He doesn’t overdo it. Doesn’t try to fill the space with overzealous praise or encouragement. Just says it plain, which somehow makes it sink in.
He’s right. Itisa step.
“Thanks. I’ll let you know how it goes.”
“I know you will. I trust you.”
His words wrap around me like a hug.
He gasps suddenly, eyes going wide. “Oh my gosh, Lily is on the bed with me,” he whispers. “This is the closest she’s gotten since I came back.”
I chuckle.
He covers his mouth. “You need to see this.” He flips the camera around, showing Lily sitting tall and pretty near his socked foot, with her black tail wrapped around her feet.
“That’s some suspicious eye contact.”
“Right?” He lowers his voice. “I should be worried, shouldn’t I?”
“Definitely. She’s deciding if you get to live.”
Miles says nothing. Then, as if her silent treatment meant nothing all week, Lily plops down next to Miles’ leg with her back facing him.
He gasps and flips his camera around again. “Did you see that?”
I laugh. “I did. She’s going to let you live another day.”
“She is! Aren’t you relieved?”
“Very.”
Miles has a dopey, relieved grin on his face as he watches his cat, and it warms my heart. The silence between us is comfortable, like we’re sitting side by side on the couch, not states apart. But it fills me with longing. I wish we really could be together.
“I tried to write again today,” I say finally. “Nothing came out.”
“That’s okay,” Miles replies. “You don’t owe the world a poem every day.”
I swallow. “It’s not the world I feel like I’m letting down.”
The blanket shifts, and then his head hits the pillow again. He props the phone up, just like we used to. “You’re allowed to justbe, Jordan. There’s no pressure. You promised you’d try, not that you’d have it all figured out. And you made an appointment. That’s a big step. Give yourself more time.”
He’s right of course, so I let some of the guilt go.
A yawn sneaks up on me, and I don’t even try to hide it. “Monday can’t come soon enough.”
“I’m off Monday too.”
I smile a little. “Sounds like I have a phone date with a hot guy on Monday, then.”
“You have a phone date with a hot guy every night.”
“I know. I’m a lucky fool. Will you stay on the line while I fall asleep?”
Miles’ smile is instant. “I was hoping you’d ask.”
I head to bed, strip out of my clothes, then curl on my side, watching Miles. Clematis follows me, tucks herself against my stomach, and purrs softly. The gentle vibrations are soothing. Between that and Miles’ breathing, I fall asleep within seconds.
****
