Chapter 18 - Miles
I grabbed a bundle of grapes and handed them to Patty. Patty made a face. "You have a little extra pip in your step today. What's gotten into you?"
I did. After taking Miles for his first run, I was over the moon and couldn't seem to come down. The kid was fast and hysterical. He was surprised by everything he saw and thought it was awesome that we could talk even if we were wolves.
It tugged a little that I couldn't say anything. I so badly wanted to tell him who I was. But I wasn't going to drop that bomb and ruin whatever civil land Laura and I were on.
When I arrived last night, I could see Laura's look of devastation. She looked completely destroyed as she stood over Michael, crying. As angry as I had been, I wanted to put that aside and be there for both of them.
"I'm just in a good mood," I said.
"Does it maybe have something to do with the fact you're a dad?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at me.
I scowled. Of course, word got around. I shouldn't have been surprised. "You know, sometimes I hate this town."
She snorted. "Sorry. You should have known that would have gotten around."
"I wish not as quickly as it had," I grumbled. We were a close-knit community, and everyone knew everyone's secrets. But as crappy as I might have disliked it, it was nice. It meant people were caring.
"I just don't understand how this all happened," Patty said, shrugging. "The kid is like six. Wasn't she new in town?"
"College," I said. "We met in college."
Patty raised an eyebrow. "You went to college? I'm having a hard time picturing that."
It was a part of my life I didn't speak a lot about, mostly because I left that life behind. When I finally disagreed with my folks, they disowned me and moved. I still had no idea where they went, but I didn't seem to care either.
I remember returning home and thinking my folks would be proud of me, but they weren't. I quickly realized they never would be, and I needed to start putting myself first.
She handed me my grapes and smiled. "Well, I hope you guys figure something out. She's a sweet girl, and her kid seems like he's great. I've seen them around here from time to time, and he's so well-mannered and respectful."
He was. Even during my short time with him, I could tell she had raised him right. He listened when I told him we needed to go back and that we couldn't run into another pack's land. He asked questions, good questions. He was calm even when we spotted a couple of bears running by.
I remembered my first run and how my father never allowed me to be curious about things. He was always straightforward and had rules that needed to be followed.
"He's a good kid," I said. "I'll see you next week."
I headed to my car and froze when I noticed Laura and Michael walking down the sidewalk toward the farmer's market. Laura was wearing a simple white summer dress and flats. She had a hat on and her hair down. Michael was wearing shorts and a shirt with a spaceship on it. He was talking, and she was listening, nodding her head as he spoke.
My heart twisted, watching them. She chuckled, ruffling his hair, and he smiled at her. My wolf whimpered, feeling it was so far out of my grasp. I ached to be part of them.
Just then, Laura's eyes caught mine, and the world seemed to pause for one moment. My mind went to our breakup, and when she turned back to me in the doorway,
"You are going to regret this, Miles." Her voice cracked just as the thunder above us rumbled even louder. I could hear the rain starting to hit my window.
"I won't," I said, feeling like my guts were being ripped out. I didn't want to break up, but I needed this. I needed to prove to my parents that I was everything they needed.
She paused on the sidewalk, one part leading to where I parked and the other to the farmers' market. She gave me a half-wave.
Michael pulled his gaze away from the market, finding me. "Hey, Miles. You shopping here too?"
I started back up the sidewalk, nodding my head. "Yeah, I come a lot. How are you feeling?"
"Great!" he said, smiling extra happy.
"He went for another run this morning," Laura said, ruffling his hair again. "But not anywhere I couldn't see you."
Michael nodded. "I had a great time." Michael then looked at Laura. "Do you think Poppy would want to go?"
Laura smiled. "Poppy isn't a shifter, honey. She's a witch, remember."
Michael scowled. "Well, then, who can go with me?" Michael looked back at me. "Would you go with me again? I want to really go run and see how fast I can be. I bet I'm fast."
I swallowed, wanting to say yes. I would go anytime he wanted, but I paused, unsure of how Laura felt about it.
I looked at her, seeing she wasn't sure what to say.
"How about you just stick to where your mom can see you until you're a little bigger?" I said, hoping it was simple enough.
He didn't seem to like the answer but didn't argue with it. Michael tilted his head instead. "Are you friends with my mom or something?"
I was thrown by the question and looked at Laura, who looked a little stunned.
"Uhmmm..."
I was about to say yes when Laura cleared her throat. She bent down, and I could see her shoulders sink as she looked at him.
"Yeah, he is, but he's actually a little more."
I stiffened. Was she really going to tell him? Now?
Michael looked at me and then back at his mom. "What do you mean? What does a little more mean?"
Laura placed her hands on her knees. "Michael, Miles is your dad."
Michael looked at me and frowned. He quickly looked back at Laura. "Like you're dating and want to marry?"
She shook her head. "No. Like…. Poppy's dad is Ayden. And Ivy's dad is Owen. Our neighbor, Harry, has a dad named Dyan."
Michael shook his head, ripping his hands from Laura's. "No, he's not my dad."
I felt that twist in my stomach, and Michael stepped back, shaking his head. I could see anger cross his face. "I don't have a dad."
"Michael, don't get angry," she said, pulling herself up. "Let me explain."
"Why did you abandon us!?" Michael suddenly yelled, looking at me. "You were never around. So, why did you leave?"
My eyebrows went up, and I looked at Laura. "You told him I abandoned you guys?"
"No," she said, shaking her head quickly. "I never said that." Her face was beat red now. "I did not say that to him."
"Then where would he get the idea?" I asked, angry now.
"Don't talk to my mom that way," Michael snapped, stepping in front of Laura. Laura quickly tried to grab him, but Michael resisted, pulling against her.
"Michael, that's enough. You don't speak like that," she said with a little bite behind her words.
"You left us," Michael yelled. "You aren't my dad, and you'll never be my dad."
"Michael, enough." Laura grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "We don't talk like that." She looked at me. "I never told him that you abandoned us."
"I did not leave you," I growled, curling my hands into fists. "Where else would he get the idea?"
"Because he’s young," she snapped back. "Michael, apologize," Laura said, but he shook his head. Instead of apologizing, he turned, running down the sidewalk. Laura looked at me and scowled.
"I can't believe you told him I left you guys."
"I didn't," she snapped back quickly. "I never told him anything about you."
"Then what did you tell him clearly? He got it somewhere."
Laura pulled a hand up, shaking her head. "I'm not going to argue with you about this."
"Sure, run away. You're good at that."
She narrowed her eyes. "No, Miles, that's you. I never ran. I stood my ground while you tucked your tail and left."
I felt like she'd stabbed me in the chest. Instead of feeling anger, I felt sudden regret. My stomach twisted up violently, and I stood there frozen.
Laura turned, storming off after Michael, leaving me behind.