Chapter Thirty-One
Julian
I woke up slowly, the sheets soft and warm against my skin, stretching in the bed that wasn’t mine—but felt more like home than my own ever did.
The bed was empty.
Well... almost.
I cracked one eye open and sighed.
Sunny was sprawled beside me like a damn human—on her back, paws up, tongue slightly lolling out, completely dead to the world under the covers.
I should’ve shoved her off. I always said I didn’t like dogs in bed.
But instead... I shifted closer, sighing against her soft fur, burying my face in the scruff of her neck like she was some giant golden pillow.
God, I’m becoming one of those dog people.
A distant clatter sounded from the kitchen—pans, maybe plates. I knew that sound now. Miles.
Without even thinking, I slid out of bed, tugging Miles’s hoodie over my head. It was way too big, drowning me in soft warmth and the faint smell of him—coffee and vanilla and clean linen.
Sunny perked up immediately, tail thumping, and together we padded down the hall like some sleepy little army.
The second I stepped into the kitchen, Miles turned, grin stretching wide. His hair was messy from sleep, sticking up in the back, and he was barefoot, humming quietly to himself.
“Good morning, baby,” he said easily—like it was the most natural thing in the world.
His voice was still rough with sleep, soft and low.
“You and Sunny were so cute cuddling in bed, I had to make it my new lock screen.” His eyes glinted with mischief.
“My two favorites in one shot. I mean... come on. How could I not?”
I groaned softly, rolling my eyes, but heat crept into my cheeks anyway.
God, he’s ridiculous.
“Delete that,” I muttered, trying not to smile.
“Never,” he shot back, turning back to the stove.
I noticed then—avocado. Eggs. Toast. The exact breakfast I made every damn day.
I blinked, watching him.
When did he start eating this? Miles, the king of microwave dinners and frozen waffles?
My chest squeezed tight—something warm and unfamiliar curl ed behind my ribs.
He was doing it because of me.
And maybe I wasn’t imagining things when I thought he was picking up my habits.
Maybe I wasn’t the only one being ruined, quietly, by this thing between us.
Miles plated the toast and eggs, sliding it toward me like he’d been doing this his whole life, not just the past few mornings we’d spent tangled up in each other’s worlds.
“Eat up,” he said with a grin, leaning his hip against the counter as I grabbed a fork. “And after you’re done... go get dressed.”
I paused, fork halfway to my mouth. “Why? Where are we going?”
Miles just smiled, lazy and secretive, his dimple peeking out.
“Because I’m going to spoil you today. Like you deserve.
” He tilted his head, eyes full of something soft that made my chest feel tight in the best way.
“We’re going to your favorite coffee shop.
And then the bookstore across the street. ”
I blinked. Stared. A soft heat rose in my cheeks—one that made my ears burn.
He was planning this. For me.
“You want to take me there? Really?” My voice betrayed me—sounding too breathless, too stunned.
Miles laughed, gentle and warm. “Yeah, really. What, you think I’d keep you locked up in here all day like some secret? You deserve more than that. You deserve a whole damn day of being spoiled.”
I set the fork down, forgetting the food entirely, excitement starting to bubble up, surprising even myself.
“I haven’t been there in ages,” I said quickly, words tumbling over each other before I could stop.
“Their coffee’s actually good—like really good.
And they’re selling that new romance series I’ve been waiting for—God, it’s so hard to find the first edition of the hardbacks, you know how rare those are?
And the bookstore owner always gives free bookmarks if you buy two books—”
I stopped, heat prickling my face.
Miles was just staring. Quiet, fond, full of this unbearable softness in his eyes like I was the most fascinating thing in the world.
“What?” I muttered, dragging a hand through my hair.
He shook his head, smiling wider. “Nothing. I like when you ramble, that’s all.”
I scowled, trying to play it off, but the smile tugging at my mouth wouldn’t quit. My heart was thudding so hard it hurt.
And then, without thinking—without planning—I blurted, “Can we take Sunny?”
Even Miles blinked at that—genuinely surprised. Then his face cracked into the biggest grin, slow and warm.
“Look at you,” he teased gently. “A dog person after all.”
I groaned. “Don’t make this a thing.”
“Too late. It’s definitely a thing now,” he said, winking. “Sunny’s coming. She’d throw a fit if we left her after you snuggled her all morning.”
I buried my face in my hands, chuckling. God, what is happening to me?
I didn’t hate it.
Not one bit.
