Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
M iles leaned back in his chair, watching Lucy and Joey attempt to do a Texas two-step to Kenny Chesney’s “American Kids” on the dance floor. What they lacked in ability, they were making up for in enthusiasm, the two of them laughing as Joey stomped his feet and spun Lucy around like a rag doll while she hung on for dear life. Joey had gotten a cowboy hat from somewhere—probably borrowed from Hank—so he looked the part of…well, an Italian trying to pass for a redneck, Miles thought with a chuckle. He made a mental note to give him shit for it later.
Their camera crew was set up in the corner, capturing footage that would serve as B-roll and make a nice ending to the episode. The past four days had passed by in a blur as he and Joey spent all day, every day, filming for ManPower , their time on the ranch starting at an ungodly hour each morning.
Meanwhile, Lucy had traveled from one Sparks house to another, interviewing several of Macie’s relatives for her YouTube show. In addition to recording Hank and Macie on their couch, she’d also filmed a cousin, Sydney, and her former soldier husband, Chas, as well as another cousin, Gia, and her husband, Logan—who built beautiful custom-made furniture, and had been booked by Sherri for a show next season.
Logan was currently pounding out a beat on his bass with the band Ty’s Collective, onstage. The other three members of the band—Caleb, Tyson, and Harley—had been the last of Lucy’s Kiss and Tell interviews. Miles had been shocked to learn they were a committed throuple. Apparently, the Morettis didn’t own the market on threesome relationships, the Sparks family giving them a run for their money.
Miles noticed Lucy had been decidedly quiet after returning from that interview, only offering the barest of responses to his and Joey’s questions about how it had gone. He hadn’t seen any of the footage, so Miles wasn’t sure what to make of her reaction, trying to decide if she’d been concerned about their relationship, bothered by something they’d said, or perhaps…jealous?
Miles had never coveted what Joey’s brothers had, never wanted to be a third of a menage a trois. Not until this week, with Joey and Lucy.
Now, he couldn’t shake the green-eyed monster sitting on his chest.
Every night for the last four, they’d returned to the RV at the end of each workday, where they ate dinner together then climbed into bed, he and Joey taking turns with their beautiful girl. Nowadays, Miles struggled to remember why he’d been so against participating in the threesome to begin with.
Actually, he remembered exactly why. But it turns out, having Joey in bed—naked and erect—hadn’t bothered him as much as he’d expected. Hell, it hadn’t bothered him at all, really. Miles didn’t think that would be the case with another man. But with Joey, it felt natural, and even easy. Probably because he was closer to Joey than anyone else in his life. There still wasn’t any sexual attraction—at least on his part. Though he wasn’t sure if Joey felt the same.
That was just one of about a million things the three of them weren’t talking about when it came to this…this…
Miles sighed.
Affair.
He hated that word, but self-preservation wouldn’t let him use another, not even in his own head.
Every night, they fell into bed, never speaking a word about feelings or the future. As soon as the two F words popped into his head, he shut them down.
No feelings. No future.
Just fucking.
Guess it was obvious why none of them had broached the subject.
They’d wrapped up filming at the Cooper ranch that afternoon. It was a long day that started before dawn as countless people—family, friends, and ranch hands alike—gathered to begin the process of making the apple butter. They’d spent hours the day before peeling bushel after bushel of apples. There’d been a bit of a chill in the air today, everyone bundled up in fall jackets, hats, and scarves. They took turns stirring the apples, butter, cinnamon, and sugar in the huge copper kettles using long wooden paddles, while a bunch of kids ran around playing tag and hide-and-seek.
Growing up in the city, Miles had never experienced anything like today. It was as if he’d stepped back in time, and he’d enjoyed the peacefulness. The whole thing had felt like an episode ripped out of The Andy Griffith Show , and he’d joked with Mack, the cameraman, that he’d be shocked if the footage didn’t show up in black and white.
