“No, no, hear me out. It’s perfect. We’d be like, ‘Come here, Stay! Come here, Stay!’ The dog would be totally confused.”
All in all, it has been a perfect night. And a perfect end to a truly unforgettable day.
Next week is my grand opening, and I’m more excited than ever at how things have fallen into place.
Which is why, when we walk into the courtyard, I’m completely knocked sideways to see someone I know sitting on a bench outside my apartment, a suitcase on the ground beside him.
It’s John.
Miles’s arm is draped around me, and at the sight of my ex-husband, I go rigid, feeling for a second like I’m doing something wrong.
Like I’ve been caught. And then I remember.
John stands.
“Oh my gosh,” I say so only Miles can hear me.
“What is it?” Miles asks, his eyes drifting through the courtyard to where my gaze is parked.
I step away from him. “John?” My eyes dip down to his familiar suitcase, and I think of all the times I packed it. Business trips.Vacations. Golf weekends with his father or the guys from the office. I planned his wardrobe. Packed his clothes. Made sure he had all the toiletries he’d need for the number of days he’d be gone. “What are you doing here?”
He looks at Miles, then back to me. “Hey, Claire.”
I go cold as Miles steps up beside me, hand on the small of my back. He reaches across me with his other hand, extending his toward John. “Hey, man.”
John looks at his hand, pauses, then shakes it. “Hey.”
“I’m Miles—I’m Claire’s—”
“What are you doing here?” I cut in because it’s really none of John’s business who Miles is to me.
“Can we talk?” John asks. Another pointed look at Miles. “Alone?”
I inhale a slow breath, then glance at Miles. He shifts, a little uncomfortable, then nods. “We’ll talk tomorrow.” He kisses my cheek, squeezes my hand, then walks away.
I miss him immediately.
I didn’t want this beautiful, perfect, wonderful night to end this way. I wanted it to end with me in Miles’s arms.
Instead, I’m standing here, instantly on edge, trying to figure out why—and how—my ex-husband is here.
“Is there somewhere we can go?” he asks.
I glance over at my apartment door, then back in time to see Miles disappear behind his. I don’t like this. It feels unfair for John to just show up here, dropping another grenade into my life.
I walk past him and pull out my key, unlock the door, and walk inside.
John follows, setting his suitcase up against the wall in the entry.
“You can’t stay here,” I say.
“I got a hotel.”
“You should’ve told me you were coming.” I walk over to the refrigerator and pull out a bottle of water. I hand it to him.
“Thanks.”
“So?” I cross my arms and look at him.
