4. Miles
MILES
I arrive at Ellie’s at eight-thirty on Saturday morning.
I forgot to get Jenna’s number last night, so I’m really taking a chance on her being awake this early.
I’m also taking a chance on a coffee order.
On my way over, I stopped by Coffee Tyme and got two options for Jenna to choose from.
I climb Ellie’s front steps and hear laughter through the front door before I even knock.
Having grown up on this street, I’ve known Ellie my entire life. My parents still live across the street, but I don’t feel like I can just walk into Ellie’s house the way Liam does. I balance the two to-go cups in one hand and grab the crab-shaped door knocker with the other.
“Come in!” Robert’s jovial shout carries outside.
Juggling the coffees, I open the front door and peer down the small hallway to the kitchen.
Jenna is laughing—a true, genuine belly laugh—as she wipes her eyes.
She is absolutely radiant when she laughs.
The realization startles me. Ellie and Robert sit side by side and they are laughing too.
I wonder what I missed that was so funny.
“Good morning,” I say, prompting everyone to look up.
“Oh! Hi.” Jenna smiles and stands. She is wearing a pair of lounge shorts and an old, hooded sweatshirt that says Drexel University.
Seeming self-conscious, she pushes her bangs out of her face.
Catching her off guard awakens something in me I don’t have a name for—a pull that is equal parts warmth and curiosity.
“I didn’t expect you so early on a Saturday,” she admits. “Or I would have been ready.”
I shake my head. “Totally fine. I, uh, forgot to get your number yesterday so…” I trail off, keenly aware that Ellie and Robert haven’t taken their eyes off us.
“What’s that?” Jenna asks, eyeing the cups I’m holding.
I shift awkwardly and set them on the table. “I didn’t know what you liked, so…I got two. You can choose. I got just a regular coffee with cream and sugar, or a pumpkin spice latte.” I raise my eyebrows, hoping that one of those will suffice.
“Ooh. Pumpkin spice, please. I haven’t had one yet this season.
” She picks up the cup with PSL scribbled on the side and inhales before taking a sip.
This Jenna is an entirely different person than the one I met last night.
Unfortunately, that only makes me more interested in getting to know her. Against all my better judgment.
“So, what is on your agenda today?” Ellie asks me, pointedly.
“I thought I’d bring Jenna back to the house so we can assess it for the list price. We can possibly see about her staying there in the meantime,” I say, glancing at Jenna for her approval.
She nods and smiles in between blowing on her coffee.
“Great. Yes. Let’s do it.” She pushes her chair in.
“Ellie, Robert, thank you for breakfast. And thank you for letting me impose last night.” She turns to me.
“I’ll get ready as quickly as possible.” Picking her coffee up, she turns and heads up the front staircase.
I rock back and forth on my heels, bracing for the grilling that I sense coming. Ellie is known for her unsolicited advice.
“So, Miles,” Ellie starts. There it is.
I turn to her, unable to hide my amusement. “Ellie.” I grin.
“Just what are you planning to do with Jenna?” She cuts right to the chase.
Ellie knows I’ve been a bit of a serial dater since my divorce.
In all honesty, it’s because I do get lonely, but I hesitate to let myself get close to someone again.
It killed me that I failed at being there for my wife.
I come from a close-knit family with parents who love each other—a shining example.
Yet, I failed. If there’s one thing I learned from my short marriage, it’s both people have to make the conscious decision to make it work.
I don’t know why, but Erin and I never seemed to be moving in the same direction.
We wanted different things. I want—or wanted, since it probably won’t happen now —kids.
She didn’t. She was very career-focused and didn’t care about spending time with my family.
I thought she would embrace them since she left her own to live here with me when we got married, but no. It was a constant battle of wills.
After a year of disagreement, Erin said she wanted out. Small town life was not for her. It crushed me, but I didn’t let anyone see that. Instead, I threw myself headlong into distractions—work, surfing, and casual dating only. That’s why Ellie is probing me now.
“I’m not doing anything, Ellie, I promise.
” I hold up my hands. “I get the feeling she’s had a hard time.
I’m just trying to help her out.” I raise my eyebrows at the two of them.
“I know you think I’m some sort of Casanova, but believe it or not, I don’t try to take home every woman I meet.
Otherwise, she might’ve just come home with me last night. ” I chuckle at my own joke.
