“You really do.”
“Thank you.” I gesture down at my Porter’s T-shirt. “And how exactly do I explain… this?”
His gaze drops to my chest. If it were anyone else, I’d assume he was checking me out. With Miles, it’s pure analysis.
“You moonlight as a bartender?”
“Dental hygienist by day, bartender by night.” A soft chuckle slips out. “That’s quite the superpower.”
A laugh bursts out of Miles. One that crinkles the corners of his eyes. Mine follows a second later.
We shuffle into a line to fill our plates buffet-style, conversation buzzing all around us. Voices overlap while kids dart between the adults, and I have no idea which thread to latch on to. This is the complete opposite of everything I had growing up. I always had small, quaint birthday parties, and certainly nothing involving all the kids from the entire block.
Miles rests his hand on my back, just an inch from the safe zone I told him about, but I don’t mind. It reminds me he’s here. He leans closer, voice low. “You alright?”
“Yeah.” I tilt my head up with a smile. “Everything’s great.”
“Okay. Good. You’re usually more talkative than this.”
“I’m easing in. I don’t want to dominate the conversation.” My gaze drifts over the crowd. “This is your family, so I’ll let you take the lead.”
“Okay.” His hand slides down before falling away, and a small, unexpected part of me misses the contact.
Once our plates are full, he grabs two waters and guides us toward an empty picnic table, but it doesn’t stay empty for long. His sisters—Mallory and Melanie—join us, and the bench space shrinks until he shifts closer, our thighs brushing.
Conversation flows easily from there. Miles takes the lead, launching into an explanation about a new drone he’s building. Which is news to me. I thought he only flew them, but building them blows my mind. The way he talks about them, animated and focused, makes it obvious how passionate he is about his work.
“So how did you two meet?” Melanie asks.
“At a coffee shop,” I blurt.
“Mutual friends introduced us,” Miles adds.
Mallory props her elbows on the table, grinning. “How cute. They’re already finishing each other’s sentences.”
“It’s always nice when you have friends to introduce you. These days everyone’s glued to those dating apps,” Melanie says.
“I don’t even know if they’re dating apps anymore,” Mallory cuts in, spearing a piece of watermelon. “More like hookup apps.”
“It’s refreshing to see traditional dating is still alive and well,” Jackie adds warmly.
I wonder how they feel about fake dates with a strict no-hookup policy. I hope I don’t have to find out.
Mallory takes another bite of fruit and turns to me. “Miles said you’re a dental hygienist. What office do you work at? We’re looking for a new dentist.”
Miles and I exchange a quick glance before he jumps in. “Um… you probably wouldn’t want to go to her office.”
Mallory’s brows lift. “Why? Is it bad or something?”
I clear my throat. “No. I’m just… switching careers.”
“Oh!” Melanie perks up. “What are you doing next?”
“Bartending.” I shrug. “Sometimes you just got to go where your heart wants you to go.”
“That is… different.” Jackie smiles politely. “Good for you, following your dreams.”
While Mallory, Melanie, and Jackie drift into a discussion about dental offices around town, Miles leans closer, his voice low. “Sorry. I panicked. That was supposed to be Caroline’s line.”
