Runaway - Chapter 41
I waved at Alice from across the restaurant as I put the bakery boxes, filled with pastries and desserts, down on the hostess stand. Alice was the owner of the restaurant Miller worked at. And one of the only people in town I ever spoke to.
She quickly hurried over. “Just in time. We already have a few orders for cheesecakes.”
“Sorry I was running late. It took way longer to sign everything than I thought.”
She smiled. “No problem at all, Jane. Oh and I have last week’s payment.
” She pulled out an envelope full of money from her apron and handed it to me.
I always felt awkward taking money from her.
I loved baking. And Miller was making enough money now after his recent promotion to head chef that we didn’t really need it.
But it was good to have money tucked away for a rainy day.
After all, I’d just put a huge dent in my limited savings.
I quickly shoved the envelope into my purse. “Does he suspect anything?” I asked.
“Not a thing. Let me go tell him you’re here. He’s all yours for the rest of the day.”
“Thanks, Alice.”
She disappeared into the kitchen.
God, I really hoped he liked his surprise.
I’d pretended to still be asleep when he left for work today.
So as far as he knew I’d completely forgotten his birthday.
Which wasn’t true. How could I possibly?
I looked forward to it every year. I didn’t like surprises, but Miller loved them.
And I always surprised him. I was pretty sure this would top all his other birthdays though.
Miller came out with a big smile on his face. “Are you staying for lunch today?” he asked and swept me up into his arms.
“Not exactly.” I wrapped my arms behind his neck. “I’m here because you’re playing hooky.”
“Oh, so you did remember my birthday?” He was smiling down at me.
“Of course I remembered your birthday. It’s my favorite day of the year.”
He didn’t care that the restaurant was crowded as he leaned down and kissed me.
“I already talked to Alice,” I whispered against his lips. “Come on.” I grabbed his hand. “You’re coming with me.”
He laughed as I pulled him out of the restaurant. He went to the driver’s side door, but I stopped him.
“No way, mister. I’m on a top-secret mission. I’m driving.”
Miller always drove whenever we went anywhere. I swore he didn’t trust my driving. But he should have. He was the one that taught me.
He closed the driver side door behind me and then climbed into the passenger seat. “So where exactly are we going?”
“That’s for me to know and for you to be surprised about.” I pulled out one of his ties from when he used to work for my dad and lifted it up. “Close your eyes.”
“I don’t like being blindfolded, kid.”
I laughed. “You’ll like this. I promise.”
He reluctantly closed his eyes. I tied the tie in a tight knot behind his head and my eyes trailed to his lips. I leaned over the center console and gently pressed my lips against his.
He groaned. “Okay, maybe I like being blindfolded a little bit.” He grabbed my waist to try and pull me closer.
“Don’t you want your surprise?”
“Is this not my surprise?” he said with a smile.
I laughed. “Nope. Well, maybe later if you want. But I need to show you something.” I slid back into my seat.
Miller and I never gave each other extravagant gifts.
They were more thoughtful. Or gifts that we spent time making or preparing.
Like when he put the fairy lights through the trees in our backyard.
Or when he made me the elevated planters.
I wasn’t nearly as handy as him. He loved my cooking, especially my desserts.
But this was a big birthday. So I’d pulled out all the stops.
I drove slowly on the road back to our house. I knew he probably thought we were going somewhere as the surprise. That was half the fun of it. Besides, where would we go? I only felt safe at home. With his arms wrapped around me.
I pulled into our driveway and cut the engine.
He went to take the blindfold off but I caught his hand.
“Not so fast.” I climbed out of the car and hurried around to his side to help him out. I slowly guided him a few feet to the right and held my breath.
He was either going to love this or hate it.
I was hoping he’d love it. I stood up on my tiptoes and kissed him again before slowly untying the blindfold.
Miller smiled down at me for a moment before his eyes drifted over to the new truck parked next to us on the driveway. And by new I mean slightly used. I don’t know why I’d been worried. I just knew he’d love it.
“Who’s here?” His voice was laced with concern.
And I realized immediately that I hadn’t thought about this reaction. It had been a long time now since I’d seen someone in the woods watching us. My first thought was never that he’d panic that someone had found us.
