Runaway - Chapter 36
Wednesday
Miller popped open the bottle of what he claimed was super cheap champagne. But I didn’t care. I just cared that we were drinking it together.
He handed me a mug full of it. Somehow this was even better than a champagne flute. I laughed as he lifted up his mug for a toast.
“To us,” he said. “And to the best year ever.”
I smiled. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.” I tapped my mug against his and took a sip. The chill of the champagne made me shiver.
Miller cleared his throat. “I need to show you something. But I need you to promise not to be upset.”
I lowered my mug. “Is it something bad?”
“No. I…well…it’s good. I think. Just come with me.”
That somehow sounded very not good. But I took his hand when he offered me his. He pulled me to my feet and down the hall. He opened one of the spare bedroom doors that I hadn’t cleaned the other day. I expected it to be empty. But it was full of boxes.
“What is all this stuff?” I asked and looked up at him.
Miller dropped my hand and scratched the back of his neck. “Just some of your old things.”
“My things?” What? When he didn’t offer any more information I stepped into the room and opened one of the unmarked boxes.
There were some of the clothes I’d gotten from my dad for Christmas last year.
I hadn’t wanted them then. But this year I was actually happy to see them.
The warm sweaters and leggings and fuzzy socks were calling to me now.
I was still wearing my summery dress and really didn’t have anything weather-appropriate here. Well, until now.
But…why were they here? I looked over my shoulder at Miller. Had he gone back to the beach house? I was happy this stuff was here since we weren’t going to dip into my dad’s money. But…really…why was this stuff here?
Miller looked very guilty.
I swallowed hard. And I was afraid it was so much worse than him going back to the beach house. “You’ve talked to my dad?”
“What? No.” He finally stepped into the room. “Of course not.”
“Then why do you have all this stuff?” I looked around at the other boxes. I opened one and it had some of Miller's nice suits in it. There was even a winter coat. I lifted it up. He was wearing a threadbare jacket to work every day. “What the hell?”
“I went back.”
My heart was racing fast. “Okay.” I didn’t know what else to say. So…my dad had called him or something? What the heck was going on?
He stepped farther into the room and took the coat out of my hand. He tossed it back in the box and sighed. “I can’t afford to buy you new clothes right now. I’m working my way up…but I…” his voice trailed off. “I don’t want you to be cold.”
“That does not answer my question. Did you go back to talk to my dad?”
“No.” He took a deep breath, his exhale even slower. “When you gave me those keys and a new identity and told me to leave.” He shook his head. “I drove for about fifteen minutes before I realized I was being stupid and turned the car around.”
I just stared at him.
“I didn’t want to leave you. I went back. For you.”
Oh, Miller.
“But you were gone.” He cleared his throat. “I was too late. But I thought maybe when you showed up at the lake house that you might want all your stuff. If you showed up. And your father wasn’t going to be down until the weekend. So I got all the rest of it for you.”
“All of it?” I looked around at the boxes. That must have taken him forever.
“Your clothes. Your computer. I made sure there wasn’t any tracking on it. All of it. I should have told you sooner but…I was kind of embarrassed.”
“Because you went back for me?” I blinked away the tears in my eyes. “I don’t think that’s embarrassing. I think that’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.” And he must have only been a few minutes too late. We must have just missed each other.
“I never should have left you alone. I should have offered to drive you wherever you wanted to go. I just…I missed you so damn much…”
I grabbed both sides of his face and kissed him. He knew I missed him. I’d told him so many times. I felt his smile against my lips.
“Does that mean you forgive me?” he asked.
I laughed. “Forgive you? There’s nothing to forgive.
I’m actually really happy these clothes are here.
” I walked back over to the boxes and lifted up a soft white sweater that I’d never worn before.
I pulled it over my dress, not caring about how silly I looked.
So much better. A pair of big fuzzy socks were next, but as soon as I pulled them on it was way too ridiculous.
I needed pants. I quickly changed out of my dress so that I was wearing my sweater, leggings, and the cute fuzzy socks. I instantly felt warmer.
Miller was smiling at me. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the fuzzy socks looking adorable or because of the mini-striptease. Probably the latter.
I put my hand on my hip. “But I also can’t afford to buy you warmer clothes and I don’t want you to be cold either.”
He lowered his eyebrows. “I’m not wearing that stuff.”
“Why not?”
“Because I bought it with his money.”
I stared at him. “I hate to break it to you Miller, but this house was bought with my dad’s money too.”
“Technically it was a gift from you…”
“Technically you’re the most stubborn person I’ve ever met.” I wrapped my arms behind his neck. “Wear the clothes. Or I’m dipping into the money in our account.”
“You wouldn’t.” It was probably supposed to be threatening but he was smiling now.
“I would. So wear the clothes. Besides, you earned that money. I was a terribly difficult assignment.”
He laughed. “No. You were easy. I mean…I got you exactly where I wanted you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “So it was your plan all along for us to run away together?” I gently traced the scar beneath his eye. There was no way either of us could have planned winding up here together. But I was so happy it happened.
“It was a very devious plan.”
“Sure.” I was smiling so hard it hurt.
He pulled me closer, his arms wrapping around me. “What’s your New Year’s resolution?” he asked.
I stared into his eyes. “To live in the moment.”
He smiled.
“What about you?”
He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “To make sure you know each and every day that you made the right choice.”
I wasn’t sure if it was because of the cozy sweater or his words, but my heart felt warm and fuzzy. Maybe it was the champagne bubbles in my system. “Oh, I made the right choice.”
He leaned down to kiss me but I pulled away.
“Did you hear that?” I asked.
“Hear what?”
“They’re counting down!” I grabbed his hand and pulled him out into the hallway.
We laughed as we ran into the family room to watch the ball drop in Times Square.
Miller held me tight as the announcer counted down.
“Ten. Nine. Eight.”
My heart was hammering in my chest.
“Seven. Six.”
I meant what I’d told Miller. I was going to start living in the moment.
“Five. Four.”
Which meant letting go of my past. For real.
“Three. Two.”
The pain of losing my mom. My uncle. Matt. I wasn’t meant to live broken. I was meant to have a full happy life. Just like they all had. And if mine was cut short too? I didn’t want to regret not living enough of it.
“One.”
I looked up at Miller. “Happy New Year!”
“Happy New Year, kid.” He picked me up and twirled me around.
I laughed and wrapped my legs around his waist to prevent him from accidentally tossing me.
His hands slid to my ass as we sealed the New Year with a kiss.
It was a promise of forever.
And I kept my promises to people that kept theirs.