The car ride was quiet—except for the low hum of music Miles played to fill the space. Sunny sat happily in the back, her head sticking between the seats, tongue out, tail wagging like she somehow knew this was her day out, too.
But me?
My stomach wouldn’t settle.
As we neared the familiar stretch of the street—the little coffee shop tucked between the bookstore and the florist—I felt that tight, cold knot start forming in my chest. My palms itched. My leg bounced, restless, and my thoughts turned sharp and biting before I could stop them.
Victor’s going to find out you were here. He’s going to call. He’s going to text. He’s going to scream that you were seen, that you gained weight again, that you were smiling when you shouldn’t have been.
I clenched my jaw, nails digging into my thigh.
I couldn’t breathe.
Before Miles could even shift the car into park, I felt him watching me.
“Hey,” he crooned, reaching over to touch my wrist—gentle and grounding. “What’s going on in that pretty head of yours, hmm?”
I swallowed thickly. Kept my eyes on the dashboard.
“I shouldn’t be here,” I muttered. “I—I should’ve said no. If anyone sees me—if Victor finds out—”
“Julian.”
His voice cut through the fog—steady and firm without being harsh. When I glanced over, his eyes were serious, burning with quiet intensity.
“You are here. And you deserve to be here. With me. Out in the world. Not hiding. Not afraid.” He squeezed my wrist gently. “Victor doesn’t get to have this part of you. Not today. Not ever again.”
I let out a shaky breath.
“Miles...”
“No one’s going to ruin this. Not him. Not anyone.” He smiled, soft and confident, like the sun breaking through clouds. “I’ve got you, sweetheart. All you have to do is stay next to me. That’s it.”
His words curled around my chest like warmth, loosening the tight, awful grip that panic had dug into my ribs.
Slowly—hesitantly—I nodded.
“Okay,” I whispered.
His grin widened, proud and bright. He leaned over, pressed a gentle kiss to the side of my head, and whispered against my hair, “Atta boy.”
I smiled—small, but real.
The door clicked open. Sunny scrambled out first, tail wagging like a mad man.
Miles held out his hand to me, waiting patiently. His thumb brushed over my knuckles when I slipped my fingers into his.
“Ready, pretty boy?”
I exhaled.
“Yeah,” I said. “I think I am.”
And for the first time in a long time... I meant it.
The little bell above the coffee shop door chimed as we stepped inside, the familiar scent of roasted beans and warm pastries wrapping around me like a soft blanket.
Miles, ever the gentleman, opened the door wide, his other hand gently resting on the small of my back to guide me—and Sunny—through.
“After you, pretty boy,” he teased, grinning down at me like I was some kind of rare treasure. “And princess Sunny, of course.”
I rolled my eyes—barely holding back a smile—but my chest felt lighter. Miles always did that. Made the edges of my world soften without even trying.
Sunny pranced in like she owned the place, tail wagging, drawing quiet laughter from a few customers sitting near the window. Miles made sure to stay close, fingers brushing mine before gently taking my hand again as we made our way to the line.
It wasn’t crowded—just a soft buzz of quiet conversation, the hiss of the espresso machine, low indie music playing overhead. Safe. Comfortable.
I held Sunny’s leash as she sat politely beside me—tail thumping every few seconds. Miles slid behind me, looping his arms loosely over my shoulders, his chest warm and solid against my back. He rested his chin lightly on my shoulder like it belonged there.
“I should make you wait in line while I sit and look pretty,” I mumbled, glancing at him sideways.
Miles grinned. “But then who’d keep you from ordering something ridiculous and sugary that would make you bounce off the walls?”
I smirked. “Sounds like a good time to me.”
He squeezed gently, nuzzling the side of my face. “Mmm...nah. I like you like this. All soft and sleepy in the mornings. My favorite version.”
I snorted, but felt my face flush all the same. God, he was unfair like this—effortlessly saying things that made my stomach flip.
“Careful,” I murmured. “Say things like that and I’ll start thinking you like me or something.”
He grinned against my cheek. “I do like you. A lot. Terrible, isn’t it? Guess I’m stuck with you now.”
I laughed—actually laughed—quiet but real. Sunny looked up at me at the sound, tail wagging faster like she was proud of me for that.
“You are impossible,” I chuckle.
Miles only kissed the top of my shoulder and hummed. “And you’re cute. So we’re even.”
We stepped forward as the line moved, his arms still draped comfortably over me. A bubble of warmth settled in my chest—like this little moment was something I wanted to keep forever.
God... how did I ever survive without this?