Chapter 34 #2
With a gentle, confident smile, he addresses the reporter, his voice steady.
“I won’t say much, but I think the image of the playboy has retired,” he says, his eyes locking with mine as if confirming what he’s just said is the truth.
His smile deepens when he looks back at the reporter, who seems visibly taken aback by his answer.
“Wow,” she exclaims, clearly surprised but clearly impressed too. “I’m happy to hear! And what’s your name, lovely?” She directs her question at me, but before I can respond Miles steps in.
“I’m sorry, but that’s all the time we have,” he says smoothly, tipping his hat with a charming smile. “I’ve got to get back to raising money for charity.” He pulls me closer, his one hand resting on my lower back. “Bye now.”
“Thank you, Miles, and hope to see you two around!” she calls after us, a little flustered but still friendly.
I exhale as we walk away, Miles’s hand guiding me, his touch warm and steady on my back.
“What was that?” I ask, curious and a little confused, still processing why he hid my identity from her.
“I don’t want the media to hassle you, Bambi,” he says, his thumb gently brushing over my cheek. “It’s something that will never go away. I don’t want you caught in that.”
I glance up at him, my chest tightening.
“So, is it true?” I ask softly, the question barely above a whisper, but it hangs between us, thick with the weight of unspoken things. The sounds of the fair—laughter, chatter, and music—fade into the background as I wait for his answer. “Has the playboy retired?”
His expression softens, and he leans into me, closing the space between us until his lips hover just above mine.
“I meant every single word,” he murmurs, his voice hushed and sincere, before he finally presses his lips to mine.
I hear a few murmurs from the people walking by, their voices low but unmistakable.
Is that Miles kissing Vivian?
She’s the wife that lost her husband in an accident.
Her husband died almost two years ago…
I pull away quickly, my heart racing, my breath caught in my throat.
“What’s wrong?” he asks immediately, his concern evident as his hand moves to stroke my arm, his touch grounding me.
I scratch my forehead, my nerves suddenly spiking as I glance around, my stomach flipping. “I—I just…” I stutter, struggling to find the words.
He notices the way people are staring, the soft whispers growing louder, and his expression hardens just slightly as he looks around, his jaw tightening.
“Excuse me, ladies, but is there a problem here?”
They just stare and keep quiet, one of them shaking her head in embarrassment.
He grabs my hand, the grip firm but comforting, and gives the people gossiping around us a pointed look.
“That’s what I thought.”
It’s enough to quiet them down and move away.
“Come on,” he says, his voice softer now, that reassuring warmth returning. “Let’s get back in there.” He smiles at me, his hand still on my lower back, and I feel myself relax just a little.
I breathe in, steadying myself as I follow his lead, grateful for his protective nature and the way he always seems to know exactly what I need. His presence feels like a shield, a promise that no matter what happens, we’ll face it together.
We re-enter the dance floor, and almost immediately Riley comes running toward us, her little cowboy hat in hand. “Mommy, can I dance with Miles now?” she exclaims, her eyes wide with excitement, her enthusiasm contagious.
Miles extends his hand toward her, looking down at her with a playful smile. Riley looks up at me for confirmation, her face full of anticipation, and I smile, nodding, as I bend down to give her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Go ahead, sweetie, have fun,” I say, my voice warm.
Riley’s face lights up as she eagerly accepts Miles’s hand.
He lifts her up effortlessly, like she’s weightless, his strong arms wrapping around her, and for a moment, they look so perfectly matched, despite the size difference.
She’s so small next to him, her little boots tapping happily as they begin to dance around the floor, skipping and twirling with carefree joy.
I can’t help but laugh at the sight of them—Miles, so natural in his element, and Riley, so full of life and energy. My dad stands next to me, watching with a proud smile, clearly just as entertained by the scene.
Suddenly, my eyes are covered by two hands that smell faintly of vanilla and cream. I laugh, knowing immediately who it is.
“Did you miss me?” comes the familiar voice of Mindy, her teasing tone evident even before I turn around.
I spin to face her, a grin spreading across my face. “And just where have you been, Missy?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
She looks at me innocently, her hair slightly misplaced, the kind of disarray that only happens when someone’s been having too much fun. Fortunately, my dad is too busy watching Riley and Miles dance to notice that Mindy’s clearly been up to no good with Greg.
