Page 8 of Milo
“Ah, Jacob. He owns a few garages. He still has the one back in Louisville, and he opened one up here, too. Both are doing really well. When I was younger, I helped when I could. I liked working on the motorcycles.”
“You’re kind of a Jack-of-all-trades.”
“A little bit. I wanted to be self-sufficient, and he taught me everything he knew. He’s the best older brother anyone could ask for. Never tried to steer me away from art, even though I knew he wanted to. I think he’s surprised I came with him, but I wasn’t about to stay in Louisville without him.”
“I’m glad the two of you are close. I’m still building back my relationship with my sister. She got upset when I left and I thought she’d never forgive me. But I had to get away, live my own life. And I did. We’re doing a lot better, but her husband left about three months ago. Things got hard for her, which isanother reason I wanted to move back home. This way I can help a lot easier than when I was in New York.”
“That’s so sweet.” He looks up at me with those big blue eyes and I get lost.
“She’s family. These two are all I got left.”
“You’re totally going to make their holiday by being here!” He bounces in his seat. “Starting this week, the bookshop has Santa every Sunday if you want to bring your niece.” His brows scrunch. “If she’s into that kind of thing.” He leans in close and drops his voice to say, “Monday, Santa will be at the shop after hours for Littles and Middles incase you know any. It was something Rory wanted to start since there’s nothing like this that we know of around here. At the club I used to go to back home, they always had Santa night and—” His eyes go wide and he pushes to his feet as if he wants to run. “Uh, sorry. Sorry. You probably didn’t want to know any of that. I mean, everyone calls you flower Daddy, but?—”
“It’s okay, Milo.”
His cheeks are so damn red. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I can’t assume you’re actually a Daddy.”
“Are Daddies without Littles or Middles allowed to come?”
Milo swallows and nods his head. “It’s a whole mixer thing. You gotta have a pass and it starts at seven. I can get you one.”
“Please do.”
His eyes go wide, so I wink. His gaze drops back to the prints in front of him, but he nods. I have to wonder if he’s a Little or Middle. What I do know is that I’m interested either way.
“Would you like to go on a date?”
Milo looks around as if there’s someone else here. “With me?” He squeaks like he had hours ago.
“Yes, you.”
“I’m no one. Just Milo. Just?—”
“You don’t have to be anyone other than you. I’m wildly attracted to you and want to see where this attraction might lead. If you’re interested, that is.”
“Your last partner is a model.”
“Have you seen yourself, Milo? You could walk runways if you wanted.”
He shakes his head. “I’m way too short, especially for a male model.”
Every statement makes my heart ache more. Who made him feel so unworthy? “Things are changing, you never know. But please, don’t ever put yourself down around me.”
“Okay,” Milo says.
“Okay? You’ll go on a date or, okay, you won’t put yourself down?” I tip his head up to look at me. “I hope it’s both.”
“Both,” he whispers.
“Both is good.”
That makes him laugh. “Did you just quote Disney?”
“Nope, DreamWorks not Disney.”
“I always forget that!”
“I think a lot of people do, but it’s okay.” I shrug. “The animation style is practically the same.”
