Chapter 27
Miles
This goddamn woman.
The things she does to me—honestly, no one’s ever come close.
I make my way downstairs, trying to shake the heat off me. Literally and figuratively. Riley’s curled up on the couch, eyes glued to the TV, Barbie flashing across the screen. Mermaids, a fairy, and some blue fuzzy thing floating around in the ocean.
She spots me and flashes a bright smile with her dimples showing, that same sunshine grin I’ve seen on her mother more times than I can count. I tug a T-shirt over my head from the armchair before dropping onto the couch beside her.
Her nose scrunches. “Why are your clothes wet?” she asks, giving me that unimpressed look Vivian gives when I say something dumb.
I smirk. “Went back to the lake with your mom.”
Her brow arches. “You forgot your swimming trunks again?”
That tone. She really is her mother’s daughter.
“No.” I laugh. “I just put my clothes on before drying off. Got a little damp, that’s all.”
She shrugs like she’s processing my poor decision-making. “Oh, okay.” Then turns back to the TV.
I glance over at her. “How was your day?”
Her face lights up. “Amazing! I brushed Willow and her mane is so pretty! I even put little flowers in it. Mindy said I made her look like a unicorn.”
My heart does that thing again, that warm fuzzy feeling.
“I bet she looked beautiful. Thanks for taking such good care of her.”
She beams, proud of her work.
A peaceful pause settles between us as Barbie dives underwater and some glittery magic swirls around the screen.
I narrow my eyes. “Okay…what’s the fuzzy blue and pink thing?”
She gasps dramatically, turning to me like I just committed a crime. “That’s Bibble, Miles!”
“Bibble?” I echo, clearly out of my depth.
She nods like it’s obvious. “He’s Elina’s best friend and pet.”
“Is he…good?”
“He’s super funny!” She giggles, pointing at the screen as Bibble eats colorful fruit and starts singing in weird pitches.
And dammit, she’s not wrong. The little guy is flapping around, voice cracking like he just inhaled helium. Never seen anything like it.
Riley starts laughing. Hard. So hard she leans into me, little body shaking with giggles, and for some reason that moment guts me in the best way.
Her joy is infectious, bubbling into my own chest, making me laugh along with her.
“What’s all this laughing about?” Vivian’s voice drifts in from the doorway.
She’s leaning against the frame, hair damp and drying it with a towel. Her eyes are soft and warm, lingering on the sight of her daughter curled between us. I don’t know how long she’s been watching, but the expression on her face? It tells me this moment matters.
Riley doesn’t even glance over. “Bibble!” she announces, like that explains everything.
Vivian laughs, shaking her head. “Ah, yes. Bibble,” she says knowingly, moving to sit on the other side of Riley.
We all end up laughing at the screen, at each other, at the ridiculousness of it all.
I glance sideways at Vivian, and she meets my eyes. There’s something unspoken there, something raw and real.
For her, I think this is a reminder of something she had-and maybe wants again. For me, it’s the first time I’ve realized how I’d want this too.
And in the middle of it all, Bibble sings opera.
I think this might be what home feels like.
“Okay, okay.” Vivian laughs, trying to compose herself as Riley practically falls over from giggling. “Mommy’s going to start dinner,” she announces, rising from the couch with a stretch and a smile.
I stand too. “Yeah, I’ll help out,” I say casually, even though there’s nothing casual about how I want to be involved in every part of her life, even something as simple as taco night.
She glances back at me with that smile, the one that always hits me low and deep.
Riley pops up between us. “Well, I’ll help too!” she declares, hands on her hips like she’s ready to lead the kitchen brigade.
Vivian raises a brow, clearly surprised. “Oh really?” she teases but doesn’t question it. Instead, she extends her hand to her daughter. “All right, let’s go make some tacos.”
“Yes!” Riley shouts like she just won a prize, then runs ahead into the kitchen.
A second later, we hear the scrape of a stool being dragged across the tile floor.
I chuckle, following behind as I roll up my sleeves.
Vivian’s already got the ingredients out on the counter—tortillas, lettuce, cheese, chopped tomatoes, ground beef ready to be cooked. The fridge door swings open as she pulls out sour cream and salsa.
Riley’s reaching for the cheese, little fingers twitching.
“Hold up, little chef,” I say, walking over to help her settle the bowl safely on the counter. “You on cheese duty?”
She nods. “I’m in charge of cheese and licking the spoon for the guac!”
Vivian laughs, tossing me a glance over her shoulder. “She takes her job very seriously.”
“I can see that,” I reply, watching them move together like a team. A real one.
Vivian grabs her phone and sets it on the speaker dock. With a few taps, music starts playing some upbeat country pop mix that fills the room with rhythm and warmth.
I don’t even think—I just move. I slide behind her and wrap an arm around her waist, swaying us side to side. She lets out a surprised laugh as I spin her gently, careful not to knock over the salsa.
“You did not just start dancing.” She grins.
“Oh, I did. Taco prep requires a little groove.” I wink.
She lets herself fall into it, her hands landing on my shoulders as we dance in that small patch of space between the counter and the stove.
Riley watches us, wide-eyed and grinning. “Wait for meee!” she says, hopping down from her stool.
Vivian lets go to scoop her up and plop her into my arms.
I spin around with Riley, her high-pitched laughter echoing through the kitchen as her curls bounce with every turn. Her little arms wrap around my neck, and I hold her tight, pretending she weighs nothing, even though she’s kicking her feet like a manic flamingo.
Vivian leans back against the counter, watching us, and for a second, everything stills.
The look on her face, soft, open, stunned even, tells me exactly what this moment means to her. Like she’s seeing a glimpse of something she thought she’d never have again.
And shit, it does something to me.