“Well…” She shrugs, biting the tip of her index fingernail, a gesture that makes her look like a guilty schoolgirl.
I push her playfully, shaking my head. “You’re actually crazy.” I laugh, lowering my voice. “In a fun fair?”
She pulls me away, her laughter ringing out as she drags me to our table. Once we’re seated, her face softens, the playful energy shifting as she looks at me seriously.
“Viv, I…” She pauses, her fingers fidgeting with her hair, her eyes focused on anything but me.
I look at her, curiosity rising. “What’s going on, Min?”
She exhales slowly before finally speaking. “I think I really like Greg,” she says, her words slow and careful as she finally meets my eyes, a blush creeping up her neck.
“Oh my god!” I exclaim, but she quickly shushes me, her hand coming up to stop me.
“Don’t make it a big deal, okay?” she says, her voice low and a little shaky.
How can I not? Mindy hasn’t admitted to having real feelings for a guy in years. It’s always been one-night stands and flirty banter, but never anything real.
“I won’t, but…oh my god, Min!” I pull her into a tight hug, overwhelmed by the surprise and the sweetness of it all. “You really like him, huh?”
She sighs, her face softening, and I notice the nervousness creeping into her voice. “I’m just scared…what if it’s a bad idea, or what if he doesn’t feel the same?” She looks over at him from a distance, her gaze lingering on Greg as he laughs with John and Maria, clearly enjoying himself.
“Min,” I say softly, my voice reassuring.
“You’re crazy if you think he doesn’t feel the same way.
” I glance over at Greg, watching how he’s always looking out for her, how the little things he does, how he looks at her, speak volumes.
It’s clear to me. They both caught feelings. “It’s obvious, trust me.”
Her eyes widen, her hand coming up to her mouth in shock. “You think so?”
I smile, stroking her arm gently. “I know so.”
She exhales deeply, still unsure but comforted by my words. “Just don’t say anything yet,” she says, her voice a little more determined. “I’m not ready to admit it to him.”
I nod, understanding exactly what she means. “Honey, I don’t think either of us are ready to admit it yet.”
Her eyes grow wide, and for a second, she looks shocked, as if she’s just realized something. “Are you saying…” She covers her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief but also a smile tugging at her lips.
I shake my head, trying to hide my own smile, but I can’t help it.
“I’m saying…we’re both a little bit crazy,” I reply softly, my voice teasing but full of understanding.
She glances over at Greg again, watching him from afar as he dances with John and Maria, and her smile softens.
“I don’t blame you, Viv,” she says quietly.
But this time, there’s no teasing, no playful banter. Just understanding. She looks at me with something deeper, something shared, and in that moment, I realize that maybe, just maybe, everything is falling into place—for both of us.
We glance over and spot Mya standing near the bar, her serious expression scanning the room as she casually holds her notepad under her arm.
She looks every bit the professional, but there’s something about her stance that says she’s more comfortable observing than participating in all the noise and chaos around her.
“Hey, Mya!” I call out, waving her over.
As soon as she spots me, her lips curl into a smile and she gives me a polite wave in return.
I gesture for her to join us. “Come on over!” I shout, and her smile widens as she begins walking in our direction.
She slides into the seat next to me, her presence a bit quieter than the usual energy of the group, but there’s a softness to her now, as if she’s already beginning to feel a bit more at ease. She looks at Mindy, offering her hand with a polite smile.
“Hi, don’t think we’ve met,” she says, her tone warm, but still with that professional edge. “I’m Mya, Miles’s agent.”
Mindy takes her hand without missing a beat, returning the smile.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Mindy, Vivian’s bestest friend,” she says, her voice easy and friendly with a hint of sass.
There’s a slight moment of hesitation as she shakes Mya’s hand, but it’s quickly brushed off by the natural flow of the conversation.
It’s always been me and Mindy, so having a third person join us feels a little odd at first, but as I glance at Mya, I feel a pull of warmth.
She doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would make herself at home in a crowd like this, but she deserves a break, a chance to be part of something outside her work.
From what I know about her from Miles, she’s hardworking and focused.
She doesn’t have a lot of friends, just acquaintances, so I invited her over.
She could use some company; she needs a place to unwind too.
“So, how’s the night been treating you so far?” I ask, gesturing to the notepad that’s still clutched in her hand, as if it’s a permanent fixture.