She looked like an adorable Christmas card.Not that he could tell her that.
“I have a blanket,” she said, motioning to the bundle tucked under her arm.“I don’t know if it’ll be warm enough, though, if it’s windy wherever we’re going.”
“I’ve got a couple blankets, too.And hot chocolate and soup—all the hot things.”
Annie smiled.“Seems like we’ll be set then.”
The entirety of their drive to South Beach was occupied with Miles talking about himself—the shock he felt when Bella not only canceled on him, but slyly told him she was going out with a boy.
“She is that age,” Annie said thoughtfully.
“She’s too young.Doesn’t she seem young?”Miles countered.“I think it was only two Christmases ago I was buying her Barbies.”
“Did you buy her a Ken doll, too?”Annie asked with a smile.
He sighed.“That was where I went wrong, isn’t it?”
“You didn’t go wrong anywhere,” Annie said, casting him a sympathetic smile.“It’s a great sign that she told you about Noah.She’s not hiding things from you, even if she feels sheepish about it all.”
Sheepish.That was how Bella had acted, wasn’t it?The uneasy feeling in his chest quieted.She had been excited, he’d noticed that, but she also felt a bit embarrassed.Perhaps this wasn’t the bold leap into adulthood he’d imagined.
It was a small comfort.Annie was always a comfort.
They parked the car and to his surprise, no one else was there—usually at least one or two other families went out for the meteor showers, especially on a clear night like this.Maybe the cold weather was keeping people away, but Miles didn’t feel cold at all.He was so hot he wanted to take off his jacket, heat pulsing out from his chest.It seemed to get worse whenever he looked at Annie.
They found a suitable spot on the beach and Miles laid the blanket on the ground.
“I would start a fire,” he said.“But we’re in a fire ban.”
“I know,” she said.“I checked.The fire danger is ‘very high.’”
He shot her a look.“I’m impressed you keep up with our warnings.”
“I always heed the fire department,” she said solemnly, taking a seat on the blanket.
He sat down next to her, their legs nearly touching, and pulled out a second blanket to cover themselves with.
Annie shivered, and without thinking, he scooted closer to her.She cast him a fleeting smile.
The intimacy of the moment was palpable, and Miles knew no way to deal with the tension other than offering food and drink.
“I have lentil soup,” he said, reaching over her to open the picnic basket, “and hot chocolate.Anything sound good right now?”
“I’ll try the soup,” she said, hands clasped beneath the blanket.
He pulled out a thermos for her and poured a serving into the lid.Annie’s shoulders were tense, her posture huddled.
“This should help,” he said, handing it to her.
“Thanks.”She took a sip.“Oh wow.This is delicious.Did you make this?”
He nodded and poured a small amount from his thermos as well, heat still pumping from his chest.
“It’s one of Bella’s favorites,” Miles said.“The soup.”
“Ah.It’s very good.”She sat, head tilted up to him.“You’re a great dad, you know.”
She seemed to mean it.
