Chapter 16
Vivian
Laughter fills the truck, spilling out into the quiet night as the wheels hum along the empty road on the way to my house.
The soft twang of an old country song drifts through the speakers, one I don’t know the words to, but Miles does.
His fingers tap a steady rhythm on the steering wheel, and every time he glances at me, it’s like I’m the only thing that matters in this moment.
It’s past one in the morning. We didn’t even realize how late it had gotten. Time just sort of disappeared between beers and teasing smiles and too many “just one more question” moments, and the whole way through, I forgot how it felt to have someone ask about me.
Not in that sympathetic how are you holding up? kind of way. Not because I’m the widow trying to keep it together.
But because he actually wanted to know me.
And it felt good. Easy. Light. Like I got to be just Vivian—not Riley’s mom, not the woman who lost her husband, but a woman sitting across from someone who looked at her like she still had a whole story left to write.
I glance over at him now, the curve of his profile bathed in the orange glow from the dash lights. His jaw’s tight like he’s focused on the road, but there’s a softness in his expression.
“I forgot to ask you,” I say, my voice soft under the hum of the truck engine. “Did you get along with Greg’s parents? Like…growing up, did they make you happy?”
He glances at me, just for a second, before turning his eyes back to the road.
“Yeah,” he says after a beat, his voice quiet.
“They’ve been amazing. Took me in when they didn’t have to.
I was a wreck at first, angry at the world, starting fights in school, getting sent home for mouthing off.
Then my teen years hit, hormones kicked in, and it only got worse. ”
I huff a laugh, nudging his arm. “So, not much has changed. Still a troublemaker.”
He smirks, a hint of something warm flashing in his eyes. “Yeah, well. When it comes to you? I won’t let anyone get away with anything.”
That catches me off guard and I glance down at my hands, suddenly shy, my fingers finding the edge of my nail and fidgeting there.
“Greg’s dad, John, he started taking me to train with him. Said I needed a place to channel all that rage.’”
“And now, here you are,” I say quietly. “The town’s famous bull rider. The Miles Sanchez.”
He laughs softly, the kind that sinks straight into your chest. “Here I am,” he echoes. “Because of them. If they hadn’t taken me in…” He shakes his head slightly, jaw tight. “Let’s just say I wouldn’t be here.”
My heart pulls tight in my chest.
And when I look at him, I imagine the boy he once was. The one who didn’t know how to ask for love but needed it so badly. And I see the man he is now. Steady. Fierce. Loyal in the kind of way that makes you feel safe even when everything else is uncertain.
“I’m glad you’re here” I say, the words falling out of me quieter than I mean them to—but honest, every last syllable of it.
Because weeks ago, I wouldn’t have imagined this.
Sitting in a car with a man I barely trusted.
A man I once rolled my eyes at from behind the bar, dismissed because of town gossip.
But tonight…I see him.
And somehow, in this moment, I feel more like myself than I have in a long, long time.
We come to a stop outside my house. The porch light flicks on with a soft glow, but I don’t move.
Miles cuts the engine, and the silence settles between us, broken only by the faint chirp of crickets and the still-warm hum beneath the hood.
Some part of me isn’t ready to get out. Not yet.
“I had a really good time tonight, Miles,” I say, turning to him.
Our eyes meet. And suddenly, there’s no space. No noise. No nerves. Just him, and me, and something that’s been quietly building all night.
“Honestly, thank you.”
His mouth curves, soft and almost reverent.
“You’re welcome, Viv,” he murmurs. “It’s been a pleasure.”
There’s a pull between us now.
He leans in just slightly, eyes flicking to my mouth, then back up to meet mine. I feel the shift in the air, warm breath against my cheek, my pulse thundering in my throat.
And then—
He reaches for my door and opens it.
I blink, startled.
“Good night, Viv,” he says, voice low, like it’s only meant for me.
Then, with the gentlest brush of lips, he kisses my cheek. Just there. Just enough.
And it’s…soft.
By the time I find my voice again, he’s leaning back in his seat, casual as ever.
“Good night, Miles.”
I step out, cheeks on fire, and close the door with trembling fingers.
As I walk up to my porch, I can’t help but press my hand over where he kissed me.
I reach the porch, slipping my keys from my bag, the cool metal familiar in my palm. Before I unlock the door, I glance back one more time.
Still parked. Still watching.
He doesn’t move until I slide the key into the lock. Only then does he lift a hand and give me a small wave—slow, almost reluctant—before driving off into the night.