By the end of the day, they had made an ungodly amount of apple butter, probably enough for every resident in Maris, Texas. He, Joey, and Lucy had all been gifted with a couple quarts each of the sweet spread. Miles intended to give his to his mom and sister for Christmas because he knew they’d never had it and was certain they would love it.
According to Macie, it was tradition that Maris’s apple butter making was always followed by a barn dance. Miles wasn’t sure where everyone found the energy after such a busy day, but the place was hopping. Ty’s Collective was a bluegrass band, and while it wasn’t Miles’s kind of music, he had to admit they were really good.
All in all, it had been a great day, so Miles hated that he was now in this funk. Even though he knew the cause.
Their time in Texas was over. The sand in the hourglass was almost gone. Tomorrow, they’d start the three-day journey back to Virginia, where they would drop Lucy off at Stormy Weather Farm before he and Joey traveled on to Baltimore to film their next episode.
Joey had suggested interviewing Killian Collins, Layla’s uncle by marriage, and his partner Justin, who ran their own construction company. He and Joey had been thrilled when the producers agreed not only to that interview but to allowing the two of them more input on who they featured on the show.
Before this week, the two of them had been looking forward to the trip to Baltimore and the chance to hang out with friends and Joey’s sister.
Now?
He was dreading it.
Miles had known before crawling into bed with her that leaving Lucy would be hard. There was simply no way to be around her and not feel happy. Her optimistic view of life reminded him a lot of Joey’s, which was why Miles was so drawn to both of them. He wouldn’t call himself a pessimist, preferring the term realist, but spending time around such genuinely positive people was pleasurable and contagious.
Lucy was sweet and thoughtful, attentive and fun. Miles had thought her just Joey’s type when he’d first met her, never suspecting she was his as well.
He also thought he’d prepared himself for the inevitable end, but he didn’t expect it to be this hard.
They’d declared this time their brief escape from reality or, as Lucy called it, an adventure. It was that idea that had convinced Miles to lower his walls and give in to the undeniable desire growing inside him. Idiot that he was, he thought he could keep things between them casual, indulging in sex while holding his emotions at bay. He’d never had trouble doing that in the past. Miles hadn’t fallen in love even once since Rhiannon, and he’d wondered countless times over the years if he’d lost the ability.
Or if his heart simply refused to let anyone in besides his ex.
Lucy Storm had found the key.
To add insult to injury, Rhiannon hadn’t stopped texting or calling, despite the fact he hadn’t responded to her in over a week.
Today, Rhiannon had doubled down, his phone pinging no less than two dozen times as she sent him photo after photo of the two of them together, starting from when they were toddlers, holding hands as they walked through the New York Zoo. She’d included their junior and senior prom pictures, another of them standing outside their first apartment building dangling the keys, and countless other “couple” photos that included them dancing, cuddling on the couch, or making silly faces at the camera.
She said she’d finally found time to finish unpacking her things since moving back to New York. Apparently, the pictures had been in one of the boxes, so she’d flooded his phone with a lifetime of memories.
He should have blocked her number because with each new text, his mood got blacker and blacker.
There was no room for Rhiannon in his life anymore.
Period.
Not since Lucy came into his life and claimed his heart.
Miles picked at the label on his beer bottle and let that realization sink in.
In the past, whenever he and Rhiannon reconnected, he’d felt like a besotted teenager embarking on first love, always checking his phone for messages, lighting up whenever she called, counting down the minutes until they were together. She would sashay back into his life, crook her finger, and he’d go panting after her.
The fact that he didn’t want to talk to her… at all …
God, he was finally—FINALLY—over his ex for good.
That insight should have made him feel like a million bucks. But all it did was drive home another fact.
He’d just set himself up for another heartbreak. One that would be a million times worse than the ones he’d suffered over Rhiannon.
His gaze traveled back to the dance floor, where Joey and Lucy were swaying together to “Make You Feel My Love.” Miles loved the song, but he’d never really considered the words until this moment. When Lucy turned her head to find him, offering him one of those sweet smiles of hers, Miles realized he’d done it again. Fallen in love with a woman he couldn’t have.
