“When you followed me on Christmas, what did you say to them before you left?”
Sitting up in my bed, Miller shrugs. “Nothing really. I just gave my aunt a hug and told them I was sorry, but I had to go. I’m a grown man, Zee. I don’t need to explain myself to my aunt and uncle.”
My brows furrow together. “Don’t you, though? You abruptly left their house on Christmas!”
“I usually don’t stay long after breakfast and presents, anyway. I’m not really the type of guy who lingers. I keep busy. They know that.”
“Do you think Lincoln said anything?”
“I highly doubt it, but I can call him and ask if it’ll make you feel better.”
“I just don’t know how I’m going to explain myself.”
“There’s nothing to explain.”
“Are you kidding me?” I toss my hands into the air. “There’severythingto explain. I showed up at their house using a fake name, pretending to be their son's girlfriend!”
Miller nods, squeezing my hand. “I guess you’re right. We’ll just have to start with your name, then. Introduce you as who you really are, tell them you were hesitant to use your real name with strangers. I don’t really care if my aunt and uncle think I stole you from Lincoln—we don’t have to explain that side of the story if you don’t want to.”
“I don’t think it’s about what I want, Miller. We need to do what Lincoln wants, since he’s the one who was worried about maintaining a certain image in front of his parents.”
Rubbing his thumb against his lips, he stares at the wall, and is quiet for a second. I long to know what he’s thinking about, but I don’t ask. After a couple minutes, he nods. “Whatever you want to do, Zee. If you want to call Lincoln and get on the same page, then let’s get him on speakerphone. If you don’t want to tell my aunt and uncleanythingright now, then I’ll cancel dinner with them and make you dinner at my cabin instead.”
“Don’t cancel dinner with them,” I blurt, shaking my head. “I feel like I ran out so abruptly, and they were so kind to me.” Looking at the bed, I lower my voice to just above a whisper, my heart aching. “It felt like I had a family again.”
Miller squeezes my hand again, then uses his finger to lift my chin. “You do.”
“That’s sweet. You all hardly know me, though.”
“You have a knack for making people feel like they’ve known you forever.” He leans over and gives me a soft kiss on the lips. “And trust me, I know my family. I’m not the only one not willing to let you go.”
Cupping my cheek, he rubs his thumb across it softly. “What time did you say you have to go to work?”
“I need to be there in less than an hour, and I like to leave at least 20 minutes early. Sometimes the drive is quick and other times there’s traffic.”
“Then you better get up. Go get dressed, and I’ll make you a cup of coffee. Do you eat breakfast? I can scramble some eggs?”
“I prefer to drink my calories in the morning. Thank you though. If you’re hungry, help yourself to whatever you want.”
“I’m good. I usually just start with a cup of coffee too.”
“Okay,” I tell him as I crawl over his lap. Straddling him, I take his head in between both of my palms, and kiss him tenderly.
I could stay in bed and kiss him all day.
When things start to get heated, I force myself to pull away, knowing if I don’t, I’ll end up being late for work. “Okay, I really need to get up now.”
Forcing myself off his lap, I go straight to the bathroom, and run the faucet so the water will warm, before realizing the entire reason I was startled awake this morning.
Potato never got his breakfast.
Turning off the stream of water, I pad down the hallway to my kitchen, and stop dead in my tracks when I see Miller popping the lid off of a can of wet food, with a spoon already in hand. Rubbing against Miller’s legs, Potato meows excitedly as Miller scoops the food into his bowl.
As stupid as it is, my eyes well up with tears at the sight, and I slowly back away to return to getting ready for work.
Miller’s so effortlessly considerate, and even though it feels too good to be true, I know it’s not. I spent enough time with the Stokes family to know the kindness in their hearts, and I feel I have a pretty good read on Miller’s personality.
He’s a good man, and good men like him are hard to find.
