Page 80 of Miles Apart
Any hint of a smile drains from my face at Carter’s voice. It’s smooth with hints of a pretentious asshole waiting to piss me off.
“Unless you want to place a sizable order for lace panties, why are you on my phone?”
“Testy.” A deep rumble of laughter vibrates down the line. “How are you, Emma?”
“Busy.”
“That you are. We haven’t seen you at any of John’s campaign events.”
We.
Carter is so far up my family’s ass it’s a wonder they don’t claim him as a dependent. I was over the Illuminati known as DC politics when I was little, and now I’m a grown-ass woman.
I wasted so much time trying to be worthy of my family when they never deserved my time. I have people in my life who love me and support me without conditions. I don’t have to chase their affection in order to feel it.
I am enough. It’s a full sentence and requires no explanation.
“I didn’t feel like it,” I say honestly. “My life is here, in California. I am not a prop to use for political polls. My father signed up to sing and dance for campaign donors. I didn’t.”
“Would your act of defiance have something to do with Miles?”
That gets my attention and hikes a brow. “Are you spying on me?”
“Looking out for you. One of us has to since you’re not thinking clearly.” Carter sighs. “There’s something not right about him, and I’m not talking about Newark. I asked around, and it appears your friend has been cozy around Washington.”
My face twists. “And? Is that a crime?” Miles has clients all over the place. That he has some in DC isn’t surprising, given he has a home in the area.
A home you haven’t seen.
“He’s dangerous, Em. His résumé appears clean, but he’s hiding something.”
I don’t know the people Miles associates with. I always thought military or mafia, which might be true. But he never served and doesn’t have any ties to organized crime as far as I know. The secrecy around his job has been a running joke—like Tommy fromMartin. I never asked questions because I never needed to know.
Does that mean he’s dangerous?
“You’ll find anything to make an issue out of, Carter. Miles is working with a congressperson; he can’t be that much of a threat. Just admit you’re jealous. I never brought anyone around my family, and it pisses you off he’s still here.”
Carter takes a long pause before he speaks. “What better way to bring down a politician than to date a senator’s daughter? I’m not saying he’s a spy or anything ridiculous like that, but he’s too cozy with people around us and clearly does more than assist with malware. You say you’ve known him for years. Why did he choose to pursue something with you now? It doesn’t add up, and I want to keep this family safe.
“You’re important to me, Emma. You were always mine. Had I known you were ready to entertain something more, I would’ve made my move. We’re perfect. You know it, and so do I.”
Salt air from the ocean tangles with the strands of my loose bun blowing in the wind on the silent ride home.
Carter’s call was short. Just long enough for him to toss a grenade and clear the area. Miles and I open ourselves up the more time we spend together, but there are still missing pieces to his life, answers to lots of questions I haven’t asked.
I pull into my garage, next to the Audi Miles is renting while he’s here. We haven’t discussed when he’ll return to the East Coast. Having someone in my space required an adjustment—to his stomping, loud conversations, and morning shits too foul for words—but I haven’t felt the urge to dismember him…yet.
He’s actually a good housemate. He’s clean, keeps the fridge stocked, and weaves into my life without wanting to overpower it. His thumbprint around my home becomes more visible each day.
Like the stainless-steel grill and hammock on my balcony that weren’t there this morning.
“Hey, baby!”
Miles waves with tongs in his hand. He’s barefoot in a pair of low-hung sweats, a black apron I don’t own covering his shirtless chest. The muscles in his biceps flex as he flips whatever is on the grill.
“Hope you’re hungry,” he says, his full attention on the dinner he’s making. His gaze flicks to me and my open mouth with a chuckle. “I can feed you this dick the way you got that jaw ready.”
I kick off my heels with a devilish grin. “And have the neighbors hear your giggle?” Miles groans at my hand over his sweats to grip his length. “I’m down if you are.” I lick his ear and bite.
