Page 73 of Ember Meadow
“Figured it out myself. You can find anything on the internet,” he winks.
Miles takes my hand, pulling me close to his chest. I sink into him, not meaning to, enveloped by his contact warmth.
“Has anyone ever told you that you always feel like you’re running a fever?”
He chuckles, the sound of it vibrating right into my chest. “Just you, Katie.”
My heart does a flip when he calls me by my first name. I shouldn’t like it so much, but I’m secretly glad he still feels comfortable around me enough to use it. Maybe we can do this whole ‘friend’ thing.
“You look beautiful tonight.”
Or maybe not.
“You can’t say stuff like that to me, Miles,” I whisper.
“Why?” He says, voice low. His breath skirts right across my ear and into my hair.
“You know why.”
We spend the rest of the dance in silence, listening to the music and swaying together. Both guilty of taking as much as we can from this moment while we are in it, knowing we won’t get this chance again.
I lean my head against his chest and listen to the steady beat of his heart. I can feel myself getting pulled in. Losing all of my inhibitions to the closeness of Miles. He’s like a drug, I can’t seem to stop once I’ve started.
“Katie, I—“
A cheer from the living room interrupts him. I pullout of his grasp, suddenly remembering myself. Right, there are other people here. A lot of them. Including my friends, who I just told every reason why Miles and I can’t happen to.
“I should go spend some time with Hazel before she leaves in the morning,” I stumble over my words, backing towards the door.
The music switches off, reaching the end of the song. Miles stands in the same spot, arms still outstretched slightly as if I’ll come back at any moment. It’s too much to take.
The guilt, the wanting, the feeling deep in my gut that I can’t have this.
“Of course. I’ll see you later on.”
I nod, turning around and heading back out to the porch. As I walk down the dark hallway, a couple of tears escape my eyes. I blink rapidly, wiping them off of my cheeks.
I can fall apart later. Right now, it’s time to have my last fun night in Wyoming.
“Katherine, where are you?” A voice comes from outside. It’s so out of place here, I almost don’t recognize it. I stop dead in my tracks as all of my muscles freeze up. It can’t be.
“There you are. As a host, you should receive your guests in the entryway so one doesn’t have to invite oneself in. Honestly, didn’t your aunt teach you anything?” My mother’s voice drips with venom as her and my father step into the warm lamplight of the Old Cabin.
They’re here. In Jackson Hole.
At my cabin. Well, I guess, technically their cabin. Their money paid for it, their company owns it. I put my blood, sweat and tears into it, but at the end of the day it’s not mine.
Florence MacPherson’s gaze penetrates into my soul as she stands expectantly in front of me in a deep red silk blouse and matching heels. My father stands at her side, stoic as always, but at least he has the decency to give a small nod and hint of a smile as our gazes lock.
I swallow a lump in my throat, searching for words but none come. This can’t be happening. Not with all of my friends here. Not with half of Jackson Hole celebrating my accomplishment. I can’t let them ruin this.
But I can’t move. After what feels like a lifetime, a warm chest brushes the back of my arm. “You must be the MacPherson’s. Pleasure to meet you. I’m Miles Autry.”
My mother doesn’t bother to hide her disgust. “Katherine, who is this man?” She says, as if Miles isn’t standing right in front of her with his hand outstretched. My father, to his credit, awkwardly takes it and gives Miles half of a handshake.
Miles’s presence is enough to melt whatever anxiety has me in a cage of my own making.
“Hello Florence, Callum. This is Miles, his family owns the ranch this cabin was a part of. He’s been a big help throughout the renovation,” I manage to say without my voice shaking.