Not because I’m trying to prove anything but because I want this. Her. Riley. This chaotic little kitchen, full of music and cheese and the smell of taco seasoning already in the air.
I want a thousand more nights just like this.
Once the tacos are ready, Vivian and I move around each other in sync, grabbing bowls from the counter, passing one another napkins and plates.
We laid out everything: seasoned beef, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, spicy salsa, guac, sour cream, cheese-basically the ultimate taco feast for three. It smells incredible.
Riley climbs up onto her chair like a little warrior on a mission and reaches straight for a taco shell. “I’m starving!” she declares, even though she’d been sneaking cheese since prep started.
“So, how was your day, sweetie?” Vivian asked gently as she filled a taco for Riley, layering in meat and cheese and way more sour cream and guacamole than I expected.
I start building mine, meat first, then lettuce, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, a hit of spicy sauce. Vivian’s got good taste in taco toppings.
“It was so fun!” Riley beams, already mid-bite before she can finish the sentence, a little sour cream dotting her cheek.
I grin. “She brushed Willow today and added flowers to her braid.” I toss Vivian a look.
Vivian smiled at her daughter with so much pride it practically radiated off her.
Then she turns that look on me, playful now. “Aww, that’s lovely.” She narrowed her eyes teasingly. “You okay riding a horse with flowers braided into her mane, Cowboy?”
I take a bite of my taco, swallow, and raise a brow. “Of course I am. Real men ride horses like that.”
That earns a laugh from her and a gasp from Riley, who points at me with wide eyes. “You better not ruin them! I worked so hard on those flowers.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I say with a mock salute.
Her wide eyes turn into something sly, siren-like, and without breaking eye contact, she picks up her taco. “You better not, Cowboy. Or Mommy won’t like you anymore.”
I raise a brow, biting back a grin, and glance at Vivian, who suddenly finds her taco very, very interesting. She refuses to look at me, like her daughter didn’t just air out her dirty laundry in the middle of dinner.
“Is that so?” I say, amused and waiting for her to crack.
Riley doesn’t let up. Nope, she goes in for the kill. “Mommy and Auntie Mindy say you’re very handsome and sexy.”
And just like that, Vivian’s taco is back on her plate. Her eyes go wide. Riley’s do too, realizing what she’s just said.
“I think you’re in trouble, Wild Child,” I say, trying not to choke on my own laughter.
Riley lets out a squeal and bolts from her chair just as Vivian lunges for her. “Come back here, you little traitor!”
I follow them into the living room, because there’s no way I’m missing this chaos. Vivian is tickling Riley on the carpet, both of them laughing uncontrollably.
“You’re so nosy!” Vivian shouts through her giggles.
Riley wriggles out from under her and leaps onto the couch, grabbing a pillow. “You told me never to lie!”
“That’s not lying! That’s called keeping a secret!” Vivian retaliates, grabbing a pillow of her own and launching it. It lands square on Riley’s face, making her squeal with laughter.
I just lean against the doorway, finishing the last bite of my taco, like a man watching the best sitcom on earth.
Riley spots me and bolts, running to hide behind my legs. “Quick, Miles, save me!” she whisper-shouts, peeking out at her mom with an innocent smile.
Vivian narrows her eyes, hands on her hips. “Miles, let me grab her.”
I wipe my hands and shrug. “Sorry, can’t do it. She was just speaking the truth.”
Vivian folds her arms and pretends to glare. “Fine.”
She lunges, but I’m faster—scooping her up and tossing her over my shoulder like she weighs nothing.
“Miles!” she shrieks, pounding her fists lightly against my back. “Put me down!”
“Only if you behave,” I say, amused.
“Maybe,” she huffs.
“She’s so stubborn,” I say to Riley.
“Very,” Riley agrees cheekily.
“Oh, hush, you two…” Vivian sighs, but there’s a laugh in her voice. “Fine. I’ll behave.”
Riley gives me the go-ahead with a dramatic nod, and I lower Vivian slowly—our bodies brushing. Her hands end up on my chest, and for a second, the teasing fades.
She turns to Riley instead. “Sorry I threw a pillow in your face.”
Riley, all sweet and wide-eyed, replies, “Sorry I told him your secret.”
Vivian pulls her into a hug.
And I take in the sight—this beautiful, chaotic little moment.
They pull apart and I step in, clearing my throat. “Let’s try this again, shall we?”
They follow, but before Vivian can take more than two steps, I reach out and gently tug her back. She looks up at me, eyes curious.
“I think you’re sexy as hell too,” I murmur, cupping her face.
The blush rises instantly, painting her cheeks like the sun’s just kissed her skin.
She tries to walk away, but I don’t let go. “That’s not all,” I say, more serious now. “I like you, Viv.”
Her eyes flicker, soften. She stares at me like I’ve said something terrifying and beautiful all at once.
I keep going, though I’m not sure how, because talking about feelings has never been my thing. But somehow, with her, it’s different. She makes it different.
“You make me feel things,” I admit, my voice low, raw. I swallow, heart pounding a little harder than I’d like to admit, and wait.
Wait for her reaction.
Wait for her to pull away or change the subject.
But she doesn’t.
She just looks at me with those big, honest eyes. Like maybe I’m not the only one who’s been caught off guard by whatever the hell this is.
And for the first time in a long time, being this exposed…doesn’t feel so terrifying. “I like you too,” she whispers, like it’s a secret she’s not sure she’s allowed to keep. “I’m just…taking things slow.”
I press my lips to her forehead. “Your pace. Remember?”
She nods, a single tear sliding down her cheek. I wipe it gently with my thumb.
“Come on.” I grin. “Riley’s probably already elbow-deep in guac.”
Vivian lets out a breathy laugh. “Knowing her? There won’t be any left.”
And that’s exactly what I wanted, to hear her laugh again.