Page 43 of Just Desserts

"Don't even think about it, I think you deserved a night of letting your hair down. Do you need Tylenol or anything? How are you feeling?".

"I found some in the bathroom upstairs, thank you for dinner, and getting me home, or getting me here."

"Well once you started googling axe throwing and skydiving opportunities I thought it was time to cut you off the margaritas and get you home. I wanted to keep an eye on you and since you fell asleep basically as soon as I got you into thetruck I came here and put you in the guest room. I hope you don't mind. I didn't feel comfortable leaving you alone and I didn't know where your keys were." He looked unsure for a moment, it was disarming.

"I appreciate it, seriously. I had a great time and I don't know if it's the first time I've gotten drunk like that in a while, especially out somewhere but I trust you. There's a part of me I can't explain but I feel like I don't have to be so on alert when you're around, like you've got my back."

I looked down at my feet embarrassed at my confession. I don't know what was going on between Myles and I, but I also knew I had to put myself first. I knew coming from a place of brutal honesty was what I needed right now after everything I've been through, and if that's what I expected I had to be willing to provide it in return. Not wanting him to feel put on the spot, I changed the subject quickly.

"Your place is really nice. How long have you lived here?"

"Isla, look at me honey."

"I'm glad you feel that way, because you are always safe with me. I'll watch your back so you don't have to worry about anyone, and I will be honest with you. You deserve full transparency, so I promise you uncompromising candor until you're begging me to stop sharing so much."

Before I could respond, I heard my phone ringing from my purse in the entryway. I made a face, hesitant to go and get it but after an encouraging smile from Myles I slipped out of my chair and grabbed it. I caught it on the last ring and was concerned when I saw it was the facility my Grandma was at. I fumbled as I tried to answer the call, somehow out of breath by the time it finally connected.

"Isla darling? Can you hear me? If you can't it's your fault, I'm on a landline not one of those alien devices."

"Grams! Yes I can hear you, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"Yes, I'm fine, do I have to be fatally injured just to speak with my granddaughter?" She asked haughtily.

"No! Of course not, I'm just surprised to hear from you. How are you?" I asked, my heart rate slowing. For some reason I felt like Grams had just caught me doing the walk of shame.

"I'm doing great. I'm in charge of the next Monte Carlo night and I promised that you would provide refreshments. Do you think you could stop by so we can go over the menu? That Rita, the one down the hall? She hosted the last event and brought shrimp cocktails in! Can you believe it? Nope, there will be no room temperature fish in plastic cups when I'm the host."

I smiled as she grumbled about all the things Rita did wrong when she was in charge of game night. I returned to the kitchen island and gave Myles a thumbs up to let him know everything was ok. Grams finally finished her Rita rant so I managed to interject.

"Grams, I can definitely help but I don't know if I can make it out today. Can I come by during the week?" I asked.

"Why can't you come today? I thought you made sure to hire a manager so you could get weekends off." Grams asked quickly, when she wanted something she was vicious and impatient.

"Well, I uh, I don't have my car right now I'd have to go and get it. I won't be able to get to you until this afternoon."

"I can drive you." Myles offered as he refilled my coffee cup.

"Who's that? That's not Jonathan or Wes, I may be goingdeaf but I've never heard that deep drawl before. You have a gentleman caller you forgot to tell me about missy?" I blushed bright red and Myles started laughing at my face.

"Have your young man give you a ride and make sure he comes in, be here by 12pm. See you soon darling!" She hung up before I could reply.

"Well, this is your own fault." I said pointedly to Myles.

"So where am I taking you?" He asked good naturedly.

"Oh, you're not taking me anywhere you're going with me. Grams has requested our presence at 12pm today." I told him with a smile. Instead of seeing regret or anxiety spread over his face, Myles seemed to puff up, excited about the invite.

"Looking forward to it, we can stop and pick up some flowers for her on the way. Now eat up, so we have enough time to stop at your place so you can shower and change. Your Gram sounds like a woman we don't want to piss off."

Warmth spread through me at Myles' easy agreement and adjustment to the change of plans. No matter what I threw his way, no matter how chaotic my life or emotions felt, Myles took it all in stride.

He never made me feel crazy or like I'm overreacting. All my thoughts and feelings were valid to him, I looked at him for a beat longer before returning to my food. Well, if anyone could test his mettle, find out if he's too good to be true, it would be Grams.

Chapter 32

Myles

Over the last several weeks, I thought I had witnessed a gamut of emotions from Isla. On the ride to see her Grandmother though, an entirely new version of her came through. She was both giddy and anxious, vacillating between excitement at seeing her Grams then she would look at me and grow wary, as if she was worried I was about to get eaten alive.

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