Page 83 of Sing Your Secrets
twenty-five
Reese
Work has abruptly changed. Now that Eli made junior partner, my workload seems to have tripled. No more slacking off and long lunch breaks. I actually have to work. I spent the entire day researching property law and state-specific mandates for granting joint custody. Kill me yesterday…
I’m trying to give Miles space so he can get ready for the studio. Therefore, after a grueling day it’s just me, a glass of rosé, a steaming bubble bath, and my turquoise, vibrating, little silicon buddy.
The tub is nearly full when I hear an aggressive pounding at the door. It’s faint at first and fades away. It’s eight o’clock, and I’m sure some delivery guy is trying to drop off dinner at the wrong door. He’ll get the hint when I don’t answer. I dip my toe in the tub, testing the water. Perfect.Scalding.
Pound, pound, pound!
“Fuck!” I grumble, turning off the running water and yanking a towel from the rack to wrap around my naked body. I tuck in the edge of the towel ensuring it’s secure and won’t fall off when I use both of my middle fingers to give the asshole at the door a piece of my mind.
Ripping open the door, I growl, “What?” I immediately soften my tone when I realize it’s Miles. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t know you were coming over—”
I stop when I notice his red eyes and twitchy lips.
“I didn’t know I was.” His eyes are on the ground.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ve been driving around for a while…”
My stomach twists. It’s clear something is off, and I get the sneaking suspicion it has nothing to do with his meeting today. But I ask anyway… “Did the deal fall through?”
“The opposite,” he barely mutters. “It was a great offer. Law’s thrilled.”
Crossing my arms, I suddenly feel the urge to cover up. I’m normally one to get right to the point. I don’t like this foreign, cool demeanor he’s wearing. I want to ask him, what the fuck is wrong with you? But I’m nervous. Why do I feel like I’m in trouble?
“Do you want to come in?”
“I needed to look you in the eyes when I asked you a question…”
I narrow my eyes, unappreciative of his tone. “Then ask,” I snap.
“Are you cheating on Petey with me? Were you guys together when you slept with me?” He sucks in a deep breath and gives me an icy stare. I should clarify right now, but I’m kind of curious about how big of a ditch he’s willing to dig. You really get to know a man’s character when he’s angry and feels betrayed. Okay, Miles—show your hand. I brace myself for all the undeserved insults I’m sure he’s about to sling at me. He continues, “You told me not to break your trust. How could you break mine?”
“How did I break your trust?”
He shakes his head, and his eyes drop back to the floor. “I’m not doing this. I deserve better. And so does he. I came here to tell you I’m walking away, but you need to come clean. He’s obviously in love with you, and if you’re running around on him…that’s shitty, Reese. Really shitty.”
“It would be shitty, Miles. And I would come clean if I had anything to come clean about.” This time I don’t simply ask him to come in, I yank him through the door and slam it behind us. I place my hands against the full curve of his biceps. He tries to step backward, out of my reach, but I step with him.
“Take a breath,” I tell him. I patiently wait until he meets my eyes. “I know this feeling. It’s physically painful when you find out you were lied to, manipulated, and there’s someone else in the picture. And I’m going to tell you what I wished I would’ve heard in that moment, okay?”
He nods as he sucks in his lips.
“I didn’t cheat on you. What’s more, I never would. Miles, I’m crazy about you. You make me happy. Why…why would I throw away happiness? We can talk about whatever happened to make you come up with this crazy ass assumption, but first I need you to decide right here and now if you trust me.” I squeeze his tense arms. “Nothing’s changed. From the day I met you, it’s been only you. So, all this tension you’re carrying…” I stroke up to his shoulders and give them a slight squeeze before I wrap my hands around his neck. “Let it go.”I’m relieved when he embraces me and I feel the warm pressure of his hands pressed firmly into the small of my back.
“I trust you,” he says.
“Good. Relax.”
He ducks his head and nestles his cheek into the crook of my neck. “Thank you.” His whisper cracks against my ear. “I’ve had the fucking worst day.”
“You should’ve called me, immediately.”
“This seemed like an in-person kind of conversation.”