Not that he could fault Lucy for that. She’d been very honest about her commitment to her family and the farm. Even today, as they were standing by the fire, she’d gotten excited about incorporating some of the flavors of the apple butter into a new beer, making notes in her phone and even texting Sam her thoughts. She’d admitted that her favorite part of working as brewmaster was developing new recipes, playing with ingredients to achieve a certain flavor profile.
Her life was on that farm, and try as he may, Miles couldn’t see a way to make her world blend with his and Joey’s. Not for the long-term.
His phone buzzed in his pocket and, despite his better judgment, he pulled it out.
Sure enough, Rhiannon had sent another photo, this one of the two of them kissing on New Year’s Eve, streamers falling over them. He stared at it for a long time before flipping his phone over and placing it face down on the table in front of him.
When the song ended, Lucy and Joey stepped apart. Lucy left the dance floor, drifting over to a table where Macie sat with the other women who ran Sparks Barbeque, including the ones Lucy had interviewed with their spouses for Kiss and Tell .
Joey returned to their table, dropping down next to Miles. “You’re scowling.”
Miles shrugged.
“Rhiannon still blowing up your phone?”
“Yeah.”
Joey had walked up behind Miles earlier and caught him scrolling through some of the photos his ex had sent this afternoon. He hadn’t said a word about it. Instead, he’d shaken his head sadly and walked away.
“I think we should ask Lucy to stay with us.” Joey’s comment came out of left field, but it didn’t really take Miles by surprise.
His friend wasn’t any happier about leaving her behind than Miles was.
“We can’t do that, Joe. It wouldn’t be fair to her. Her life is on the farm, running the brewery with her family.”
Joey ran his hand through his hair, and Miles could almost see his friend compiling a list of ways they could convince her to stay with them. Tenacious didn’t even begin to describe Joey when he set his mind to something.
Miles’s phone buzzed again, but he didn’t reach for it.
Joey stared at it for a second, then looked at him, concern in his expression. “Do you want to ask her to stay?”
He hated that Joey thought he didn’t, that his friend thought he was dismissing this because of some latent feelings for Rhiannon.
Although…
Miles spied a way that might make this easier for the two of them. Because his best friend was obviously feeling as low as he was.
“This was just an adventure, Joey. Not forever. Besides, things still aren’t settled between me and Rhiannon, and I’m in a shitty headspace. It wouldn’t be fair to drag Lucy into the middle of that.”
Joey scoffed. “Bullshit. Don’t use Rhiannon as an excuse, because you and I both know you’re over her.”
Sometimes Miles thought Joey knew him better than he knew himself.
“This thing with Lucy…” Joey continued. “It’s different. It’s special.”
Miles shook his head. Not because he disagreed but because he didn’t know how to argue against something that was true. God. What the three of them shared wasn’t just special. It was fucking perfect.
“Lucy had an offer to leave home before,” Miles reminded him. “She turned down Marco. Chose to stay on the farm. That woman is as close to her family as you are to yours. But more than that, she feels a sense of responsibility to that place, to those people. I mean, for God’s sake, she’s not just an employee at the brewery but an owner. She has a financial stake in their success.”
“I know that.” Joey reached for his beer, taking a long drink. “And you’re right. She can’t leave. At least not right away. We have time off between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We already talked about the possibility of returning to the farm to see her. We’ll set that up, get the details solid before we head on to Baltimore.”
Miles sighed, aware that Joey’s suggestion was a short-term solution at best. More than that, prolonging things would only make this harder later on.
“Could you really do a long-distance relationship?” Miles asked. “And if so, for how long? Because even when our ManPower days are over, you have a vested interest in your family’s business in Philadelphia.”
Joey didn’t reply to that for a long time. Probably because he didn’t like the answers he was coming up with. “I’m away from Moretti Brothers more than I’m there these days. My brothers are making it work without me. Maybe I could become a silent partner.”
