I pause with my jacket halfway on, thinking about his words. “You having a mid-life crisis or some shit?”
“Maybe. I’m sort of seeing someone, so guess it was bound to happen sooner or later...” He shakes his head. “But don’t let me stop you. Go!” He gives me a knowing grin.
Maybe I should have called or texted Miles to let him know that I was coming by, but if I did that, he could tell me not to. I’m hoping to talk my way into his apartment so I can explain.
I’m being realistic—I know admitting my flaws and telling him the truth doesn’t mean everything will be fixed and suddenly perfect, but at least if he has all the information, he can make his decision. A real decision. An honest one.
It’s late enough in the day that he should be home from work, as long as he didn’t stop anywhere on the way. I pull up and spot his car is in the driveway—right beside Audrey’s.
I park behind his car and head up the front steps to ring the bell. The door is pulled open before my finger hits the button. Audrey is standing there, giving me alookthat tells me she knows what happened.
“Hi,” I say.
Her brows raise. “Can I help you?”
“I need to talk to Miles.”
“Does he know you’re coming?”
“No.”
“Then I don’t know if I should let you in.”
“Mom, who is it?” Noah calls from inside the apartment. She pops her head through the doorway and yells, “No one, honey! Finish your homework.” She closes the door and turns her hard stare back on me.
“I’m sure he’s upset, as he has every right to be. I was a complete asshole. I don’t know how much he’s told you—”
“Nothing. So I’ve assumed the worst.”
I nod. “Oh—well, yeah, I get that. But I want to explain everything to him, which I did not do before. And maybe he’ll still be mad, but—”
“You’re not here to kiss his ass?”
“Uh… no?”
Her eyes narrow, and I can’t tell if she’s happy about that or relieved. Is that what Miles wants me to do? Because that’s not my plan.
“I don’t know how much Miles has told you, but he’s all Noah and I have, and I will not see him like this. He’s gone through breakups before, and one time he almost didn’t come out of it the same. I won’t see my brother go through that again.”
I had no idea…
Why didn’t I know this? How can I feel like I’ve known him forever, but know nothing about him at all? What relationship? Was it that dick from the club? No, it couldn’t be. He said they only hooked up. So, what else? I hate that I don’t know this.
“I am trying really hard not to hurt your brother—though, to be honest, he told me nothing about his past, so I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
It looks as if she’s thinking something over. I hope she doesn’t kick me out. If she tells me to leave, I have to. I won’t cause a scene, nor will I disrespect her, Miles, or Noah like that.
“You know, I thought he was lying when he said you two were beingcasualbecause Miles doesn’t do casual, but it seems you’re both clueless.”
“Yeah… we were trying to take things slow, but, uh… it didn’t really work out that way, I think.”
She watches me for a moment, looking me up and down as if she’s about to make her final assessment.
“I like you, JJ. You make my brother happy, and you make my kid happy. I’m not saying that to make you feel like you need to stick around, but please be an adult about whatever happens, yeah?”
“Yes. Absolutely. I am trying to do the mature thing here, I swear I am. Can I please go talk to Miles?”
She steps aside. “If he asks how you got in, tell him the door wasn’t shut all the way. I don’t want to be in the middle of this. I said what I had to say.”
