Page 77 of Heart Set on You

After lunch, we say our goodbyes to my grandparents, Cole, Cara and the kids. I already miss them, and I know they’ll miss me too. And then there’s Miles. He’s the most charismatic man I’ve ever met. I have no doubt that my grandparents adored him, especially my gran. As soon as I walked into the kitchen and saw him mashing that pot of potatoes, I knew he’d won her over. She rarely accepts help in the kitchen, but she seemed to make an exception for Miles. Seeing the two of them together made my heart so happy.

It won’t be long before I’m back in Deer Lake for good. The thought of being back on the farm with my family fills me with warmth. Except that also means that Miles and I will be going our separate ways. I know that an A-list movie star and a country girl from Tennessee don’t belong together – I’m not that naïve. I have always known that things with him would come to an end, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

I’m not ready to let him go.

Chapter Thirty-One

Miles

Rylee is leaving Vancouver tomorrow, catching a flight home to Tennessee. I head back to L.A. on Sunday. We decide to spend our last night together at the rental house with some take-out Thai food.

Since arriving home from Deer Lake, we’ve managed to make the most of our last few weeks together in Vancouver. The movie wrapped three days ago, and we celebrated over thin crust pizza and beer with the cast at an Italian restaurant. We went together as a couple, and it felt good being out in public with Rylee. She’s getting a little more comfortable being in public with me, getting used to tuning out the cameras and noise. Most of my castmates were surprised to find out Rylee and I are a couple – proof that we did a good job keeping it under wraps. Everyone seemed genuinely happy for us. Everyone except Violet, that is. Something seemed to be stuck up her ass all night. Hashtag-not-my-problem.

Rylee checked out of her hotel a few days after we returned from Deer Lake and has been staying at my rental house since then. We’ve basically hidden ourselves away from the rest of the world, only leaving to go to work or pick up food. We’ve had an incredible amount of sex – whenever and wherever we can, usually unable to stop long enough to make it to the bedroom. She’s become my addiction. It’s going to crush me to watch her leave.

We’ve talked a lot too. About life after Vancouver. The movie I’m working on next. Her search for somewhere to live in Deer Lake. She hopes to buy a place instead of renting. She also needs to buy a car and furniture and find a job. I want to help her with all of those things, because I can, but she won’t hear of it.

I’ve tried not to count down the days, wanting instead to focus on the time we have left together. There’s no point watching the clock. Tomorrow is going to come and she’s going to get on that plane and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. So for tonight, we’ve decided not to talk about it. We can do more of that tomorrow.

We’re sitting on the deck off of the master bedroom, taking in the ocean view and eating our Thai food. It’s a perfect Vancouver summer night, the stunning ombre sky a swath of red, pink and orange.

“Are you going to let me see them?” I ask, the sound of her camera click, click, clicking as she focuses on the sunset and then back to me.

She looks at me over her camera. “I will one day.”

“One day when? I want to see them now.”

“I need to edit them first, but I promise I will. Have you heard from Matthew?”

“Nothing,” I say, picking up my phone and checking it again. No messages or missed calls from him. I’m waiting to hear on a project I’m being considered for and am trying not to get my hopes up. It’s something I’ve never done, a recurring role on a series airing on a top streaming service.

She sets her camera down and reaches for my hand. We slide our fingers together. “You’ll get the part. They’d be crazy not to give it to you.”

My heart hurts a little more in my chest. Knowing this is our last night together is slowly breaking my heart. It also feels really fucking good because having her support is something I didn’t know I was missing.

“I’m going to miss this house,” I tell her, taking a bite of my green curry.

“I’m going to miss Vancouver. It will always be ours,” she says, her voice breaking at the end of her sentence.

I brush my thumb over her knuckles. Her skin breaks out in goosebumps. Her gaze drops to our joined hands and I can see the tangle of emotions threatening to take her under. “Ryls, baby, we’re going to be okay.”

Her wet eyes flicker up to mine. “I don’t want to do this on our last night together. I’m sorry.”

“So, let’s not. Let’s talk about something else.” This would all be a little easier if we knew when we could see each other again. If we had a date on the calendar to look forward to. But we don’t, so for now we are forced to take it one day at a time.

She stares at the horizon, pulling her knees into her chest, then looks at me. “I better be the first person you call when Ellie has her baby.”

I laugh. “There’s a good chance she’ll call you before me.”

“Are you excited to become an uncle soon?”

“Hell yeah. I’m going to make sure that kid’s first word is Miles.”

She laughs, staring out at the boats sailing by. I knew tomorrow would eventually come, and I knew it was going to be hard, but nothing could have prepared me for what this would feel like. It’s like a fastball hitting me square in the chest. I desperately want her to stay.

“Being an uncle will be your best role yet, I’m sure.” The look in her eyes levels me. It’s an I-miss-you-already look.

My chest tightens.

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