Miles knew just how much Joey would hate that because he missed working with his brothers. It was exactly why he and Miles spent the off months in Philadelphia. So Joey could get his fix of Moretti family time.
“And then what? You move to the farm?” Miles hated saying these things aloud, but they’d been rattling around in his brain for the better part of this week. He wasn’t sure Joey was thinking through exactly what it was he was asking for.
“I love that farm, but…”
Miles’s grimaced. “But you’re a city boy like me.”
Joey nodded. Just once.
“What we’ve been doing with Lucy,” Miles said, “it’s incredible. I mean…the sex…”
Joey grinned, but it was a sad one. “This is where I’m going to drop that ‘I told you so’ I owe you.”
Miles chuckled. “I deserve that. This past week has been amazing, but there’s a big difference between a threesome in the bedroom and a committed menage. It’s hard enough making a relationship work with two people. You’re proposing the three of us try to build a life together while not even living in the same state.”
Joey’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue.
Then Miles brought up something else that had been bothering him. “Besides, while your family accepts the threesome relationships, my mom and sister never will.”
“You don’t know that,” Joey started, but Miles waved off the dispute before it could start.
“I know them, and I know they wouldn’t approve. And it wouldn’t just be them. What do you think would happen to our careers if word got out that we were sleeping with the same woman? We’ve already gotten a couple comments from Sherri about Lucy’s presence in the RV. I think she’s trying to figure out which one of us Lucy is sleeping with.”
“Who we sleep with is no one’s business,” Joey said hotly.
“I’m not saying it is, but our jobs thrust us into the limelight. There’s a chance society will judge us for our relationship, and that could have a negative impact on us remaining employed with the show. Our image matters to the production company and the advertisers.”
Joey scowled because he knew Miles was right.
He reached over and placed his hand on Joey’s shoulder, hoping to console him. “We head back to Virginia tomorrow. I think we’d be smart to end things with Lucy when we arrive there. We need to cut our losses now, bro, because…” Miles swallowed heavily, trying to dislodge the lump forming in his throat. “I know what heartbreak feels like, and I can’t face that again. The longer we drag this out, the more it will hurt. All of us. Lucy included.”
Joey frowned. If there was one thing he knew about his friend, it was that he’d cut out his own heart before he’d hurt Lucy.
“Let’s make the best of the time we have left.”
Before Joey could agree or disagree with that suggestion, Lucy returned to the table.
“I cannot believe how much fun I’m having!” she said, swaying slightly as she sat down.
“Are you drunk?” Miles asked.
Lucy shook her head. “Tipsy at best. And maybe a little concussed from that Texas two-step.”
Joey laughed. “I wasn’t swinging you that hard, honey.”
“By the way,” Miles said, “Where’s your hat, cowboy?”
Joey gestured toward Hank. “Returned to its owner. Just borrowed it for the two-step. Wanted to look the part.”
Miles grinned. “Well, if you were going for Guido, you got there.”
Joey rolled his eyes and punched him on the arm. “Asshole.”
“Did you guys want to hang around a while longer?” Lucy asked, while trying to hide a yawn behind her hand.
Miles shook his head. “No. It’s been a long day, and we need to get on the road fairly early tomorrow morning. We’re facing eight, nine hours of driving.”
Lucy made a face. “Ugh.”
Joey rose. “Let’s go say goodbye to Hank and Macie.”
Lucy took Joey’s hand, the two skirting the tables between them and the Coopers.
Miles picked up his phone, intent on following. He glanced down when it pinged, expecting to see another picture.
Instead, Rhiannon had sent a message.
When are you going to be in Baltimore? I was thinking I might drive down to see you.
Shit. His mother had informed him a week ago that Rhiannon was interested in his filming schedule for the show, so she’d shared it with her. At the time, he’d been more resigned than pissed, but now? Now the anger he should have felt then arrived with a vengeance. Because it wasn’t just Rhiannon he needed to set things straight with. It was his mother too.