I stand in the doorway for a second longer, smiling to myself like an idiot.
My cheeks still warm from where he kissed me.
I step inside quietly, easing the door shut behind me.
“So, how was it?”
The voice makes me jump half a foot off the floor.
“Jesus, Min!” I clutch my chest like she just gave me a heart attack. “Are you nuts? You scared the shit out of me.”
Mindy shrugs, all nonchalant in one of her oversized sleep shirts, a smug little grin on her lips. “I might be. Now, spill, and don’t leave anything out or I swear to god, I will drag it out of you.”
She grabs my hand and tugs me into the living room like an overexcited puppy. The place is a disaster. Candy wrappers everywhere, an empty popcorn bowl, and at least three throw pillows on the floor like some kind of fort situation happened while I was gone.
She plops down onto the couch and pulls me with her, then grabs herself some sweets and a glass of wine. “Okay, okay, start from the beginning. No skipping to the good stuff.”
“Shh,” I whisper. “You’ll wake up the little missy upstairs.”
“Riley’s knocked out cold. She could sleep through a tornado right now. Now, talk.”
“Should I be worried about that?” I raise an eyebrow.
She waves me off. “After the night we’ve had, it makes sense that she’s knocked out, probably in a cowboy fairyland.”
I bite my lip, try to contain the smile that’s already tugging at my mouth, and fail miserably. I lean back into the cushions, letting myself relax.
“It was…perfect,” I say finally. Soft, like the words might break if I say them too fast.
Her brows shoot up. “Perfect? Like…actually perfect, or ‘I’m-down-bad-and-can’t-see-straight’ perfect?”
I roll my eyes but laugh. “We went to the arcade. Played games. Drank beer. Talked for hours, we laughed, and got to know each other.”
“Ugh.” She swoons dramatically. “That’s disgustingly adorable. Go on.”
So, I do. I tell her about the way he looked at me, about how he listened when I talked about Mom and Trevor, really listened. I tell her about the moment we sat in that booth and I felt like someone actually saw me for the first time in so long. No pity. No wide eyes. Just me.
“We played twenty questions,” I continue, tucking my legs beneath me, laughing softly, “He asked about my childhood, my dreams. Told me stuff he probably doesn’t tell many people.”
Mindy’s eyes are practically misting over. “Did you kiss?”
I shake my head.
“He kissed my cheek,” I whisper. I touch the spot like it still lingers there. “Opened the door for me. Said good night and waited until I was inside before driving off.”
She lets out a long, dramatic sigh, clutching a pillow to her chest. “Would you have let him kiss you?” her eyes wide and her wide smile looking back at me, waiting for an answer.
Instead, I laugh and nudge her with my foot. “Shut up.”
“You shut up. You’re actually glowing.” She pauses, then gives me a softer look. “You deserve this, Viv. So, you see, there was nothing to worry about.”
I blink, looking down at my lap, my fingers threading together.
“Yeah,” I say quietly, my voice full of something I haven’t felt in a long time, peace. “I had the most amazing time, Min. In a long time.”
Her eyes soften instantly, shimmering under the low light of the living room lamp. She stares at me for a beat, then her lip wobbles just the slightest bit.
“I’m so freaking proud of you,” she whispers, pulling me into a hug before I can even react.
I wrap my arms around her and let myself fall into the comfort. No pretending, no masks, just me and my best friend who’s been through all of it with me. Trevor. Our wedding. My pregnancy. The loss of him. The silence. The survival. She’s been here for it all.
I pull back slightly, blinking up at her. “Thank you…for everything tonight. For watching Riley. For pushing me just enough but not too much. You always know what I need before I do.”
She gives me a tired grin, the kind that says she’s been waiting to see me like this again, “It’s a gift. I’m annoying, but intuitive.”
I laugh softly as she flops back onto the couch, dragging the throw blanket over her legs and tucking herself into the cushions like she’s done a hundred times before.
“You’re just gonna crash there again, aren’t you?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Obviously,” she says with a yawn, her eyes already slipping closed. “Besides, I promised Riley we’d finish the fort in the morning.”
I shake my head fondly, then dim the lights and make my way upstairs.
The hallway is quiet, Riley’s door cracked just slightly. I peek in and see her curled up under the covers, her bunny tucked tight under her chin, the pink lily Miles gave her resting on her nightstand in a little cup of water.
My heart swells.
I step inside, just enough to lean down and press a soft kiss to her forehead. “Night, baby,” I whisper. “Mommy loves you so much.”
She stirs, sighs, but stays sleeping.