"Cold feet," I supply, hoping that's what it is.
He exhales and turns to me. "No, I don't know. I love her, but we've been together for so long. I haven't…."
"You have. You've never really committed yourself to her, Myles."
"Kiss my ass," he flips back.
"You should love her the way she deserves. I'm not sure you'll ever find another girl as good as her. Right now I'd say you're a fool."
"Coming from the man who's never been in a relationship longer than a week?" he questions, then hisses, "Sound advice, bro. You'll understand if I don't take it to heart. Leave it to me to handle Ryleigh."
"You're so weak. I've always known it, but listening to your ass now, it's worse. You've gotten worse," I say and then walk away, if only to keep him out of my sight.
It works, since I don't have to turn around to hear him slamming shit as he walks down the hall and into the bathroom to shower.
Chapter Five
RYLEIGH
"Is there something you're not telling me?" I ask Myles as he stands at my side. His elbows are resting on the metal guardrail in front of us as we look into the crowd of kids.
The wind is blowing his hair and I remember a time when that endeared him to me in some way. I used to love when he'd let it grow a little too long. Except now, after spending the last week apart, it only reminds me of the person he was when we were kids. And he wasn't always nice.
Without turning his gaze to mine, he finally answers, "No. Just tired."
"You're always tired," I needlessly point out.
Standing straight, he moves his hands to his front pockets and confesses quietly, "Chase said something today. It's still bothering me."
"What did he say?"
I hate that Chase isn't here, but somehow he's standing between me and Myles. The distance between us grows as he tells me, "I guess it wasn't exactly what he said, but the way he said it. I think he still has a thing for you."
I laugh quietly, not because I totally believe his assumption, but that he's concerned about Chase rather than our relationship in general.
"He never had a thing for me."
Turning to me now with eyes sharp as a steel blade, he spits, "You damn well know he did."
I'm shocked. Maybe Myles took my friendship with Chase as a kid to mean more than what it was. Surely even Myles saw how Chase cut me out of his life completely when he became obsessed with every other girl he started to see.
To my further surprise, Myles adds, "Chase didn't deny it."
My breathing seizes as I turn away from him and take my time looking at the kids laughing and playing in front of us.
Powering through, I question, "What else is on your mind? We haven't talked in weeks, so I know there's more."
Looking down at his feet and pushing a rock with his black loafer, he asks, "Ry, do you still want to marry me?"
This question, just as his statement before it, comes from nowhere. I've given thought to cold feet, going so far as to think about Chase in a way I shouldn't, but so far Myles hasn't shown a shadow of doubt.
"Do you still want to marry me?"
Myles turns his entire body toward mine and grabs my arms. He pulls me to him and kisses my lips gently before looking down and smiling the way I've always loved.
"Yes."
"Then yes, I do. I think—" I'm cut off when his front pocket vibrates with an incoming call.
Looking down at his cell, he explains, "I have to take this."
I grab his wrist to stop him answering. "Don't. We were spending the day together, remember? I haven't seen you—"
Cutting me off again, he lifts the phone to his ear and smiles wide, but not at me. I hear one of his buddies on the other end talking about plans they have set for the evening.
Myles and I had plans this evening, too. But from the way he's talking into the phone, I'm guessing those are all but canceled.
When I picked Myles up this morning, he looked worse for wear. His eyes were sunken with bags underneath. His skin was pale, maybe a little green, and he was uncharacteristically quiet. I assumed his discreet mood was for my benefit, as though he were holding in his hangover to not ruin our day.
Instead, I realize that with me isn't where he'd rather be.
Mindlessly, I turn the other way to look around. It's a beautiful, albeit hot day in our small town and there're a lot of things we could've been doing. Rather than go for a country drive, fishing, or even to visit and catch up with old friends, he brought me here to question our commitment.
Something's off. Completely. But not only for him.
"I need to go. Jeff's set up a poker game for us tonight."
"Us?"
Rolling his eyes and looking annoyed, he replies, "Come on, Ry. You know what I mean. The guys are glad we're home."
"Obviously," I mumble.
Sensing my disappointment, he offers, "I'll make it up to you."
"You don't have to promise me that. Just don't go to them. Stay here and finish our day."