts and a t-shirt that doubles as a swimming top. I’m frumpy and old compared to these bronze-skinned, blonde women.