“Shit. That’s rough. Go home and get some sleep.” He smiles up at me like he means it with his whole heart. That even though there is a slight hint of disappointment there, he understands I need to leave and he’s okay with it.
I nod, grabbing my jacket from the back of the seat and throwing it on. I turn to leave but stop abruptly because I feel his gaze on me. When I glance over my shoulder, he’s watching with a curious look in his eyes.
I told myself I was done doing this. Done looking for this type of distraction. Done making things messier than they already are, because God knows I can’t handle anymore mess. But there’s something about the look in Miles’ eyes. He doesn’t look desperate. He looks interested. That’s worse. But it calls to me all the same. Loneliness is a bitch that won’t leave me the fuck alone, and I’m weaker than I pretend to be.
I take the few steps back to him. He looks up at me with wide, intrigued eyes.
“Did you talk to me because you wanted to hook up?” I ask bluntly.
His eyes widen further, his cheeks turning pink again. “I, uh…”
“If so, I only do simple. One night.”
Miles looks like he wants to say something, but all he does is nod. I’ll never know if his intention was hooking up, but if it wasn’t… he sure wants it now.
I turn to leave, and this time I don’t stop. Miles is right behind me.
I shouldn’t be doing this. I said I wouldn’t.
I’m married, for fuck’s sake.
Chapter 2
JJ
“Do you live close?” Miles asks, catching up to me once we’re outside in the cool air.
The harsh Chicago winter will be here soon enough, but fall is just as bad sometimes. I zip my jacket up more and yank my hood up. Cars whizz past us on the street, driving faster than they should be.
“You ask a lot of questions,” I comment as I move around a couple walking in the opposite direction. “Not really. Was gonna catch a car up here.”
“Well, I live a few blocks this way.” He points to the left. “If you’d rather go there.”
Makes it easier to leave. Can’t say no to that.
Shrugging, I jerk my head to where he pointed. “Lead the way.”
We walk a few blocks, the businesses and parking lots turning into multi-family homes with smooth driveways. It’s not my firehouse district, but I have been called around here, to the bigger apartment complexes. Sometimes the fires are easily controlled; other times… they’re catastrophic, and it’s all hands on deck. It’s not unlikely to help out in areas like this.
Miles turns up the driveway of a cute two-family home. There are two cars in the driveway, both Hondas. One is white, the other black. The house is canary yellow with white shutters and bushes around the foundation and flowerpots hanging from the porch overhang. You can tell a happy family lives here, and they take pride in their home. Half a swing set peeks out from the back of the house, and I recall him saying he has a nephew. A young one, since he loves fire trucks and needs a babysitter. Did he say he was eight? Nine? I keep in mind to be quiet so I don’t disturb him. It’s late, and I’m sure he’s sleeping. The last thing I want to do is wake a sleeping kid, who will then wake up his mother, who probably doesn’t get much sleep as is. Especially if she’s working at a hospital.
The porch is small, just big enough to fit us comfortably. There is one mailbox hanging on the house beside the door, the last nameMontgomeryengraved into it. The porch light burns brightly just above it.
Miles uses his key to unlock the front door, and we end up in a narrow hallway. There is a door directly to the left, the stairs starting right after it. To the right is a small alcove being used as a storage area that is a complete fire hazard with all the bins, bags, and summer toys piled up.
“Uh,” Miles says, closing the door behind me. “Don’t mind the mess.”
“It’s a fire hazard,” I say.
He glances at it, nodding firmly. “I’ll take care of it tomorrow.” He looks at me with a cute smile. “Promise.”
Miles moves past me, his body brushing by mine to get to the stairs. I follow him up, trying not to sound as big as I am on the steps. They creak slightly but seem rather new. It’s quiet in here, otherwise.
The second-floor landing is small but empty. I smile to myself as he opens the door to his apartment and steps inside. I follow him in and look around.
It’s spacious, which isn’t what I expected after seeing the hallway. After going into so many houses, you pay attention to the layouts, try to learn them, even though you can’t memorize them all. Every house is different, no matter how much it looks like others you’ve been in. There’s always a room that you don’t expect or an extra door that leads somewhere it shouldn’t.
Fuck. Working when I’m not even at work.
