Page 20 of Rejected Broken Mate

Miles's face went beat red, and he stammered. "I wasn't trying to be rude, Laura. I was just asking to meet him. You talk about him, and I just wanted to put a face to the name."

I looked away. "Miles, it's been Michael and I for a long time. I can't just have him meet random guys. My last relationship ended badly, and I can't have that in my life again. So, no. You can't meet my son."

I opened the door and got out. I didn't bother looking back as I headed inside.

Guilt kicked in, and I took a deep breath. I was rude. All he wanted to do was meet Michael, and I behaved like an ass.

I quickly shook it off. "I'll apologize tomorrow." It was better this way until I knew how to navigate everything. I just needed to keep Miles in the dark as much as I could for right now.

Michael came home a few minutes later and showered before we ate. After finishing the dishes, he headed to his room, and I sat on the couch when my phone rang.

I grabbed it, and my eyebrows went up to see that it was Miles. My stomach twisted up, wondering why he was calling. I was tempted to ignore it when that guilt kicked back in.

I answered it. "Hello?"

"I'm sorry."

I froze.

I could hear him sigh. "You're right. Considering our history, I shouldn't have thought you would introduce me to your son when you've only been here a few weeks. I just…I miss you, Laura."

My eyebrows went up.

"I mean…I miss our relationship and not just the sex. When we were at the market, I remembered how much we had got along. I want us to be friends, and I'm trying. I'm sorry if I overstepped."

I bit my lip, and I could hear Michael upstairs. I thought about my conversation with Ayden. Everyone needs someone.

"Thank you. I'm sorry I snapped at you….I am protective of Michael. It's just him and me and I don’t want him to get hurt." That had been what scared me most. I could handle Miles when he was cold, but it was never a side I wanted Michael to see.

"Maybe another time," he said, and I could hear the hope in his voice.

"Yeah….maybe another time." I knew I was going to have to tell him, but not now, when I was still trying to figure things out.

"Okay… I'll see you at work tomorrow."

The line ended, and I stared at my phone. I chewed on my cheek, wondering if I was just making an even bigger mess of my life.

Chapter 8 - Miles

"Miles, I swear to god, if you touch me with that utensil one more time, I'm going to stab the bloody thing into your shoulder."

I paused as I waved the poker over Lucas's shoulder. Owen, standing next to me, snorted. "I'd love to see that."

Lucas looked up from the stove and snatched it from my hand. I took a step back, throwing my arms up. "Hey, hey. Ayden said no roughhousing in the kitchen."

"Quit antagonizing him then," Owen grumbled from the island as he moved. "It would be nice for you two to get along."

Weslie and Thomas laughed hard from their chairs. Weslie looked up, blowing his brown hair out of his face. "Those two are like fire and ice. They can't. Have you ever seen them get along?"

"We get along," Lucas said, throwing daggers at all of them. "When he isn't acting like he's five." Lucas glared at me before placing the poker down on his other side.

I moved, swinging into a seat next to Thomas, who was looking at his phone. I leaned over, and he moved his phone, but I could see the start of a dirty message being sent.

"Who are you messaging?" I asked eagerly, trying to hear more.

"A girl I met," he said, shrugging. "She's not from here."

Just then, I heard heels, and my eyes snapped up to find Laura coming up the stairs. Her red hair was in a messy bun with a few strands falling free. She was wearing a pantsuit that hugged her waist and curves. She looked absolutely stunning in her work attire.

---