Ellie and Robert don’t get a chance to respond before Jenna comes thundering down the stairs. “Who would’ve gone home with you last night?” she asks, eyeing me suspiciously.
“Oh, my friend’s puppy. I really want another dog, but I just don’t have the time to devote to two of them.” I’m impressed with my own recovery and shoot a warning glance toward Ellie.
Jenna gives me a look like she doesn’t quite believe me. “You know, they say dogs need companions, just like people.”
“Pete’s fine. He doesn’t need a companion.” I chuckle, taking a sip of my coffee.
“Your dog’s name is Pete?” Jenna asks with a giggle.
“Yep. He’s a Boxer. It suits him. Come on, let’s go.” I salute Ellie and Robert. “Thanks again, guys.”
Ellie and Robert rise from their chairs and come around the table. Robert pats Jenna’s shoulder. “It was nice to meet you, dear,” he says, excusing himself to the living room while we all walk to the door.
At the front door, Ellie pulls Jenna into a hug. “Think about what I said about your aunt,” she whispers as she pulls away.
“I will, I promise,” Jenna says, pulling back and moving to pick up her bag. She stops when she sees I’m already holding it. She gives me one of those cute, annoyed smiles but doesn’t try to take it from me.
Once we’re in the car, I glance at Jenna. “So, what’s this about an aunt?” I ask casually.
She sighs. “My aunt Leona lives here. She is my dad’s older sister…
but I haven’t seen her since about a year after my dad died.
My cousin Jake went to Drexel with me, so I’ve seen him on occasion and kept up with him on Facebook…
but we’re not exactly friends. I think he’s a personal trainer or something.
Ellie thinks I should reconnect with them since they’re my only family left.
” Jenna fidgets with her seat belt strap. “I’m just not sure where I’d start.”
I purse my lips—they must have really gone deep last night getting to know each other. I think I know Jenna’s cousin, Jake, but I want to be sure before I blurt it out. “What gym does your cousin work at?” I ask her.
She shrugs. “I don’t even know. My aunt lives in a condo now, I think.
But I’m not sure exactly where Jake lives.
And I won’t be knocking on Aunt Leona’s door without him, that’s for sure.
” Jenna leans her head back on the seat, staring out the window as we head north toward Monarch Street.
Then, as an afterthought, she adds, “Their last name is Walker.”
That’s when it dawns on me. “Jake Walker. That’s it.
I know who he is. He surfs at my beach. He’s younger than me but I’ve hung around him a little.
” My memory of Jake is he’s a single guy who works at the Local Fitness on the west side and surfs every chance he gets.
“He works at my gym. I could take you there,” I offer.
As far as I know, he’s an okay guy, but Jenna seems hesitant.
Jenna scrunches her nose and shakes her head. “I think I’d rather figure out the house stuff first.”
“Okay.” I don’t push it. I turn down Monarch Street and park behind Jenna’s silver Camry. “Is there anything you want to get out of your car?” I ask, putting my own in park and unbuckling my seat belt.
“Oh, good idea. If I’m going to call a tow truck, I should probably get the rest of my things.” Jenna unbuckles her seat belt and hurries out of my car with me at her heels. She opens her trunk, and I watch as she struggles to pull out a very large suitcase.
After a minute, I reach in and grab the handle, giving it a swift tug. I flash her a satisfied smile and she rolls her eyes. “Anything else?” I ask her.
“Just my sunglass—” She walks around to the driver’s side but abruptly stops and looks my way, narrowing her eyes. “This tire was flat last night.”
I nod in agreement. “Indeed, it was.”
“And now it’s not.”
“Correct.” I chuckle. “You’re observant.”
Jenna puts her hands on her hips and cocks her head at me. “Did you change my tire this morning?”
“No. I changed your tire last night. After Liam took you to Ellie’s.”I grin.
“Miles.” She swipes her tongue over her lips. “I didn’t even have a spare.”
“I know. Even if you did, your car was locked. Luckily, I had one,” I say, pleased with myself.
Jenna lets her tote bag drop to the street. She strides definitively over to me and wraps me in a tight hug. “Thank you,” she murmurs into my T-shirt.
Unsure if I should hug her back, I awkwardly pat her shoulder blades.
“It was nothing,” I say, pulling back. This woman barged into my life less than twenty-four hours ago and she already has me doing nice things for her because I can’t stand to see the defeated look on her face for another second. What have I gotten myself into?