Page 71 of Next in Line
“I sort of worry if something might be going on with her and Sterling.”
“Like what?” I ask, wishing like fuck she would just come clean and tell Miles that she and Sterling broke up.
“I don’t know…it just seems weird she’s hanging out in Boulder and not going back to Utah to be closer to him. She says she’s madly in love with him, but her love doesn’t look like mine and Kate’s.”
I nod thoughtfully at that. “I don’t think anybody’s love could possibly look like yours and Kate’s. You guys have like…unicorn shittin’ rainbows love that makes mere mortals feel inferior.”
Miles laughs at that apt description and then shrugs dismissively. “I just worry about her. She’s such a hopeless romantic, and sometimes I think she needs to let things progress more naturally.”
There is nothing natural about Maggie Hudson’s ideas about love. “I’m not much help in that department I’m afraid,” I reply.
Miles looks at me seriously for a moment, his eyes blinking slowly as he takes me in. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I told you I was feeling better.”
“No, I mean…are you good? You seem sort of off too. I would think you’d be on top of the world since Terry gave you the keys to the castle, but oddly, you don’t seem that into it.”
“I’m into it,” I snap back, my shoulders tensing. “I mean, it’s a tire shop. I’m as into a tire shop as I can be.”
Miles nods thoughtfully, clearly not satisfied with that response. “Listen, I don’t know a lot about your family stuff, and I don’t need to know because best friends are best friends without any requirements. But I know that this tire shop started off as your dad’s, and maybe it feels a little weird to be sitting in his chair now.”
“This was Terry’s chair,” I correct, my hands balling into sweaty fists.
“You know what I mean.” Miles sits on the edge of his seat, propping his arms on the desk. “Look, Sam, you and I are close, but I know there’s a wall between us. There always has been. I opened up to you about my ex drama like crazy, but you’ve never opened up to me.”
“That’s because I don’t have ex drama,” I argue, feeling my muscles grow tenser the deeper this conversation gets.
“I know, but you still have drama. And don’t act like you don’t. I know you have plans to help your mom retire in two years and that you’re constantly helping your sisters out. Now you have Tire Depot to run. That’s a lot of responsibility, Sam. And I get that sharing isn’t something all guys do, but I hope you know that I’m always here for you. I’m ride or die, man.”
Miles’s words stun me into silence. His blue eyes wide and open as if he’s trying to convey his love for me with just one meaningful look. It hurts. Everything he said hurts because I don’t deserve it. Not after all the shit I’ve done behind his back with his sister. I don’t regret what we did, but I regret lying to him about it. I may have a wall up, but Miles is still my best friend. I’m ride or die with him too.
“Thanks, man. I’m ride or die too.”
He nods and reaches out to bump fists with me. “That’s basically your version of I love you, so I’ll take it.” He stands up to head out the door and back to work, but I stop him before he walks out.
“Miles, do you have time to go get drinks with me tomorrow night? There actually are some things I want to talk to you about.”
Miles’s eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning. “Definitely. Let’s plan on it.”
“Sounds good, man,” I reply to his retreating frame while thinking to myself,I hope you’re still ride or die after everything I’m about to tell you.
I pull out my phone to text Maggie.
Me: We need to talk.
Sparky: Okay…
Me: Can you meet me at Marv’s for lunch around noon?
Sparky: Sure, I’ll see you soon.
I’m seated in the same booth Maggie and I first sat in, and my palms are slick with sweat as I stare out the window, waiting for her car to pull up. When it finally does, I swear my heart begins racing as I watch her stride into the bait shop in her long red wool coat, wedge boots, and skinny jeans. Her dark hair is straight and loose down her back, and I stare in amazement at her because this is so not who I imagined would have walked into my life a few weeks ago.
She smiles a soft smile as she spots me in the corner and makes her way over. Sliding into the booth, she licks her lips and looks around at all the old guys playing cards. “Maybe I should have brought a deck,” she says, her eyes flicking to me nervously.
My eyes blink slowly at her. “I’m afraid I’m not in the mood for games.”
She nods and exhales heavily. “I’m sorry, Sam. I’m sorry for so many things.”
