Page 86 of Miles Apart
I need my head clear for this one. Lives depend on my focus, and I can’t afford any errors or distractions. The outside world fades beyond my screens. It has to until it’s safe.
“Miles, clear to go?” Shane asks.
“Clear.”
Chapter 40
Emma
Two more weeks pass in a haze of work projects and deadlines. Each day without Miles is one in which I curse myself for caring about him. The silence and disregard cut deep, but I’m numb to the bullshit.
“Are you sure the dates work?”
“Yes, for the fourth time.” I force out a laugh.
Terrence exhales a strangled sigh. “Good—okay. I know you’re busy, but I won’t say no to help with the flowers and decorations. I don’t want to mess this up.”
I swirl soy sauce over my lunch platter. “It will be perfect.” It’s hard not to smile at the lengths he’ll go to for my friend.
The man about to hyperventilate on the other end of the phone is planning a vow renewal for him and Justice. Terrence has been stressed for a good month about getting everyone together at a secluded Mexican resort, and he’s fighting for his life to keep from freaking out at the hint of something going left. His and Justice’s mothers are already praying hard, which should tell you how determined Terrence is to put a smile on his wife’s face.
Justice ugly cries at pet commercials and will fall out like she’s at a funeral once this comes together. She deserves someone who loves her this hard.
So do you.
I force away the thought. What’s a fairy tale for some is a nightmare for others. “I’ll call the resort to square away the ceremony decorations,” I say, to his relief. “You approved the reception menu, so we’re good for now.”
“Thank you, Em. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Just keep loving my friend.”
“Always.” The smile in Terrence’s voice is loud and clear. “Hey, we might be heading over your way before June. There’s a contract I need to wrap up with a client in LA. Jay is gonna take off a couple of weeks for you two to cut up and do whatever it is you do.”
“Our business,” I say around a bite of sashimi. Bottomless mimosa brunches and getting Justice to shop someplace other than Target are the most of our good trouble. God knows I need my friend here.
Terrence laughs. “Just don’t do anything that requires me to put up bail money. Miles and I—”
“Miles?” At the sound of the name I refused to utter the last twenty-three days, a thin strip of tuna falls from my chopsticks, splashing sauce over the documents on my glass desk. “Shit.”
“You okay over there?”
“Yeah,” I mutter in a fury, scrubbing my desk to death. “What’s going on?”
“There’s a potential investor for the training facility out there. It’s been a bitch getting on his radar, but we’ll make it work.”
Terrence is hard at work creating a space for athletes and production companies to use in Austin. He’ll work close to home and expand his services without traveling around the clock.Time away from Justice was an issue in their marriage, so he took steps to show her she’s a priority.
I guess that’s what people do when they’re in love. Something I clearly know nothing about.
“You’ll get it. Let me know if I can help.” Terrence is a good guy who deserves everything that’s coming his way.
Miles and I will have to face each other at the vow renewal, if not sooner, but that doesn’t mean I can’t ignore his existence until then. One disappearance was enough to show me where I stand. The armor I always keep firmly in place will be ready.
“Did it come?”
“Yeah.” I lift the to-go bag up to the phone. “Yours?”
Justice smiles and holds hers up.
