The Best Next Thing

“She shattered my heart first,” he said, sounding like the petulant boy she had called him earlier. He shut his eyes and shook his head, irritated with himself for being this way.

“I’m being a prick.” It was a statement of fact, an acknowledgment of his ridiculous behavior. Not too long ago, he had promised to be her friend above all else.

And he was being a terrible fucking friend.

“Excuse me, Mum. I have to—”

“No need to explain, my boy,” his mother interrupted cheerfully, taking another swig from her beer. “Go talk to her.”

He was coming over.

Charity’s breath hitched, and her heart, which had been glumly lurking close to the vicinity of her feet all evening long, leaped back into her chest and tattooed a frantically happy beat against her ribcage. She watched him approach, unable to take her eyes off him.

He moved like a panther, sinuously, gracefully, purposefully…

Would she ever stop loving him?

He glided to a stop in front of her. His eyes boring intently into hers. With his dark brows furrowed into a glower, and his hair untamed, there was a familiar hint of wildness about him. And she found it utterly irresistible.

He held out a hand, palm up. “Dance with me?”

Her tongue was glued to the roof of her dry mouth, and she struggled to formulate her response.

It took so long, his hand started to shake, and the spark in his eyes dimmed.

“There’s no music,” she eventually managed to croak out, and his eyebrows lowered even more.

“There isn’t?” He looked confused by her statement for a moment. But then he smiled. And his face transformed from savage to drop dead gorgeous in seconds. “I always hear music when I’m with you, Charity.”

The words were cringingly sweet; but her knees went weak, and her legs turned to gelatin.

“That’s hands down the corniest thing I’ve ever heard you say,” she said, with a laugh, and he grinned.

“I know.” His palm was still outstretched, and she dropped her own hand into it and allowed him to tug her into his arms. He nuzzled the hair at her temple and breathed the rest of what he had to say directly into her ear, “It’s true though.”

He was swaying gently, to the beat of some song only he could hear. Charity sighed and snuggled closer, her arms going around his waist, while his hands fisted against her back.

“I’m sorry I’ve been such a twat,” he muttered, and she shook her head.

“I understand that my decision to leave was a shock. I’m sorry too.”

“Let’s not spend the remainder of our time together apologizing to each other, okay?”

“Okay.”

“You all packed?”

“Hmm.”

“I’m going to miss you, my love.”

“I’m going to miss you too, Miles,” her voice wobbled. “So much.”

“You’re going to have a phenomenal life. Because you deserve it.”

Her throat and nose clogged up, and her eyes stung. She buried her face in his neck, wishing he could hold her forever.

He started to hum softly into her ear, and she smiled, her arms tightening around him.

“You really need to learn some other songs, Miles,” she chuckled, and she felt his lips stretch into a grin against her ear.

“Nah, it’s too late for me, darling. Sometimes you find that one perfect thing and then it becomes yours, forever. Know what I mean?”

She swallowed and nodded.

Of course, she knew what he meant. These last several weeks with him had been her perfect thing. And the memory of their time together would live on in her heart forever.

“Where are you going?” Charity asked into her pillow, when she felt her mattress shift as Miles got up. He had made tender love to her for hours after the party last night. Worshiping her with his body, hands, and mouth. Lavishing her with praise and endearments.

It had been perfect…but now he appeared to be sneaking out of bed and tiptoeing to the door like a thief in the night. She pushed herself up onto her elbow and glared at him in the dim predawn light.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, coming back to sit down on the edge of the bed. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Where are you going?” Charity repeated and reached over to switch on the bedside lamp.

“Charity…last night was my farewell to you. I don’t think I can watch you leave. I couldn’t stand it.”

“You were just going to sneak out without a word?” She sat up, tucking the bedsheet under her arms.

He sighed and cupped her jaw between his palms.

“Be happy, my love.” He gave her sweetest, gentlest kiss.

And left before she could reply.

Miles and Stormy were on the beach when he heard the engine of the SUV start up. Despite his conviction not to watch her leave, he couldn’t prevent himself from turning around to track the progress of the vehicle with his own eyes. He watched it shakily traverse the dirt road toward the bridge. He was too far to see her face…but he was more than passingly familiar with the elegant shape of her head. She was in the back seat. And judging from the tilt of that head, she had spotted him on the misty beach.