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“It’s quiet,” Miles admitted.

TJ rested his forearms on the table. “That’s the point, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Miles murmured. “I know.”

Cody’s gaze stayed on him. “Quiet can be good. It can also be… too much.”

Miles didn’t answer immediately. He glanced at Cody and gave him a close-lipped smile as TJ reached over and gripped his arm.

“You’ll get used to it.”

Miles looked at TJ. “I don’t know if I want to.”

TJ smiled softly. “You do. You just don’t want to admit you do.”

Cody stood and went to the oven and pulled out the cornbread. He placed it on the counter and cut it as TJ got up to grab butter. Miles stayed seated, watching them move around each other.

TJ dropped back into his chair with a chunk of cornbread and started talking about something that had happened at work—one of the younger deputies forgetting to log evidence, the joke TJ had made that got him a glare from Taylor. Cody chimed in here and there, making small talk.

After dinner, Cody put leftovers into some containers and handed them to Miles. “You’re taking this.”

Miles started to refuse then stopped when Cody arched an eyebrow. Miles took the box. “Thanks.”

TJ leaned against the counter. “We should get him curtains.”

Miles exhaled. “Thanks, but no.”

TJ ignored him. “You’ve got those bare windows. Anyone can see you walking around.”

Miles blinked. “Why are you looking in my windows?”

“I’m not,” TJ said. “But anyone could.”

Cody shut the lid on another container and put it in the fridge. “I have spare curtains.”

Miles looked at him. “You have spare everything.”

“It’s called being prepared. Mama trained me well.”

TJ pointed at Miles. “See? That’s why I love him.”

Miles shifted his weight. “You’re both weird.”

“Says the man who owns a chair for a lamp he doesn’t have yet.”

“When did you turn into my dad?”

TJ laughed. “I have kids.”

“And their siblings who will all be here this weekend.”

“No Cassy this weekend?” Cassy was Cody’s younger sister and in her first year of college.

“Not this weekend. She’s enjoying college life.” Cody folded his arms over his chest. “I told her to be careful, and she rolled her eyes at me and said she had condoms.”

“She knows you love her.” Miles had seen Cody and Cassy together and it was clear they cared about each other.

“I do, but I don’t want her…” Cody stopped talking.