I pulled into the only empty spot in front of Tykes and Dolls, a place I could have never afforded to buy Chloe clothes when she was younger, but my mom had bought several things here for her that I adored. “Fine, trousers,”I conceded.
“I’ll have you speaking properly before you know it.” Miles exited the car, gloating.
I met him around the back to get Henry’s stroller out. Little man was still napping.
Miles had no sooner opened the hatch when the most unpleasant sight hit me from across the street. Leland was walking out of Two Girls and a Guy with Kylie Robison. She went to high school with us and was a girl Leland frequently chose over me even after we were married. I grabbed onto Miles’s arm, hardly able to breathe, shaking where I stood. What was Leland doing back so soon, and wasn’t he married? Not like that ever mattered to him, but I had hoped he’d matured for Chloe’s sake.
Miles wasn’t sure what to make of my physical contact. The apprehension on his face was apparent.
“My ex-husband,” I whispered, “is across the street.” I put Miles’s mind at ease that I wasn’t trying to romantically entangle myself with him. I only needed the support before my knees buckled and I collapsed. I couldn’t believe Leland had actually come back. And there he was once again being himself, rubbing in my face that Kylie was worth coming back for, but never me or his daughter.
Miles looked in the direction my eyes were dead fixed on. “The man in the denim jacket?”
I nodded. That was him all right, dressing as if he had never grown up. Still wearing his Brad Pitt do from 2003 with spiked hair on the top, cut short on the sides.
Miles placed his hand over mine gripping his arm like a vice. “I thought he didn’t live here.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. “He called me last week to say he was moving back to Colorado, but I didn’t believe him.”
Miles and I watched as Kylie stood on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear before she kissed him. And like the douche bag he was, he kissed her back. My heart broke for his wife and baby daughter, for my daughter who had such a father.
“Who’s the woman?” Miles asked.
“A girl we went to high school together with. His favorite bimbo. The jerk is married to another woman.”
“Let’s go home, love,” Miles suggested, but it was too late. Leland saw me. Not only Leland, but Kylie, who wasted no time taking off. She always did anytime she saw me. We didn’t run into each other often as she had gotten married and moved away several years ago, but her parents still lived here. Was she still married too?
Leland, with no shame at all, crossed the street and headed our way.
I wiped my eyes with one hand and gripped Miles’s arm tighter with the other.
“Steady, love,” Miles whispered. “Do you want me to tell the wanker to sod off?”
The thought gave me some pleasure. “I’ll let you know.”
Miles gently caressed my hand. If I wasn’t so upset, I probably would have pulled away, it felt so nice. Like a nice I had never known before. Like the kind of nice you shouldn’t have with your boss.
Leland, unfortunately, made it across the street. I was hoping he would have gotten hit by a car. If only I was so lucky.
He strutted up to us like he was still the most popular boy in school. To my delight, he was paunchy around the middle and his tight jawline was looking a little saggy. All thatdrinking finally caught up to him. Leland’s confidence took a plunge when he got nearer and came face to face with Miles, who, on the other hand, took great care of himself and looked fabulous at forty.
Leland sized him up before zeroing in on the iron grip I had on my boss. “Aspen, I didn’t expect to see you.”
“I could say the same. I thought you weren’t coming until next week.” Or ever.
“Change of plans,” he said ever so smugly.
Probably more like his wife kicked his butt out, or Kylie called and he came running.
“Who’s this?” Leland flicked his head toward Miles. He had no manners at all. “I didn’t know you were with anyone.”
“I’m—”
“The name is Miles Wickham,” Miles interrupted me before I could tell Leland that he was my boss. Though we didn’t really look professional at the moment.
“English,” Leland sneered. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Careful,” Miles warned.