Great. Another fun conversation to look forward to.
After saying goodbye to approximately fifty-seven members of the Sparks family, Mack gave them a ride back to the RV.
“Last night in Maris,” Lucy said with a sigh as they walked in.
Joey wrapped his arm around her waist. “So we need to make it count.”
Lucy had looked exhausted on the ride back to the campground, but with that one comment from Joey, her tired eyes brightened.
Miles found his second wind as well when they made their way to the bedroom.
They’d developed their own routine the last few nights, each of them stripping off their clothes before diving beneath the covers. While Lucy had grown more comfortable being naked in front of them, her skin still flushed the prettiest pink. Originally, Miles had chalked it up to modesty or shyness, but he knew now it was a sign of her arousal.
For someone with limited experience, Lucy matched him and Joey right down the line as far as sexual appetite.
So far, they hadn’t done more than take turns, though that was by no means a criticism. The truth was they hadn’t needed to expand their horizons because just being with her—then watching Joey push their beautiful, sweet honey over the edge—was all Miles wanted. He could get lost inside Lucy’s body and never want to be found again.
Once they were naked, Joey drew back the covers, intent on climbing in.
Lucy stopped him. “Wait. We’re making it count, right?”
Miles stepped behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist to pull her back flush to his chest, his erection brushing her ass. “What did you have in mind, little girl?” he murmured in her ear, loving the way she shivered with need.
Her long blonde hair tickled his nose, but he didn’t care. She smelled like apples and cinnamon and the faintest hint of woodsmoke, despite the fact they’d all showered before the barn dance.
“Something different.”
It was a vague answer, her wicked grin telling Miles it was her intent to make them guess.
“You have a plan?” Joey asked.
Lucy nodded.
Miles placed a kiss on her bare shoulder. “Sounds like you’re the one directing things tonight.”
Ever since the afternoon when Miles had taken charge, directing Joey as he brought her to orgasm, narrating the action had become part of their sexual games. And neither he nor Joey were quiet observers when the other was making love to Lucy. Instead, they laced their voyeurism with commands and dirty talk, guiding the play, driving it to the next level.
“Get on the bed, Joey,” Lucy said, taking charge. “Sit with your back against the headboard, your legs spread.”
Joey did as she asked, grinning widely, clearly all in. The guy was always up for anything, and damn if Miles didn’t follow in his wake every single time. Mainly because Joey had never led him into anything other than a good time.
Lucy joined him on the bed, crawling between Joey’s outstretched legs.
Joey groaned when she licked the underside of his cock from root to tip, not touching him with anything other than her tongue. She did the same thing half a dozen times, licking his dick like it was a cone of delicious, rapidly melting ice cream.
“Shit, Luce,” Joey breathed.
She gave him the cutest smile, obviously pleased by his response. Then she looked over her shoulder at Miles. “I want to give Joey a blow job while you take me from behind. I want both of you at the same time tonight.”
Miles had foolishly thought his dick was as hard as it could get. He was wrong.
“You’re going to come in my mouth,” she told Joey. While she’d given them other blow jobs since those inaugural ones, they still hadn’t come in her mouth, always too anxious to fuck her to even consider recovery time. “And Miles is going to fuck me like he means it. He’s going to make it hurt.”
Joey’s head fell back against the headboard, his eyes closing. “Jesus. I’m not going to last long if you keep talking like that, honey.”
Miles climbed onto the bed, kneeling behind Lucy, who was sitting on her haunches. He gathered her hair, holding it in one hand in a loose ponytail before tightening his grip and tilting her head back and to the side. His rough kiss, combined with him pulling her hair, produced the desired result. Lucy whimpered with need.
When he released her, he reached around her midriff to pinch one of her nipples. “Since your mouth will be occupied, dirty girl, I’m taking over as far as making demands. We’re going to give you what you want, but you’re going to give us what we want too.”
