Page 76 of Sweet Caroline
Miles passes me the cup of tokens. “You want anything?”
“No, I’m good.”
Olena and Miles head off to buy snacks, leaving me alone with Jude.
He crosses his arms over his chest as we watch the two of them cut a winding path through the arcade. When they stop to mess with the claw machine, he calls out, “Hey!” They turn, and Jude mimes eating something, setting them back on task. He shakes his head, muttering to himself, “Like herding cats.”
There’s no doubt Miles and his older brother are related. Jude looks like a green-eyed version of Miles, but with the beard factor cranked up a couple notches. The brawn factor, too; his grip almost crushed my hand when he shook it earlier.
“Hey, listen,” he starts, keeping his voice down. “I know this thing with you and Miles is all for show…”
“Yeah?” I can’t help but glance over my shoulder, nervous that someone might be listening.
“But I’ll be honest. I’m glad he’s been hanging out with you lately. Getting out more.” At my curious expression, he goes on. “He’s been lying pretty low for a while now. He needs some decent friends in his life so he can branch out a little.”
“Decent, huh? Should I be flattered, or—?” I smirk, trying to keep it light despite my unease.
He huffs a laugh. “Poor choice of words. I mean people who’ll keep him on the right track. Not drag him into trouble, y’know?”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t…” I trail off, not quite sure what to say.Troublefeels like a loaded term.
Am I dragging him into trouble?
Heck, maybe I already have. My stomach tilts remembering why Miles took off from the fundraiser—how he’d been too tempted by the drinks to stay a moment longer.
“His construction buddies are fine and all, but he needs stability.” Jude tucks his hands into his front pockets, watching Olena and Miles across the arcade.
“That makes sense.”
He turns to give me a thoughtful look. “I’ll admit, when he first told me about agreeing to this whole pretending-to-be-your-boyfriend thing, I kinda had anoh-shitmoment.Thought he’d gotten sucked into some soap opera drama that would be bad for him.”
“I totally understand,” I say honestly. “This situation is… odd.”
“Yeah, but I can tell you’re not gonna be the type to encourage him to, I dunno, steal a boat or something.”
I arch a brow. “Can’t say I’d even know how, to be honest.”
“Perfect.” His amusement fades to something more serious as he watches me. “Just… don’t fuck with him, okay? He’s been through a lot.”
I open my mouth without knowing how to respond, but I don’t get the chance, because Miles materializes at my side, shaking what’s left of a small bag of french fries.
“Want some? I saved you a couple.”
“No, thanks.” I cast a glance over at Jude, who’s busy snagging a fry from Olena’s little paper bag. “I’m not hungry.”
“Okay.” He gives me a funny look, then polishes off the last of the fries before tossing the bag into a nearby trash can. “You ready to fuck shit up, Skee-Ball style?” He pumps his eyebrows in invitation, then grabs my hand, nearly bouncing with excitement as he drags me away from Jude and Olena.
“Uh, I don’t have the best aim, but… sure?” I can’t help but mirror his broad grin, although the shadow of my conversation with Jude hangs over me.
Don’t fuck with him.
His warning is like a pinball bouncing around my head, and I cling tighter to Miles as we wind our way through the arcade.
Jude’s right. I can’t put Miles at risk—can’t pursue anything with him beyond what we’ve agreed to. I won’t compromise his job or his sobriety. If I hurt him, I’d never forgive myself. And he’d never forgive me, either.
I’m so lost in thought that I almost crash into Miles when he stops and turns to me in front of the Skee-Ball machines. “Shoot, sorry.”
He steadies me by the arms. “You good, fancy girl?”
