“Only the best thing to do to pass time when you’re waiting for an alarm,” I say.
“Okay!”
We move toward the stairs, Noah skipping ahead of us.
“Not a sports guy?” Miles asks as we start up the stairs.
“Not really. You?”
“Hockey is entertaining,” he says.
“It can be.”
“Hey, is this our new firefighter?” Lewis asks as we step into the lounge room.
“I’m Noah!” he says, jumping up and down. “And I’m going to play pool with you guys.”
A bunch of them laugh as they take over and lead the kid to the table to teach him how to play. He can barely hold the stick up to the table to shoot the ball, so Jake picks him up, hovering him over it. We love it when kids come by. Brightens the day a little bit. We all see so much bad shit, that an enthusiastic kid can help lift the mood in here.
“Thank you for doing this. I hope you don’t think it’s weird,” Miles says quietly as we watch Noah.
“Why would it be weird?”
“Well, you know… because…” He gestures between us but won’t look me in the eye.
“Because we can’t be two mature adults about the situation?” I ask, raising a brow.
“Oh, that’s not what I meant. I just meant, like… I don’t want you to think I’m being clingy or something.”
“Are you?”
“What? No. Of course not.” His cheeks redden further.
“Okay, then. That’s all I need to know.” I look him up and down. “You’re a lot more confident when you’re drunk.”
“I told you alcohol makes me brave,” he mutters.
“I think you’re cute this way.”
“You said I was cute the other night.”
I turn to face him. “Then I guess you’re cute all the time.”
I hold his gaze, tension passing between us. My fingers twitch to reach out and touch him, but of course I don’t. Not here.
“Uncle Miles, I got it in!”
He brings his attention to Noah. “Good job, Noey.”
I swallow hard, stepping away. “Uh, I’m going to get something. I’ll be right back.”
I need a moment away from Miles so I can breathe. I told myself it was just a hookup and that I would throw his number away, but in a fit of weakness, I called him. The conversation wasn’t a big deal, but when I ran into him again today? It feels like maybe I’m supposed to talk to him. Like maybe I need a friend like him, as much as I tell myself I don’t. So instead of ignoring him, I talked to him. And now… here he is.
I just need to remember that friends is all we can be. I can’t do hookups anymore. I have a husband, and I have to make my marriage work. Which is why I’m taking time off to go visit Franklin. He’s always harsher on the phone, but when we’re face to face, things are better. It’ll be better. A trip to California is just what I need.
In the storage room, I pull a few items from the bins lined up on the shelves against the back walls. They’re things we take to functions and charity events. A plastic fire hat, badge, a t-shirt that will be way too big on him, plus a small plastic toy ax is all I find, but it’ll do.
Back in the lounge, I see Miles bent over the pool table, and my gaze immediately goes to his ass. I remember how good he felt.How good it was between us. Simple but intense. It was easy. Even now, I don’t feel like I have to worry about him following me around, despite him bringing it up. Miles genuinely seems like a good person. Like a good friend. It’s not the sort of thing I’m used to, and that scares me a little—it’s why I’m hesitant but eager to keep talking to him. Normally hookups are one and done. I never think about them again. Sometimes I don’t know their names. Miles is different. I can’t put my finger on it, but something about him is very different.
