Page 80 of Broken Silence
“He’s working. I’m just waiting for a new top to be delivered.”
“A new top?” she repeated, arching a brow.
It wasn’t the most outrageous excuse, but it clearly wasn’t great.
“Yeah, ordered it yesterday.”Oh God, I’m the worst liar in the world.I sighed. “Okay, that was a lie.”
Mum smiled. “No. Really?”
Biting my lip, I considered whether I should just sprint out of the house and leave her to it. She’d kill me. “Miles is coming. Here. Now.”
Her face dropped, jaw going slack. “Miles is what?” She sat down as if her legs simply couldn’t keep her upright anymore. “Oakley, what?”
“He’s coming here,” I repeated, grimacing.
She stayed perfectly calm, but I could see a storm behind her eyes. “All right, I know I shouldn’t meddle, and you two need to do this in your own time, but anyone can see that you–”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
I blinked slowly twice. “I’m sorry, what?”
“You’re right. I’ve been fighting my feelings for him, gun-shy after… you know. But I need him here.”
“Oh. Good. So, you admit it? You like Miles?”
She laughed, her cheeks turning red. “No teasing your mum.”
“I thought you were going to yell.”
“I’ll admit, I considered it for a second. But you’re right. I’mso tired of fighting it. I’ve watched you be brave while I was scared and hiding.” She took a deep breath. “No more running.”
“I’m proud of you, Mum.”
Before she could reply, the doorbell rang.
“Well… you should probably get that.”
Standing, she took another steadying breath and wiped her palms on her thighs. “Right.”
I waited until she left the room, then I got up and peeked my head around the doorframe just as she let him in the house.
Her back was to me, but I swear I could see her smile. He was beaming, his eyes blazing. They were cute together.
“Miles,” Mum said.
“Hello, Sarah,” he replied in his soft Australian accent, holding his suitcase in his hand.
“I think you’d better come in.”
Oh, this was so adorable. My cheeks ached from grinning at how shy they both were with each other. They reminded me of when I first started liking Cole, back when I was a teen.
“Oakley,” Miles said, finally breaking eye contact with my mum. I’d been rumbled. “It’s good to see you.”
I moved from my less than covert position and gave him a quick hug. “Good to see you, too. Thanks for coming.”
“Of course.” His eyes flicked back to Mum, and she smiled, blushing lightly.
That was my cue to leave. “Well, I’m going to go and do… something.” I turned on my heel and sprinted up the stairs. I loved that they were going to sort their shit out, but I didnotwant to see it.