Lucy nodded, then cleared her throat. “Okay,” she whispered.
Miles tilted her forward with a firm hand in the middle of her back. “Hands and knees.”
Lucy, the little minx, gave him exactly what he asked for, wiggling her ass provocatively, her mouth a mere inch from Joey’s cock.
Joey cupped her cheeks. “Open your mouth, honey, and let me in.”
She’d just taken Joey into her mouth when Miles spanked her ass, swatting each cheek three times until her pale skin turned red.
Lucy hummed around Joey’s cock. Spankings were a surefire way to get her sex drive revving.
Joey slid his fingers through her hair, his fists closing around the long, blonde tresses. “I want to fuck your mouth, Lucy.”
Miles couldn’t see her face, but he saw her neck bend as she looked up at Joey while still holding his dick in her mouth, before giving him a very slight nod.
Miles had grabbed a couple of condoms from his wallet while undressing and tossed them onto the nightstand. Reaching for one, he pulled it on, pumping his hand up and down his hard length as Joey used his grip to push Lucy farther down his dick.
She jerked instinctively when Miles touched her opening, covering his fingers with her wetness, then sliding lower to stroke her clit.
She moaned, arching her back, tilting her ass higher, a silent plea for more.
He loved how uninhibited Lucy was with them, never shying away from her desires, never holding anything back. It made him want to push her limits. Dragging his fingers back to her pussy, he gathered up more of her body’s juices before traveling a different direction.
Lucy’s mouth popped off Joey’s dick when Miles pushed the tip of his forefinger into the tight pucker of her anus.
Her sudden withdrawal and gasp drew Joey’s attention. He looked at where Miles was touching her before lifting his gaze, meeting Miles’s even as he spoke to Lucy.
“I didn’t tell you to stop sucking me, honey.” Joey started to push her head back down, then paused for just a moment. “We’d never hurt you. You know that, right?”
Lucy nodded, casting a quick glance over her shoulder at Miles.
He wiggled the fingertip inside her ass. “No more than this,” he reassured her, regretting that promise when she looked almost disappointed.
Then she turned around and took Joey back into her mouth.
Regardless of what Lucy might think she wanted, they were in the beginning stages as far as threesome sex was concerned, so Miles pulled his finger out, trying not to let her muffled mewl convince him to push it deeper.
Instead, he gripped his cock, guiding the head to her oh-so-wet opening.
Once Joey resumed control of her mouth, drawing her lips along his dick, Miles pushed inside in one hard, relentless thrust.
Joey had proven himself to be a passionate, sometimes even rough lover, so Miles had taken the opposite role. He enjoyed taking his time with a woman, paying attention to her sounds and her body, both letting him know what turned her on. Lucy was a vocal lover, not so much in volume but in groans, moans, hums, and hisses. Miles was sure she didn’t realize how much she revealed with those quiet sounds.
Once he was buried to the hilt, he slowly withdrew, his gaze connecting with Joey’s. Their newfound telepathy came into play as they began to fuck Lucy in unison, Miles’s inward thrusts matching the speed and force that Joey used to push her mouth down.
They continued to take her—use her—as she cried out around Joey’s cock, trembling as first one, and then a second orgasm blew through her. They paused after each of her climaxes. It was that or lose control, and there was no way Miles was letting this end too quickly. It was the most intense sexual experience of his life, staring at his best friend as the two of them drove their woman out of her mind with pleasure.
Lucy’s strength deserted her as she dropped from her hands to her elbows, her cheek resting on Joey’s muscular thigh. Joey released his hold on her hair, stroking his fingers through the long tresses instead, massaging her scalp, which was probably sore.
Neither of them had come yet. A fact that wasn’t lost on Lucy, who, despite being wrung out from her own orgasms, seemed determined to bring them to their knees.
Miles could have told her she didn’t have to try so hard. She’d had him on his knees the first time she flashed that sunny smile his direction.
