22. Brooke
There’s a reason I don’t cry.
It’s not fun or sexy. It’s not a good time before, during, or after.
I roll to my back, stretching out with long, languid movements. My eyes feel as if I rubbed them with sandpaper. My chest aches hollowly.
Except…
Maybe I was wrong because I also feel as if a huge weight has been lifted away and I can breathe.
I fell asleep in Miles’s arms.
The sheets smell like him, and I inhale the scent of him on the pillow.
I leaned on him last night. More than I’d planned. More than my pride would ordinarily let me.
The sky didn’t fall.
Maybe there’s something to letting another person in.
My phone buzzes. There’s a message from my landlord reminding me that my rent was due yesterday.
I click off, dropping the phone and falling back against the wooden headboard.
I need to land this contract. Otherwise, I’ll be out a place to live, not to mention groceries.
The door latch sounds, and I bolt upright.
“Hi,” Miles says as he enters, balancing two cardboard cups on top of one another in his right hand, the key in his left.
“Hey.” My voice is thick with sleep, and I clear my throat. “How’s the coffee?”
“Not as good as mine.”
I smile and he passes over one cup.
Miles looks good. He always looks good, but he’s showered and his hair is damp. His dark jeans cling to strong legs, his sweater a moodier version of the blue of his eyes.
“What time is it?” I ask.
“Nine.”
“Shit.” I straighten immediately. “We need to be at breakfast. I need to reassure everyone I haven’t lost my mind, starting with Elise.” I shift out of bed, pulling a robe over my pajamas. “And explain why she should give me the contract instead of Caroline, and do it before we leave tomorrow, and…”
Miles shifts in front of me, blocking my way. “Or you can take a shower and we can have breakfast to go.” He holds up a paper bag.
I’m instantly suspicious. “To go where?”
His eyes dance as he grins. “You wanted to disappear last night. So disappear with me, Princess.”
* * *
“You’re insane!” I shriek over the wind as my heart hammers. The hot air balloon is a staggering work of purple fabric and fire, lifting us higher with every second.
After I spilled out of bed and savored the hot breakfast and hotter shower, Miles drove us just out of town and parked next to a field where a massive purple hot air balloon was inflating.
“We’re going up in that?” I demanded.
“The crew here is the best. They’re in charge of all the festivals and events in the area. Don’t worry.”
I wasn’t worried.
I was excited.
Now, we’re hundreds of feet in the air and my problems feel as far away as the receding ground. I lean over the edge of the hot air balloon to take in the scenery, and Miles grabs my arm.
“Afraid I’m going to jump?” I taunt over my shoulder.
“Nah. Just don’t want you to fall.”
His lips are close to my ear, and his body presses against mine. The proximity affects me as always, only up here it’s possible the altitude adds to the effect.
Behind us, the operator minds his own business. The balloon basket holds up to ten guests, but today, it’s a private flight for two. He gave us safety instructions earlier and is leaving us to ourselves. I’m guessing this is a common date activity, and I can see why.
Miles is handsome as hell. When I glance back at him, his hoodie is plastered to his hard body from the wind, his dark hair whipping around his head. He squints into the sun, surveying the view with genuine appreciation and delight.
Except he’s not looking at the scenery.
He’s looking at me.
“We never finished those date questions,” I tell him, and he grins.
“Let’s go, then.”
“My biggest fear…” I take a breath. “Is that the entire world will find out I’m not who I pretend to be. That I’m not capable or polished or organized. That even though my family did everything to give me a bright future, invested in me every step of the way, I managed to fuck it up.” I cut a look at him. “You?”
“Having to choose between things I love.”
I lean my head against his bicep. “It’s a good problem to have. If the choice is a hard one, it means you have a life worth living.”
Somewhere during appreciating how small we are up here, how much we don’t matter, I realize the truth: I’m going to be all right.
No matter the balance of my bank account or my future prospects, Miles makes me feel as though my world is in order.
The wind carries away the sound of the engine as it gushes over our heads. Beneath the basket, acres and acres of fields drift under us. The town of Vail. Even the lodge is tiny and insignificant.
Miles points toward the ground, pulling me close so his lips brush my ear. “There’s our cabin.”
“There’s Caroline.” I smudge a finger over her head. “Kidding. I won’t murder her. Or Kevin.”
It’s a joke, but Miles stiffens behind me. “It’s better if you stay away from him.”
“I was planning on it,” I say lightly.
The basket bounces on an air current, and Miles’s arms tighten around me.
“Last night, I was so angry,” I tell him. “I overreacted. But Miles… I wanted to see the whole place up in flames.”
“Maybe you need to burn some things down and start over.”
I lean back against his chest. “You’re a team player.” His chuckle rumbles through my back. “How do you do it? Especially when you don’t want to?”
He lifts a piece of my hair between his fingers, tugging lightly. “You remember why it matters.”
I twist in his arms, just enough to make eye contact. “I’m going to see Elise when we get back,” I decide. “See if she’ll meet me this afternoon. I’ll explain what happened and make her see this is the right fit.”
The flash of approval on his face lights me up. “That’s my girl.”