No.It wasn’t just the almost-kiss.Anyone could excuse a kiss.The real problem was he was dangerously close to falling in love with her, and that was the last thing either of them needed.
Bella was clearly going through the challenges of adolescence.She needed her father to be steadfast and stable, not losing his head over the pretty neighbor down the road.
That same evening, she came home from her evening with Noah floating on a cloud.She didn’t have much to share, but she was all smiles for the next week.
Miles was happy for her.Annie was right; it seemed innocent enough, and age-appropriate.Bella was the one who was supposed to be silly and getting pulled into puppy love.Not Miles.
Further, he knew how these things went.He had been a teenager once.On the horizon, on the other side of Bella’s whirlwind first romance, was the most devastating heartbreak Bella would ever suffer.
It may not be this week or even this year, but it was inevitable.That first heartbreak cut the deepest, and Miles needed to be there for her when it struck.
Thinking of it, maybe that was what Annie was going through.Roy had been her high school sweetheart, after all.She had made no allusions to being experienced in the art of dating and love, and it was all the more reason to leave her alone.
That didn’t mean avoiding her entirely, though.On Wednesday, he had the day off, and the subs for Bella’s school band fundraiser arrived.His plan was to spend the day delivering the sandwiches to everyone who had ordered them, something he did every year.
Annie’s order was last on his list.He figured she’d be at work, and he was right.When he knocked on the door, Clara appeared.
“Special delivery,” he said, holding up a bag.
“Miles!What a welcome surprise,” Clara said.She accepted the bag and peered inside.“Annie’s at work today, at the outpost site.”
He’d figured as much.It was for the best, despite the sinking in his chest.“I threw in an extra pepperoni roll.I wanted her to try it.”
“That’s sweet.”Clara paused, slowly raising her eyes.“Come to think of it, Annie forgot to pack a lunch this morning.Well,forgotisn’t the right word.She ran out of time, because Leon was running around yelling about using the potty before school.”
“He used the potty?”Miles asked.“And hesaidpotty, too?”
“He did!”
“That’s amazing!”Miles said.
“Yeah.”Clara’s face spread into a warm smile.“Anyway, I won’t keep you, but if you wanted to bring one of these sandwiches out to her, I know she’d be appreciative.”
The load on his chest lightened.It wasn’t like he sought out these chances to see her.They appeared, and like an addict, he couldn’t resist them.It was chemical.
“I’d love to,” he said, unable to keep a smile off his face.
Clara gave him the directions to the lab outpost and he made his drive to the west side of the island.
He’d never seen the building before.It was old and drab, almost abandoned-looking, standing alone with the backdrop of the sea.
He pulled into a spot next to Annie’s car, the only one in the small gravel lot, and surveyed the building.It was three stories tall with ancient-looking windows and peeling eggshell paint.The roof was lopsided and the building itself looked misshapen.
Still, he liked it.It had that seaside charm that old buildings had, like it had been rocked by the waves but never knocked down.
Miles walked to the entrance and knocked on the door.Annie was already in the window, smiling at him.
“My mom texted to warn me you were coming,” she said, ushering him in.“You really didn’t have to do this.”
“It’s my pleasure.I’ve been delivering all over today, and when your mom said you were lunch-less because of a successful potty trip this morning, I thought we needed to celebrate.”
Annie let out a groan.“Yeah, I feel bad now that I rushed him and heactuallyhad to use the potty.”
Her eyes were reddened, and her complexion was pale.
“Are you okay?”he asked.
“That obvious, huh?”she asked, casting her eyes down.
