53. 53
Isit in the passenger seat of Delaney’s Audi, waiting for her to say goodbye to her grandmother. She likes me but thinks our whole situation is bonkers. I’m pretty sure she’s right.
Delaney climbs inside the car and exhales all the air from her lungs.
“You okay?” I say.
She starts up the car and shoots off like she’s afraid we might be followed. “Yeah.”
“Are you worried about your mom telling the press?”
I peer over at her, the window just past her tinted dark. No one is getting a glimpse inside this vehicle. We pass by unsuspecting people who haven’t a clue who sits inside this car.
We’ve got time to talk; Delaney’s apartment is in Malibu, an hour away from her mother’s house in L.A.
“I’m not.” But she looks a little worried. “Bad press for me is bad press for her, in her eyes. And if there’s one thing Claire Jones hates, it’s looking bad.”
“I’m sorry I misunderstood so massively. She said you told her about us. She said you needed help.”
“And you came running.” She peeks over at me. “My knight in shining armor—”
“Sure, only I’m armed with a paintbrush and I’m a pacifist.”
A ping on my phone tells me my family text thread is still blowing up. Delaney glances my way before focusing again on the road.
“Just the family. I didn’t have time to tell them I was leaving.”
“Miles!” She barks. “Don’t stress Lucy out on my account. Text them back right now.”
I pull out my phone to see the number eighteen next to my texting app. Geez, Baileys. I start from the top.
Annie: We need to talk dates for this reception thingy because Owen and I are booking a trip.
Coco: Ooo—where to?
Coco: Wait, check with Miles. He and Delaney may not want a reception. Now, where are you going??
My gung-ho sister now knows the truth and she’s cooling her jets on this reception idea. It’s fine by me.
Mom: Wait, no reception?
Okay, maybe it’s not fine by me.
Annie: Aruba!
Coco: Feel free to jump in, Miles. He knows more than me.
Levi: Where are you, Miles? Meredith and I came by the studio and it was all locked up.
Owen: He’s got classes today. It should be open.
Levi: There was no class happening.
Cooper: Guys—does any of this apply to me? I’ve got one last final to study for, and I need to know if I can silence these or not.
Owen: Silence away, bruh. We’re talking about Miles.
Annie: Who is conveniently ignoring us.
I chuckle.
“What’s up?” Delaney asks.
I start from the top and read aloud my family’s messages.
“Ugh. Reception. I want the out. I also don’t want to disappoint your mother. I hope one day I’m just like her. So kind, loving, and unselfish that people give in to me all to keep me from getting hurt.” She grunts.
I smirk. “Very unselfish thought, Laney.”
“It was an oxymoron thought.”
A tired laugh falls from my chest.
“What else do the Baileys say?”
I pick up where I left off.
Mom: Oh Miles? Where are you today?
Coco: MILES! (In case you couldn’t tell, that’s me yelling at you.)
There’s an hour-long pause, and then:
Levi: I went by his place and the studio again. Nothing.
Owen: I called. No answer.
Coco: I’ll text Delaney.
Mom: I’ll call Nina.
“Crap—Miles, call your mother!”
“I’m just going to text. Those last two weren’t that long ago.
Me: Hey! Sorry I worried everyone. I left town.
I hit send before I write out more. Just letting everyone know I’m alive. I can’t have Nina searching all of Coeur d’Alene for me—not after the number of times I’ve asked her to clear the photographers away in the last month. I owe her a hundred favors at this point.
Before I can finish typing my next message, there’s a string of texts.
Coco: Dummy. We’ve been worried sick.
Mom: Thank goodness. Is everything all right?
Levi: Where’d you go?
Owen: Levi, you owe Annie five bucks.
Annie: YESSS! Glad you’re alive and well, Miles.
Annie: And with you out of town, I am five dollars richer.
Me: I made the last-minute decision to go see Delaney in L.A. Sorry I didn’t tell anyone. I’m here and safe, and I’ll let you know when I head back home.
“Your family is…”
“Crazy?” I finish for her.
She laughs. “Involved.”
“They are.”
“I love that. I love them,” she says, and it feels like a very intimate thing for her to admit. She presses her lips together. “Well, since you’re here, you get to meet my sister tomorrow.”
“Who knows the truth?” I say.
“Who knows the truth.”
Delaney’s apartment building is tall—probably taller than any building in all of Idaho. She parks in the parking garage and I’m grateful to see there’s not only a security guard who knows her but a keypad with a code that must be submitted before entering.
She parks, kills the engine of her Audi, and peers over at me.
“Your mom is kinda scary,” I say.
“That’s an understatement.” Her eyes go wide. “Be thankful for Lucy.”
“I’m always thankful for Lucy,” I say.
She peeks over at me. “Yeah, it’s no wonder you’re so great.”
“Well,” I say, tilting my head to the side. “You haven’t met my dad.”
She laughs. “As scary as my mom?”
“Nah. That’s a pretty high standard. But he is a bit of a train wreck.”
“Hmm. Well, it’s good to know you’re not completely perfect.”
I blink, rein in my grin, and peer down at my lap. “Not even close.” I slide my eyes back up to hers. “But you—you’re even more amazing than I thought. Did you raise yourself?”
“Nah. Thankfully, I had Grandma Judy.” She lifts one shoulder. “Wait until you meet Eryn. She’s so much better than me.”
“Somehow that’s hard to believe.”
Her cheeks flood with pink, and I lean a little closer.
“I missed you, Laney. Is that crazy?”
Her body mimics mine, meeting me halfway. “Maybe. Maybe I’ve gone crazy too.” Her warm hand cups my cheek as she pulls me closer… closer… closer. Until she closes the distance between us, pressing her mouth to mine. Her lips are soft and commanding. She tips her head, teasing my mouth open and making me crave her all the more.
Her fingers slip down my neck and snag onto the collar of my shirt. There’s a console between us, but she tugs me closer anyway.
We break apart, but just for a breath, her lips still brushing mine.
“I’m glad I’m not alone in my insanity,” I whisper against her, pecking her lips once more.
She hums, eyes closed. “Come on. Let’s go up. I’ll show you around; it may be a slightly longer tour than your place.
“Well, that’s not difficult.”