Chapter 15
Miles
I had to do it.
The thought of getting to know Vivian, really knowing her, has been eating away at me for days.
For weeks, actually.
Hell, I’ve been slacking at practice because of it. Even losing focus a little.
So, today I said, screw it. I pulled the trigger.
I’ve never been nervous about asking a woman out before. Not once.
But with Vivian?
It’s different.
And that makes it complicated.
I don’t want her to feel how she did the last time we were around each other, guarded, hesitant, like she had to keep one foot out the door in case I crossed a line. I want her to feel safe. Like she can just…breathe.
Like she doesn’t have to carry the weight of the world tonight.
So, I picked something simple. Low pressure. Fun and not private.
An arcade.
Not the kind of place I usually take women.
Normally it’s some sleek rooftop restaurant, overpriced wine, a nice overpriced meal, then back to her place, where we fuck and then I leave.
But this?
This isn’t that.
This isn’t about sex or control or keeping things surface-level so no one gets too close.
And yeah, Greg’s voice has been echoing in my head since I made the plan. I can still hear that warning clear as day. “Don’t mess with her.”
But the truth is…fuck what he thinks. I love him and he’s my brother and all, but I want to see where this goes.
I want her.
And it’s messing with my head more than I’ll ever admit out loud.
I stand in front of the mirror, trying to hype myself up like I don’t already feel like a damn idiot for being this nervous.
My black T-shirt clings to my arms a little tighter than usual, nothing fancy, just fitted enough to show I’ve been putting in the hours. My sleeve tattoo revealing itself below the T-shirt sleeve. Dark wash jeans. Worn-in boots. Casual, simple.
My eyes flick to the clock above the mirror.
It’s time.
I grab the bouquet from the counter—lilies. Yellow and soft pink. Not roses, not over the top. Just something bright. Thoughtful. Something that feels like her.
I drove to the towns flower shop and picked them without hesitation. Didn’t ask the clerk for help. Didn’t second-guess it.
Sliding into my truck, I exhale, gripping the wheel a little tighter than necessary.
I’m about to spend the evening with the woman I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.
Not to hook up.
Not to get something from her.
Just to be with her.
* * *
I pull up to her place five minutes early. I kill the engine, grab the bouquet of lilies from the passenger seat, and walk up to the door.
Before I even knock, I hear Riley’s laugh from inside, bright and infectious. It’s got the same cadence as her mom’s.
I catch myself smiling.
I knock twice and wait.
A few seconds later, the door swings open and I’m met with Mindy’s grin, wide, excited, and way too amused.
“Hey, Cowboy,” she purrs, dragging out the greeting.
I chuckle. “Hey, Trouble.”
Her brow quirks, “Look at us, nicknaming each other now. Getting real cozy.”
I laugh.
“She’ll be down in a minute,” she adds, stepping back. “Come in. We don’t bite.”
I step inside, giving her a pointed look. “I’ve heard from trusted sources that you might.”
She grins. “Only if you break her heart, though,” she says, giving my chest a quick poke. It’s said playfully, but her eyes—they’re not joking.
I step into the house and the first thing I notice is how lived-in it feels, like a place built on memories.
Family photos line the wall, worn albums stacked on a side table.
Little shoes by the door that clearly belong to Riley.
My eyes catch on a frame sitting near the stairs, a photo of Vivian, Riley, and a man I can only assume is Trevor.
He was handsome. Green eyes, chestnut hair with soft curls on the tips. Dimples. A wide, easy smile. They looked like a perfect family. Whole.
My chest tightens just as I hear soft footsteps.
And there she is. Riley, running toward me with that same bright grin. Her makeup is all over the place, one glittery pink eyelid, the other purple, cheeks dusted with way too much blush, lips sticky with gloss. But she looks so damn proud, I can’t help but smile.
And then it hits me, how much she looks like Trevor. She’s got Vivian’s soft features, sure. But those eyes? That dimple when she smiles. That’s all Trevor.
Every time Vivian looks at her, she definitely sees him too.
“Hi, bull rider!” Riley says with a giggle.
I crouch down to her level. “Hey, Smiley Riley. You look pretty.”
She blushes, looking down at her pink bunny slippers. Even with all the glitter, I can see it, she’s bashful.
“Thank you,” she says. “I feel pretty…like my mommy.”
My throat tightens.
“Well, I don’t think you and your mom are pretty.”
She blinks up at me, uncertain now.
“I think you’re both beautiful,” I say.
Her smile returns tenfold, lighting up her entire face.
