Page 103 of Mistaken Prejudice

I was embarrassed by the encounter, but I was mad about Miles’s reaction. His behavior lacked responsibility. It was almost as if he was a different person. I may have overreacted, but the lack of response on his side triggered me.

I took my time to cool down and think. While doing so, I remembered what Elliot told me, or should I say, asked me, and finally, it all made sense. Miles was an exhibitionist. That’s what Elliot tried to imply but was cautious about.

At first, I dismissed the idea because why would a parent know something like this about his child, but then it was Miles and Elliot I was talking about.

Elliot knew what type of condom we used the first time we did it. I swore Miles told him everything.

Thinking about all the public places Miles made us fuck in, it all made sense. Was I an exhibitionist? No, I didn’t think I was, but I didn’t mind Miles being one. I loved him no matter what. We’d need to discuss some ground rules, but we’d make it work.

I wanted to have this talk face-to-face, but I missed school for a few days after someone broke into our surfing shop and ransacked the place. We all stayed at home and helped with the mess. I hoped to talk with him today at school, but Miles didn’t show up.

“Yeah, I’m going right now. Sure you don’t need a ride?” I finally answered Levi.

“Yeah, I’ll wait for Jess,” he said as he stopped in front of their turquoise scooter. I patted his back before I pulled out my key.

“Sure thing. See you later.”

“See ya,” he mumbled, his eyes already on his phone.

***

Driving to Miles’s house gave me enough time to think about everything I wanted to say to him. I’d start by explaining why I didn’t answer his calls and texts, and then I’d move on to the parts that made me so angry. Eventually, I would want to ask him about his condition in a way that wouldn’t hurt him.

And after we worked things out, I’d ask him on a date. I reserved a place in Kai’s restaurant for tonight after I begged the guy to make us some French dishes. I needed to make things right between us.

I checked my clothes and went from my truck to their front door. I picked the outfit I knew he loved the most: five-inch running shorts and a white Henley.

I rang the doorbell and hummed to myself, looking around their front yard, as I waited.

My eyes focused on their garage door, which was left open, and I took one step back to glance at the vehicle parked at the entrance. A white SUV. It was his car.

A knot formed in my stomach, and when the door opened and Shay-Lee stood there with a towel knotted around his waist, I found it hard to stomach the nausea that just hit me.

The smile on his face told me everything I needed to know, but the masochist parts in me made me ask.

“Where’s Miles?”

Shay-Lee took a step closer and leaned his shoulder on the doorframe, his arms crossed in a posture that radiated confidence and ownership.

“In bed.”

I looked away, not wanting him to see how my heart just crashed into a million pieces.

I bit my lips and fought the lump that formed in my throat as my worst nightmare became my reality.

While I was killing myself for the past six days, Miles did no such thing. He wasted no time before jumping to bed with a new guy. Not just a new guy, with Shay-Lee.

I now realized how false my confidence was. How fake everything was.

I turned around, unable to bear the pain I was feeling, and started walking back to my truck.

“Don’t beat yourself up over it,” I heard him saying. “You never stood a chance in the first place.”

Yeah, but Miles made me believe I did. And now? Now my heart was broken.

What a fool. What a mistake it was to think I ever stood a chance.

I could have stayed and punched the guy. I could have gotten in there and found Miles to tell him how much I hated him. How much he’d hurt me. But I didn’t. Like a beaten dog, I crawled back to my truck and drove out of there, wishing I’d never stepped into Bay High and that Miles Williams Dufort would have remained a stranger.