Page 19 of Against All Odds

“Dinner? Just the two of you?” Miles asks as we’re sitting at Prose & Perk.

“Yup. She wanted to thank me.”

“Because you opened her pipes so she could get hot?”

I roll my eyes. “Fuck off.”

“Oh, sure, you are the one who gave all of us the most shit when we met the women we wanted to date, but you think I should fuck off? Not a chance, buddy. I’m riding this train until the wheels come off.”

“I did it because I’m not nearly as annoying as you are.”

Miles laughs once. “Sure you’re not.”

Whatever.

“Anyway, this is a bad idea, right?”

He shakes his head. “Nope, not even a little. I think it’s a great idea.”

I raise one brow, not believing him. There’s a mischievous gleam in his eye, one I know myself.

“You think this is a good thing?” I ask in a different way.

“It could be.”

“Right.”

He grins. “You’re not going to back out, I know you better than that. Doyouthink it’s a good idea?”

Nope. I actually think I’m the stupidest man who’s ever lived. One look at that woman and I was like a teenager making heartsick eyes at her. Hell, this morning I jacked off in the shower thinking of her. So, no, it’s absolutely not a good idea to spend any more time around her.

I need to avoid Violet and her beautiful cognac-colored eyes.

“Probably not,” I finally answer. “Actually, I know it’s not.”

“But you’re going to go?”

I shrug. “I already said yes and she lives next door. It’s not like there’s a mystery to finding me. I’ll go to dinner, get it over with, go home, and move on with my life.”

Miles chuckles. “That’s a good plan. Absolutely nothing can go wrong there. It’s not like there’s underlying feelings or emotions. I mean, go have dinner with an old friend.”

I flip him off. “So, do I bring flowers or something?”

Of my group of friends, Miles is the least of a dick, and he is willing to look like an idiot for a woman he cares about. Lord knows he’s made himself a fool for Penelope more times than not. It worked, though, because now they’re living together and are secretly engaged. After all that’s happened, they wanted to make sure her son was comfortable before springing more changes on him.

“I always brought flowers on a date—or a shovel.”

I’m not even going to touch that one. “Yes, but you’re stupid and this isn’t a date.”

“And yet here you are, asking for my advice.” He grins.

I should’ve just searched the internet and let it tell me. “That’s a mistake I won’t make again.”

“Honestly, don’t bring flowers, go there empty-handed, show her what a douchebag you are. I think it’ll just solidify that she made the right choice all those years ago when she ghosted you.”

I really wonder why I’m friends with him or anyone in this town, honestly.

“She didn’t ghost me.”

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