Page 2 of The Pushy Pixies Are Going Down
“I need your help.” Higgins’s voice was quiet, pleading, and it made Miles curl in on himself even more. The small relief he’d had when I said I’d stay was completely erased with one simple sentence.
Seeing the expression on his face was the last straw. I didn’t care who this guy was. He didn’t get to come in here, interrupt our amazing night, and make my guy feel bad.
So I strode across the room, stood beside Miles, and put my hand on his lower back in silent support. Miles surprised me by leaning into my side for a brief moment before straightening up. He didn’t move away from me or my hand. In fact, he pressed back against it as if telling me he wanted me to keep it there. So I did.
Goliath came over, and instead of leaning against me, he went to Miles’s other side to lean against him. My sweet dog was such a good boy. Odin meowed at Higgins, so he put him down, and the cat was right there with Goliath, rubbing against Miles’s legs as he sat on his feet. And of course, Sola remained on his shoulder, a constant support.
If I hadn’t already known how in tune Miles was with animals, this surely would’ve given it away. All three of our babies wanted to comfort him, and I loved them for it.
Higgins looked surprised again for a brief moment—likely because Miles didn’t generally let other people touch him because of his empath magic—but once he got over his shock, he didn’t seem to care whether I was standing there or not. He glanced at me, examined how close I was standing to Miles, glanced at the animals who looked like they were their own Miles-protection-shield, then dismissed us quickly to focus his full attention on the man at my side.
Higgins sighed and ran a hand through his hair again—clearly a nervous tic—glancing away with something that looked like hurt on his face. “Look, Curbelo, I know you blame me for what happened—”
“I don’t blame you.”
Higgins turned his head sharply toward Miles and stared at him for a long moment before sighing again. “Yeah, you do. And I don’t fault you for it. I blame myself—”
“It wasn’t your fault. You had no idea Booth would do that. I’ve never blamed you, Higs.”
Higgins’s face went through an array of emotions before settling on confusion. “Then why… why have you been ignoring me? You pushed me away, Miles, and—”
“I don’t know. I just… I haven’t been able to… deal…”
I was lost in this conversation, but they both seemed upset, so as much as I wanted to ask what the hell they were talking about, I kept my mouth shut. I could ask Miles later, when we were alone.
Miles grabbed gloves off the table near the front door, leaned back against my side, and tugged them on, a visible shield he was placing between the two of them. I hated that he felt the need to put his gloves on even when he was standing in his own home. I wanted to step between the two men and be a human shield for him instead. But I wouldn’t do that unless I thought he was in danger or something.
And as much as I didn’t appreciate this guy and his interruption, I didn’t think for even a second that he meant Miles any harm.
And that was high praise coming from me since I absolutely hated cops.
I glanced at Miles.
Okay, so I supposed there was one cop I really, really,reallyliked—er, ex-detective, rather.
Miles leaned more heavily into me, and I braced my feet to hold him more firmly as he spoke. “Look, I’m sorry, Higs. It’s nothing you did or didn’t do. I was just… in a bad place for a long time…” He trailed off, looking like he didn’t know what to say or do next.
Higgins sighed and ran a hand through his hair yet again. “Are you in a better place now?”
Miles stared at him for a long moment before shooting me a quick glance. “I… am, yeah.”
Higgins shot me a glance, looking mildly more interested in my existence before he quietly said, “I’m glad to hear that. Really glad.”
Miles gave him a short nod, and the two stared at each other for another long, uncomfortable moment.
Since I could tell Miles was dying to get the man out of his house, I decided to step in after a few silent minutes. So I said, “It was nice meeting you, Higgins, but we were just about to go to bed.” I waved at the door to make my intention clear.
Higgins scowled at me but still mumbled, “Nice to meet you too.” He met Miles’s eyes. “Can you please help me? I can leave the file with you and go.”
“I don’t do that anymore. You know that.”
“I do, but I… I just really need your input. Please, Curbelo. I’m begging you. Just a quick look?” He thrust the manila envelope at Miles again, and my…boyfriend—could I call him that yet?—took it from him this time.
“Fine. I’ll look at it.”
Higgins sagged in relief. “Thank you.”
Miles waved him off, already peeking into the envelope.