“It’s yours.” I quickly shook my head because I wasn’t explaining this right. “You always have to rent a truck when you go to the hardware store, so I thought…” my voice trailed off. Oh my God, he hates it.
But the concern on his face quickly disappeared.
“How did you…” he looked around. “How did you even get it here?”
“One of the employees at the dealership drove it over. I wanted to surprise you.” I pulled the keys out of my purse and handed them to him. “Happy 30 th birthday, Little Dicky,” I said.
He laughed and looked over at me. “I’m going to ignore the last part of your sentence because you just bought me a freaking truck.”
I smiled up at him. “And you haven’t even seen the best part.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him to the truck bed. I opened up the back to reveal the picnic blanket and basket I’d laid out for us.
Yes, we could have gone to a nearby park or something. But I felt anxious leaving our property. And for some reason I thought this would be romantic. We could pretend we were anywhere in the world back here. Like we’d just driven hundreds of miles to some romantic destination.
He grabbed my hand and helped me up into the back of the truck. He sat down and I kicked off my sandals and sat down beside him. I pulled out the sandwiches from the picnic basket. I’d made all his favorite things. And I couldn’t help but smile as he took a big bite and sighed.
“This is delicious,” he said.
“Almost as delicious as something the new head chef would make.” I lightly tapped his thigh with my bare foot.
He laughed and caught my foot in his hand.
“No, this is better.” The way he was looking at me made it impossible to know if he was saying if it was my cooking that was delicious or just…
me . He pulled my foot to bring me closer to him.
And then he abandoned his sandwich and leaned over me, kissing the side of my neck.
“I was thinking about that blindfold,” he said as he kissed along my jawline.
I laughed. “Oh yeah? What were you thinking about it?”
He reached into my purse. “That I’d like it a lot better on you.”
He slowly wrapped it around my eyes, tying it tight in the back. The next thing I knew I was on my back, the skirt of my dress bunched around my waist.
His lips found my clit and he sucked hard.
I reached down, my fingers getting tangled in his hair. God, this felt a lot more like my birthday than his.
***
We stayed in the truck all day, watching the sun set and the stars light up the sky. Normally on nights like this we’d sit on the deck, our feet dangling in the water. Those nights were perfect. But this was even better. I never wanted to move from this spot.
My head was on Miller’s lap and we were both laying there staring at the stars. His fingers absentmindedly ran through my hair.
“Do you think anyone from our past ever thinks about us still?” I asked.
His fingers stilled.
Shit. I knew where his mind had just gone.
And that wasn’t even what I’d meant. “I think about Kennedy sometimes,” I said quickly, ending the awkward silence in the air.
“And Mrs. Alcaraz. I wonder how they’re doing.
If Kennedy went to a fancy art school. If she pursued photography.
” I knew she and I fought before I left.
But she’d been my best friend. I desperately hoped she was happy.
That she’d found everything she wanted in life.
“And I wonder if Mrs. Alcaraz still lives in the same apartment.” Mrs. Alcaraz was like a surrogate mother to me.
I missed her cooking and her hugs. I turned so I could face Miller.
But his eyes were still trained on the sky. “I can find out. If you want me to.”
I swallowed hard. A part of me did want to know.
I wanted to know all of it. Was my dad healthy now that he had my kidney?
Did Isabella get what she secretly wanted and end up with Matt?
Did she ever really get the help she needed or was it just a lie my dad told?
Did Felix follow in his parent’s footsteps after all?
Was Rob still cracking jokes? Did James still frown more than he smiled?
I hoped not. I hoped they were all happy.
Even Matt. I hoped he wasn’t plagued by thoughts of me.
Although, I was certain he’d stopped thinking about me years ago.
Slowly over time I thought about him less and less too.
I never belonged in his world. In any of their worlds.
This right here? This was me. This was where I was supposed to be.
“No. It’s better just believing they all lived happily ever after. Like me.”
Miller propped himself up on his elbows so he could look down at me. “Is that really how you feel?”
“Yes. I wake up smiling every morning.” At least when I didn’t have nightmares. “And I go to bed smiling every night. And I get to spend all day with you. My very own prince charming.”