The Best Next Thing ((Un)Professionally Yours 1)

“Does she love you?”

“I don’t think she’s quite ready for love yet. I don’t even think she was ready for what we did have. But it was an irresistible, unstoppable force, and we couldn’t fight it. But she needs to heal. To figure out who she is now. And what she wants to do. And she needs to do that without me around to cloud her judgment.”

So easy to say those words, to recognize the practicality and rightness in them…and yet so very hard to actually live them.

“I’m sorry, Miles,” she said, her voice brimming with sincerity.

“It is what it is.” He set the tea towel aside and folded his arms over his chest. He eyed her assessingly. His cute baby sister with her dark curls, her pale gray eyes, her slightly crooked smile, and the overly big glasses that gave her the appearance of a myopic owl. He had always adored her. “I’m happy to see you, you know?”

“Are you? Really?” Her voice was small and uncertain and contained the tiniest portion of childlike hope.

“I am, yes. I’m sorry if I made you feel differently this morning.”

“It was a pretty dick thing to suggest.”

“I know.”

She held his gaze for a long while, before grinning happily. “But, I’m so happy you got us a dog! Thank you. She’s so sweet.”

“I didn’t get us anything. She’s my dog.” Best to make that clear right now. Vicki had already claimed far too much of Stormy’s time and attention today.

“You never wanted a dog, Miles. I did. And now that you’ve finally brought one into the family, you’re going to hog her?”

“Yes, I’m going to hog her, she’s my dog. I share enough with you brats as it is, I’m not sharing my dog.”

Her eyes went somber, and she gave him a melancholy smile. “Do you resent us because of that? Having to share or give up your stuff when we were kids?”

“Never!” His response was emphatic. He wanted there to be no doubt about his sincerity. “And don’t you dare let that thought cross your mind again. I was happy to share everything I had with you and Hughie. I still am. Just not my dog. I’m going to need her…after everything.”

By that he meant after Charity. A fact that his sister seemed to tune in to immediately if the compassion in her eyes was anything to go by.

“Oh, Miles,” she murmured, crossing the short distance between them to wrap her arms around his waist and hug him fiercely. His arms closed around her small frame moments later as he gratefully accepted the comfort she was so freely offering.

If Charity’s life was a leaky boat, time was the water that flooded through the gaping holes faster than she could plug them. All too soon, she was submerged and drowning beneath the weight of everything that still needed to be done before she left in just twenty-four hours.

Three days hadn’t been enough time. And with Enid, Vicki, and the taciturn Tyler Chambers to accommodate now too, Charity found herself barely able to cope.

The good thing about them being here was that she rarely saw Miles.

The bad thing about them being here was that she rarely saw Miles.

He took them sightseeing every day. Ostensibly to make things easier for Charity. But she knew that he was avoiding her.

She was grateful for that. But she also hated it. He was angry and hurt. She knew that…but a small, impractical part of her had hoped for a friendship at least. She couldn’t stand the thought of losing him so absolutely.

But he could barely make eye contact with her, which made even a casual acquaintance after her departure, seem unlikely at this point.

Sam and Lia had invited them all to dinner tonight. A farewell gathering in Charity’s honor. Miles had seemed less than enthusiastic about the idea, but she knew he’d go. He had to. It would look odd if he didn’t. And—considering that they lived in the same house—it was ridiculous how much she was looking forward to seeing him and spending some time with him tonight.

She had spoken with her parents and sister every day since Gracie’s party. She had renewed acquaintances and friendships with people whom she had been close to before her marriage. She had booked her clinical competence exam, was doing job research, weighing partnership practices up against hanging out her own shingle. There were so many great opportunities available to her.

Her future looked bright and exciting and filled her with effervescent optimism.

And yet…she

was bone crushingly lonely.

She wanted to discuss all of this with Miles. Wanted to bounce ideas off him. Wanted him to share in her excitement and happiness. She felt a little lost without him. Felt like she had lost her best friend really.