Page 156 of Secret Obsession
I shake my head and clear my throat. “Violet and Aspen were good company. It’s okay.”
He hums. “They left for a weekend and just… didn’t tell you? That’s not okay.”
“Families can be weird,” I mutter. “Do your parents tell you where they go all the time?”
Miles snorts. He unlocks his phone, going to a conversation thread. A group chat between him, Knox, and his parents. He scrolls up for what feels like way too long and hands me the phone.
I scan it.
His mom sending a picture of them out to dinner. Knox telling them about his most recent paper grade. A question about their home games. Conversation.
Love.
I lose track of how manyI love yous they send each other. Over the course of weeks, it seems like they talk at least once a day.
And for some reason, that realization makes a lump form in my throat.
I’ve never met their parents. Never even came close.
Why would I? Knox wasn’t in our relationship for the long haul, as much as he wanted me to think otherwise. And he balked at any indication that he should meet my family, too. I thought that was normal.
“Oh,” I manage. “I see.”
“You don’t.” Miles frowns and takes the phone back, pressing another button. He holds the phone out and puts his face next to mine, and the next thing I know, the video call is connecting.
His mother’s face fills the screen. She looks like him. Bright-blue eyes, dirty-blonde hair, a heart-shaped face and wide smile. She’s got sunglasses perched on top of her head.
“Hey, honey,” she greets him. “I was just gardening.”
“Mom, I wanted you to meet Willow.”
Her smile gets even bigger. “Oh, Willow! Miles has told me a lot about you.”
I swallow around that lump. “He has?”
“He said you’re a singer with a beautiful voice.”
“Well…”
Her eyes glitter. “There’s more, but he’d probably hang up on me if I went into detail.”
“Mom.” Miles laughs. “Willow’s going to come home with me next weekend for dinner, okay? We’ve got a game on Friday, so we can come down on Saturday.”
“Great! Your father and I were just complaining about how quiet the house has been lately. Is there anything particular you’d like to eat, Willow?”
This is a normal and weird conversation. My head swims. How would my parents react to meeting Miles? I haven’t told them anything about him, and he’s told her practically everything about me.
Well, maybe. That’s probably just an exaggeration.
But he told her I sing.
When did he do that?Whydid he do that?
Miles’ lips touch my temple, and I try to fight my shiver. I stare at the little box on his screen that’s allus. Our faces are close enough to touch. That’s what she’s seeing, and she’s not admonishing him for it. For calling her without warning. I mean, he just randomly called, and sheanswered.
“Anything but sushi,” he advises his mother when I don’t respond. “And maybe nothing too spicy. She likes mild spice, but anything more than that, and she’ll drink a gallon of milk.”
I shift. “That was one time.”
