He straightens, lets go of the cup, and licks his lips.
I don’t realize I’m stuck in a Miles-induced trance until Ainsley clears her throat loudly.
Miles moves past me and sinks down onto the couch in between us. “What, you make Lucy a hot toddy, but not me?”
“I didn’t know when you were going to be home, and she was soaked.” Ainsley sighs loudly, then stands up. “I guess I’ll make you one.”
I tuck my legs underneath me and focus on getting my heart rate back down to a normal level. Sharing a sip of a drink with my roommate shouldn’t spike my blood pressure.
“Where’d you park?” Miles asks as he pulls his phone out of his jeans pocket. “I didn’t notice your car on the street.”
“I parked in your garage,” Ainsley replies as she putters around the kitchen, making him a drink. “But the car barely fit.”
He frowns as he checks his phone, then hits the side button to turn it off.
“How was work today?” I ask, hoping to break the awkward tension in the room.
“It was fine. Just piles of paperwork,” he says with a shrug.
I notice he sounds very monotone about it—again. Does he not like working at Kappa Holdings? I thought he was a part-owner with Kingston, but he doesn’t seem…happy.
Miles smiles briefly at me, then turns his attention on his sister as he walks into the living room and sits down on the couch next to me.
“To what do I owe the honor of a surprise visit from my least favorite sister?”
I laugh when Ainsley sticks out her tongue at him.
This is entertaining. I’m perfectly content to sit here and warm up while I watch this play out in front of me.
“Grandma increased the bounty.”
Miles grins at this. “She’s desperate, huh?”
“I’m here to talk some sense into you,” Ainsley says as she walks into the living room and passes a mug to Miles.
I feel like I’m eavesdropping on a private conversation at this point. Maybe I should leave…
“I’ll let you two catch up. Thanks for the drink!” I stand up and stretch, one arm in the air. “Are you staying a few days, Ainsley?”
“Don’t go yet! I need your help.” She smiles at me and moves her eyebrows up and down. “Pretty please?”
I laugh and sit back down. “I don’t know what I could possibly help with.”
“Easy. I’m trying to convince Miles to get married.”
Miles grunts. “Not gonna happen.”
“But you couldmakeit happen,” Ainsley shoots back.
“To whom?” he demands.
Ainsley tips her head to the side. “Listen, I’m begging you. Don’t let Preston win this.”
Miles tosses his phone onto the cushion between us and folds his arms across his chest. “You could win the bet as much as anyone. It’s all fair game.”
“Yes, but I don’t have anyone I could win the bet with. Preston already has that horrid girlfriend.”
Miles chuckles. I don’t know who Preston is, but I’m already invested, and I want to know why the girlfriend is horrid.
