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Miles glances my way and then refocuses on the road. “Why would you owe it to her to stay? I mean, I can understand wanting to stick around because you’re a pseudo second parent to your sister. And financially it would make sense. But owing her?”
I swallow down the lump in my throat. If anyone could understand, it’s Miles. “You know how I told you I found my dad?”
“Yeah, that must have been so hard for you. I can’t even imagine.”
I nod. “That’s not the whole story. My cat knew something was wrong, and he was trying to warn me, but I ignored him. When I finally gave in and followed him to the attic it was too late. I was too preoccupied with what I was doing to pay attention to the signs, and I lost my dad because of it.”
Miles pulls into his mother’s driveway and puts the car in park. “That’s a lot of responsibility to carry around with you. Does your mom know you feel this way?”
“No, but you see now why I stay. I’m the reason my mom is without my dad, so leaving her feels wrong.” I sigh and motion to his house. “All of this, what you’re going through with your mom, the way you feel about all of it, the guilt over something that wasn’t your fault; I relate better than I realized. Because even though logically I know it isn’t my fault that my dad died, it’s still hard not to own it.”
Miles stretches his arm across the back of the seat, his fingers sliding under my hair, and his thumb strokes along the back of my neck. “I’m so sorry, Kitty. I know how I feel about coming back here, but to face it every day . . . Living in that house where all that tragedy took place seems like a punishment you don’t deserve.” He gives his head a small shake. “Grant yourself some grace, Kitty—you do it for everyone else.” He leans over and kisses me, just a soft press, but I feel it in my heart, spreading like a balm.
chapter twenty-one
LITTLE STEPS
Miles
Kitty and I barely make it through the door before our mouths are fused and she’s trying to pull my shirt over my head. It’s impossible to do both at the same time, so we disengage for a few seconds so we can make shirt removal happen, and then we’re back at it.
I’m very glad I restocked my wallet with condoms, otherwise I’d have to take a pause to run out to my car to get them. Kitty ends up sitting on the entry table, the mail from the past week scattered on the floor. And the drywall behind the table isn’t in the best shape when we’re done. But we’re both orgasm sated, and Kitty no longer looks sad, so all good things.
The stress relief seems to be an energizer as we tackle boxing up the things my mom will need for her new apartment. Once we have everything on the front porch I call Josh, who offered his truck to help with the move.
What I don’t expect is the second truck, containing Parker and Austin, another player from the team. “I brought reinforcements,” Josh says as he walks up the front steps.
Kitty is inside, packing pantry items.
“Great, that will definitely make things move faster.” And it will. Both Parker and Austin are great guys, and they play on the same line. It might give me a chance to talk to them about the recent data I pulled for the upcoming game with New York in a more relaxed environment. Parker has shown huge improvement over the past week and a half, and he’s been coming to me more often, asking to look at numbers objectively and letting me explain what they mean and how that can help improve his game.
My only issue is that he’s a relentless flirt. And I would really like it if he didn’t flirt with Kitty.
“Pantry items are packed!”
I turn to find Kitty walking toward the front door, only her eyes peeking out over the top of the box. “Here, let me get that for you.”
“I’m good. It’s awkward, but light. I’ll just set it next to your car, so it doesn’t end up with all the other boxes.” Her eyebrows pop when she spots Josh next to me. “Oh, hey, Josh. I didn’t realize you were coming to help.” She sets the box on the porch and holds out her fist for a bump. “Sorry, my hands are dirty, and sweaty. It’s nice to see you again.”
Josh bumps it back and gives her his customary panty-melting smile. “It’s nice to see you again too, and it’s cool that you’re helping Miles today.”
Most women, from infant to grandmother, have the same reaction to Josh and his smile, and that’s to giggle. Except Kitty doesn’t giggle. Or blush. Or duck her head. She just smiles and slides her gaze my way. “I don’t mind.”