She eyes the flowers in my hand. “Are those for my mommy?”
I pull a pink lily from the bouquet. “This one’s for you.”
She takes it with both hands like I just gave her the world.
“I love it!” She beams, then wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me tight. No hesitation.
Warmth floods my chest.
Mindy makes a dramatic sound behind me, placing her hand over her heart. “You’re low-key a cinnamon roll. My heart can’t deal.” She sniffles, fanning her face.
And then I hear footsteps on the stairs.
Riley turns toward the sound, and I stand slowly as my gaze moves to Vivian.
She walks down the stairs, and I swear the world slows down.
She’s wearing a floral dress that floats above her knees but enough to see her soft thighs, tight at the waist, showing off every soft curve.
She’s holding a denim jacket over one arm, and her boots, brown, scuffed in the way that says she actually wears them, make her legs look even longer.
Her coffee-brown hair is swept up into a high ponytail, soft curls bouncing with each step. Her lips are painted red. Not too bold, but bold enough to make me want to forget everything but the way they’d taste.
Her eyes find mine. Big, round, warm.
“Mommy, you look beautiful,” Riley says, turning back to her. “And look! Miles gave me a pretty flower!”
Vivian’s eyes flick to the lily in Riley’s hand, then back to me and something shifts in her face. She smiles. Soft. Grateful. Stunning.
I swallow hard. “Vivian, you look…”
Shit. My brain blanks.
“Beautiful,” Riley whispers, like she’s letting me cheat.
I smile. “You look beautiful.”
Her cheeks flush a soft pink, and I swear her chest lifts just a little faster.
I bring the rest of the bouquet out from behind my back. “These are for you.”
Her eyes light up. “They’re gorgeous, Miles.”
She steps into me, wraps her arms around my shoulders, and pulls me into a hug that completely knocks the breath out of me.
I don’t hesitate, my arms slide around her waist, and it hits me again how small she feels against me. Like she fits. Like this has always been her place.
She smells the same as she always does, sweet almond and caramel, like warmth bottled up. The kind of scent that lingers and makes you think about things you shouldn’t.
“Thank you,” she murmurs against my chest. “They’re my favorite, you know?”
I didn’t know. But somehow, I picked right.
“You’re welcome, Bambi,” I say quietly.
We pull back slowly, and I already miss the weight of her against me.
She turns, passing the bouquet to Mindy. “Can you put them in water when I leave, please?”
Mindy nods, still smirking like she’s two seconds away from saying something totally inappropriate.
Viv crouches to Riley’s level, brushing a loose curl behind her daughter’s ear. “I’ll see you later, honey.” She presses a kiss to Riley’s forehead, lingering a little like she needs the grounding.
Then she wraps Mindy in a hug, quick but tight. “Call me if you need anything, Min.”
I shoot them both a wave. “See you later, girls. Have fun.”
Mindy mouths, good luck, behind Riley’s head, then winks.
I close the door behind us and turn to find her already looking at the sky.
The whole street is bathed in dusky orange and soft pink, the sun melting into the horizon like a watercolor painting.
She watches the sunset, fidgeting with her necklace, not realizing I’m watching her instead of the sky.
She glances at me, then smiles, and it does something to my chest.
We make our way toward the truck, walking slow.
“Where are we going tonight?” she asks, curiosity lighting up those big brown eyes.
I grin and pull the truck door open for her, holding it like it’s second nature. “Somewhere to take your mind off everything for a while, Bambi.”
She raises an eyebrow as she climbs in, that smile of hers playing on the edge of mischief. “That sounds suspicious.”
I shut the door gently, leaning in just enough to smirk. “You’ll like it. Promise.”
* * *
As we pull into the lot and park close to the entrance of the old arcade building, I feel her eyes shift to me.
Her gaze lingers on the glowing neon sign above the doorway, and when I glance over, she’s already smiling.
Not the polite kind either, this one’s all teeth and dimples, genuine and full of surprise.
“The arcade?” she says, brows raised, her voice bubbling with something close to joy. “Oh my god, I haven’t been here in ages!”
That reaction alone makes every second of overthinking this night worth it.
I chuckle, cutting the engine. “Told you you’d like it.”
Without even thinking, I slide out of the truck and make my way around to her side, opening the passenger door like I’ve been doing it for years. She steps down, her floral dress swaying around her thighs, the tips of her boots scuffing lightly against the pavement.
She pauses there for a second, taking it all in, the nostalgic signage, the faint sound of whirring machines inside, the low hum of music and childhood memories wrapped in fluorescent lights.