When he reached around her waist, touching her clit, intent on claiming a third orgasm, she lifted her head, looking back at him.
“With me,” she demanded.
Miles nodded because he didn’t have a choice. Feeling her come around his dick twice had been sheer fucking bliss, and as much as he wanted to experience that sensation a million more times, his self-control was hanging on by a thread.
Given Joey’s harsh breathing and the tight clench of his jaw, it was safe to say his friend was as close as he was, if not closer.
Miles resumed his thrusting, stroking her clit, while Lucy took Joey back inside, and he began to fuck her mouth in earnest.
“Fuck!” Joey’s voice was hoarse as he came. He closed his eyes and his head fell back, banging against the headboard with enough force it probably hurt. “Shit! Honey. Lucy.”
Lucy never lifted her head, swallowing every drop of Joey’s come.
The image of Joey and Lucy together sent Miles over the edge as well, his hips pistoning as he took her at her word, giving her exactly what she’d asked for.
Lucy came a split second behind him, her body jolting so roughly he had to grip her waist to keep himself inside. Miles’s vision went black for a few seconds as he filled the condom, hoping the damn thing could hold it all because he’d never come this much.
The three of them remained frozen in place. Lucy’s head rested on Joey’s thigh again, his now-soft dick close to her face as he clumsily patted her hair. His head was still thrown back against the headboard, his eyes shut, as he tried to catch his breath.
Miles remained tucked inside Lucy, not ready to give up the warmth of her body.
For several minutes, they stayed just like that. Miles wasn’t even sure if Lucy and Joey were awake. She stirred slightly when Miles forced himself to withdraw, and Joey lifted his head as soon as he felt Miles’s weight leave the mattress.
Miles walked to the bathroom, where he disposed of the condom and washed his hands and face. When he returned to the bedroom, Joey and Lucy had shifted, though not much. Joey was now lying down, Lucy tucked against his chest.
A sharp pain pierced his heart as he faced the future that loomed before him. One where neither of these people were in his bed.
He climbed onto the mattress but they didn’t stir.
Miles lay on his back, staring at the ceiling for a long time as they slept. Too many things were rattling around in his brain for him to find peace. Considering the long drive that lay ahead of them, he’d pay for the lack of sleep tomorrow.
His frustration over everything he was about to lose grew until his chest ached with helplessness. Feeling the need for control over one tiny fucking part of his life, he decided to take charge of what he could. Ready to do something he should have done weeks ago.
Carefully climbing out of bed, he tiptoed out of the room, sitting down at the table and opening his laptop.
It was nearly two a.m. in Texas, so he opted to say what he needed to in an email rather than by text or phone call because Rhiannon would most likely be asleep.
He considered waiting until morning and calling, but they were getting on the road early for the first day of three nine-hour drives, and he wanted this over with now . And he didn’t feel the least bit bad about doing it in email instead of in person or over the phone because the second time Rhiannon had dumped him, it was via a note written on the back of a take-out menu.
Firing up his email, he said all the things he should have told her when she called him that first night three weeks earlier. He told her they both needed to move on, and to do that, they couldn’t be friends, couldn’t be anything to each other. He asked her to stop texting and calling, then told her he hoped she would be happy—because he did want that for her—even if it wasn’t something they could find together.
Miles prayed the email would be the end of things, but he knew her well enough to know Rhiannon wouldn’t accept his words at face value. She’d launch into all the reasons why they should and could be just friends because she’d done it before. Why wouldn’t she think she could wear him down? He hadn’t exactly gone out of his way not to look like a fucking pushover, letting her slip under his defenses too many times in the past.
Hitting send, he closed the lid to the laptop, blocked Rhiannon’s number on his phone, and returned to the bedroom, looking down at the two most important people in his life.
A wave of sorrow washed through him at the thought of walking away from Lucy in a few days.
Apparently, his life was never going to be Kiss and Tell .
It would always be Hit and Miss.