He nods, giving me a cold look as he gestures for the bathroom. “Can I get in there?”
“Of course.”
We swap spots, and he turns to face me, his hand on the knob. “You going to be here when I get out?”
“I really have to go.”
He nods, chewing on the inside of his cheek. His eyes are a little red, but that’s probably from everything he drank last night.
“Okay,” he says as he closes the door.
I stand there for a moment—longer than I should, risking still being here when he gets out.
I shouldn’t leave him like this. I know I keep doing it and it’s not okay, but I really have to go this time. Nash needs me. So, I grab my jacket and go.
I’m halfway down the stairs when the downstairs apartment door opens and out bounces Noah. His gaze goes right to me and he smiles wide.
“Hey, you’re the firefighter!” he shouts.
Audrey pops her head out, confused, but then smiles.
“Good morning,” she says brightly, coming out and closing her door. She looks so much like Miles, but in female form. Same blonde hair and blue eyes.
“Morning,” I say.
“Mom, he’s the firefighter that Uncle Miles is friends with. He showed me all the cool tools in the truck and taught me how to play pool.”
“Thanks for doing that,” she says, giving me another smile.
“Of course. Kids are always welcome at the firehouse,” I say politely.
“Mom, can we go after we’re done shopping?”
“I don’t know, honey. We have other stuff to do.” She shoves her purse up her shoulder.
Noah groans. “I’ll just have to ask Uncle Miles then.”
She opens the front door and Noah scurries out.
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” she says, holding the door open for me, so I move down the rest of the steps and onto the porch.
“You too,” I say as I hurry down the steps and start down the driveway.
“Are you walking somewhere?” she calls out.
I hold up my phone. “Going to catch a car.”
“Let me give you a ride,” she says.
“Oh, no, I—”
“I insist,” she says firmly. In a way that I can’t imagine Miles ever speaking in. It’s not mean, but it is insistent—as she said.
“Okay, sure. As long as it’s not out of your way.”
“I assure you it isn’t.”
With a sigh, I head to the car and get into the front. This is not how I expected to spend my morning, but I guess I didn’t think much of that when I went to bed last night. Not sure what I was thinking last night at all. I don’t do sleepovers. Yet I can’t deny sleeping in the same bed as Miles was so fucking nice.
