Page 56 of Dating the DILF
I don’t know about any other universe, but he found me in this one and I won’t let my stupid fears keep me from him a second longer.
As soon as the elevator doors open, I race out, following Grayson’s directions. I spot Thomas first, he’s pacing the hallway, his phone to his ear and Lulu balanced in his arms.
She has her head resting on his shoulder and is rubbing her eyes, looking tired and grumpy. She notices me before Thomas does and immediately wriggles out of his grasp, racing down the hall and throwing herself at my legs, holding on tight.
I see Thomas end his call and head in my direction, but I ignore him and lift Lulu into my arms.
“Hey, beautiful, are you doing okay?”
“Gramps is sick.” She looks so despondent and her voice holds none of its usual spark. It breaks my heart.
“I know, baby, but the doctors are helping him.”
“Charlotte.”
I glance up to find Thomas right in front of me. I steel myself for whatever is about to come but he surprises me with a genuine smile.
“Thank you for being here, I know Miles will be relieved.”
“Is he okay? Where is he?”
Lulu snuggles into me, burying her nose in the crook of my neck and I reach down and place a kiss on her head, desperate to give her some sort of comfort.
“He’s in with the doctor, going through the results of Dad’s tests. I just stepped out to take a call from Chrissy.”
“Right,” I murmur, unsure what to say next.
His eyes flit between Lulu and me, and for a brief moment, he fixates on her fingers that are playing with a lock of my hair.
“Look, I just want to apologize for what I said to you that night. I know you and Miles have been having some issues and if I’ve contributed to that in any way, then I’m sorry.” His shoulders slump and a look of weariness engulfs him. “I just want him to be happy, Charlie, and he hasn’t been in a very long time.”
I don’t have it in me to hold a grudge. It’s obvious he cares about Miles, and even though he behaved like a jerk, I understand it came from a place of love.
For Miles, obviously. I barely have his tolerance. But this is a step in the right direction, and I won’t throw it in his face.
“It didn’t have anything to do with you, I promise. He made a mistake and I punished him for it.” I shrug. “A little too much, I think.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but we’re interrupted by the sound of the door behind Thomas opening and Robert’s exasperated cry.
“For Christ’s sake.”
“For Christ’s sake,” Lulu mumbles against my neck, half asleep.
I glance up and get my first look at Miles in almost a week. His focus is on the chuckling doctor beside him and he looks exhausted.
Thomas heads in their direction and I follow, albeit at a slower pace, my nerves creeping back up.
I know the second he sees me. It’s as though his entire body relaxes. I know, because mine does exactly the same thing. It’s like I’ve been holding my breath and I had no clue until the sight of him forced me to exhale.
Thomas asks the doctor a question and I try to pay attention, but Miles hasn’t taken his eyes off me.
“You came.”
Did he really think I wouldn’t? Does he not realize how head-over-heels, stupidly in love with him I am?
Shame washes over me when I realize that my disappearing act probably made him doubt that very thing.
“Of course. I’m—”
