Page 57 of Sing Your Secrets
seventeen
Reese
After Miles finally fell asleep, I snuck out of his bedroom and got comfy on the couch of the basement living room.
I laid next to him in bed for a while after providing him with a calculated combination of ibuprofen, Tylenol, energy drinks, and saltine crackers. I can’t believe he was going to try and take me out on a date like this. Although, it's next-level sweet that he’d rather pretty much die than cancel on me.
He tried to stay awake and keep the conversation flowing, just to keep me entertained. I had to shush him every time he opened his mouth. Eventually, he passed out, nuzzled into my chest. I learned from the first time we slept in the same bed Miles is an aggressive cuddler. He’s like an octopus that grows extra tentacles when he sleeps. I had to perform some serious acrobatics to sneak away from his death grip. It was like putting a clingy toddler to sleep. Yeesh.
Settled into the plush fabric couch, I glance around at the careful decorations. This may be Miles’s domain, but a woman most definitely decorated this space. The cream and beige suede pillows complement the soft rustic gray on the walls. The men I know are basically color-blind. No way Miles would know how to blend cool and warm tones beautifully like this.
Navigating the multiple remotes, I find a way to access his digital movie library. God, we’re a good match. I find one of my favorite movies in his Watch Again suggestions list. I turn the volume down so low the TV is barely audible, then I snuggle into the couch while the opening scenes of Love & Basketball light up the dark living room. I’ll sit through the entire movie patiently because Sanaa Lathan is by far one of my favorite actresses, but my true love of this movie can be pinpointed to one song. I still get goosebumps when I hear Maxwell sing “This Woman’s Work” on any movie, show, or radio. A classic never gets old.
And it makes me want to sing.
In fact, mid-way through the movie when the song comes on, I turn the volume up just one notch and mouth along to the beautiful lyrics.
“You love this movie, too, huh?”
Grabbing the remote, I pause the movie and turn to see Miles with the color back in his face, wearing a big smile. “Yes. This song in particular, the way it plays in the movie. I am not a fan of the remastered edition. Maxwell did it right the first time around.”
“Right? I could not agree more.” Miles takes a seat on the couch next to me and pulls my legs, covered with the mink throw blanket, on top of his.
“Did I wake you?”
“Nope,” he says. “I woke up feeling like a new man.” He kisses my forehead and lets his lips linger. “You truly are the cure. You know—it might not be too late to go out,” he says, giving me puppy dog eyes.
“It’s past midnight.” I snuggle deeper into the blanket. “I’m cozy.”
“I feel bad,” he says as he presses his lips together. “I swear I planned a really nice time. My friend Sedi was spinning at Blue Horn. He planned a set list to feed your out of control Usher obsession.”
“Hey, hey now,” I say warningly while locking onto Miles’s eyes. “The police will let me know when my obsession with Usher is out of control.”
“I want to laugh, but I’m a little scared you’re not joking.”
“The risks we take with new relationships, right?” I waggle my eyebrows playfully and reach over to press my palm against his short beard. It’s shorter than usual. “You got a haircut and trimmed your beard?”
He nods. “And for the record, I was going to take you to dinner first. Nothing pretentious or over the top, but I of course would’ve picked up the bill. Then, I was going to dance with you for hours. I would’ve pulled you on stage and told the entire club I was the luckiest fucker in the world that a girl like you is out with me.”
“Mmm.” I moan in appreciation. “Perfect night. For the record, I would’ve loved that.” I rub his cheek, enjoying the roughness of his neat facial hair against my hand. “And you listened. I wanted to have fun, not to watch you flex.”
“Well, that’s good, because I was going to take you to Applebee’s. That’s about what I can afford without pulling out the credit card.”
I snort in laughter. “Hey, I’m good with Applebee’s. Their bottomless margaritas are top-tier. They used to get me into lots of trouble.”
He was stroking my shins sweetly under the blanket, but his hand is inching up past my knee now as his eyes darken, a sultry haze clouding his face. “What kind of trouble?”
“The kind that typically involves no panties.”
His hand shoots all the way up my leg to the apex of my thighs until his fingers brush against my underwear. I flinch when the tip of his finger grazes the fabric covering my clit. “Tease,” he mumbles.
“It’s not like they’re glued on,” I sass with a smile, but remind myself to take a breath. “I’m kidding. I know you want to wait until—”
“Until I could trust you,” he interjects. “If you were after me for shallow reasons, you’d be over me by now. I wanted to make sure you liked me for me.”
Well, that’s new.“You were testing me?” I narrow my eyes at him as his hand crawls back up my thighs. I swallow the growing lump in my throat.
He rips the blanket off and the cool rush of air shocks my burning skin. Grabbing my foot in his strong grip, he kisses up my leg. “If it helps…” Kiss. “You passed.” Kiss. “With flying colors.” Suck.