Chapter 25 Miles
Chapter twenty-five
Miles
Late June
Inow had a Thursday night routine, and after three weeks, I’d made three new friends, attended a baseball game in Atlanta with one guy—completely platonically, of course—and I’d even been invited to a poker game.
I’d never played the game, but I had a good poker face apparently, and once they’d explained the rules, I’d cleaned up. They’d even invited me back.
Now, almost four weeks after the reunion, I barely recognized myself in the mirror, but in the best of ways. I’d figured out how to make friends, just like I’d known I could. I’d put myself out there, and people didn’t hate me.
Oh, I’d had a run-in with an asshole on my second Thursday night out, but by then, Mose knew me well enough to stick up for me and kicked the guy out. That was the night I bonded with another guy over being high school jocks and we set up the ballgame for the following weekend.
I was having fun and being social for the first time in my life, but I still missed Atlas with every fiber of my being. Despite my life being more full, I felt the emptiness he’d left in my heart acutely.
He was coming back in a few weeks, and I had no clue how I should feel about that.
I was incredibly excited to see him again, but with all the changes I’d made—Lars had even mentioned how much lighter I seemed during today’s session—would he even recognize me?
Had I changed so much I couldn’t be the boy he wanted?
Was I so different now that I wouldn’t want him?
I checked my light-blue T-shirt and dark jeans in the mirror one last time then headed to Timbers we were similar in temperament and often shared conspiratorial glances at all of Cloudy’s quirks.
Long hugs were one of her many endearing qualities, though that embrace was a little odd.
Given my out-of-the-blue text last night, I thought Claudia might suspect why I called her—hence the extended hug—but she wouldn’t press. She’d let me tell her what I came to say when I was ready.
Ophelia flashed me a bright smile. “Miles, it’s so good to see you!
Come, come,” she encouraged before turning to lead us toward the kitchen at the back of their house.
Her floor-length layered skirt, made out of some kind of gauzy fabric with a muted floral pattern, swished around her legs.
I followed dutifully behind her, Claudia bringing up the rear in their short hallway, before we stepped into the expansive kitchen.
Cloudy’s fiancée was an amateur baker, and given the delicious smells emanating from the kitchen—cinnamon, butter, sugar, bacon, and strong coffee—she’d baked something especially for us this morning. I couldn’t wait to see what it was.
Ophelia pulled a glass dish out of the oven, and as soon as the smell hit my nose, I hummed. “Is that your famous homemade coffee cake?”
She grinned, setting the dish on the stovetop before reaching back in the oven for a cookie sheet filled with bacon. Once she’d set the sizzling tray down, she pulled the oven mitts off her hands. “Of course. Only the best for Cloudy’s favorite brother.”
I moaned. Ophelia’s homemade cinnamon coffee cake was legendary—at least in my book. Easily my favorite baked good.
Claudia groaned, smacking me on the shoulder on her way to wrap an arm around Ophelia’s waist. “Ugh, see what you’ve done, Miley? You have my own fiancée calling me that ridiculous nickname!”
I shrugged. “Sorry not sorry?”
She grabbed the oven mitt off the counter and chucked it at me, but I plucked it from the air easily, pulling it against my chest. “Can you believe this is how she treats me, Phee?”
Ophelia wrapped her arms around Claudia’s waist as my sister lunged for me, holding her back. “I’m going to have to separate you two, aren’t I?”
I grinned. “I suppose you may have to if Cloudy can’t behave.”
My sister just stuck her tongue out at me, then the three of us burst into laughter.
“I swear, you two, you’re worse than children.” She grabbed a wooden spatula from a drawer and pointed it at Claudia. “I will not be the only disciplinarian when we have kids.”
I gasped, freezing in place. “You’re planning to have kids?”
Claudia turned to me slowly, a sheepish smile on her face. “We are. We actually have an appointment with an adoption agency next month.”
“Cloudy, that’s amazing!” I rushed her, scooping her up in my arms, squeezing her tight as I spun us in a circle around the large open kitchen.
Ophelia laughed as she cut three generous servings of coffee cake at the stove. At the sound of her gentle joy, I set my sister down on her feet then rushed to give Ophelia a hug from behind. “Phee, this is incredible! Congratulations, you two!”